Governor Newsom Signs Four Bills Aimed at Sideshows

by CC News September 24, 2024

written by CC News September 24, 2024

SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom signed bipartisan legislation to impose stricter penalties, increase accountability, and strengthen law enforcement’s ability to combat sideshows and street takeovers.

These measures mark a step forward in improving road safety across California by addressing the rise of illegal street activities that endanger the safety of drivers, pedestrians, and communities. These new laws provide law enforcement with enhanced tools to more effectively deter illegal activities such as drifting, street racing, and blocking intersections during sideshows and street takeovers.

“Sideshows are reckless, criminal activities that endanger our communities. We have seen too many people killed or hurt at these events. Today, we are sending a clear message to anyone considering participating in or attending a sideshow: stricter penalties are in place, including the potential loss of your vehicle.” Governor Gavin Newsom

Communities throughout California report increased sideshow activities and street takeovers. These dangerous events, where people race vehicles and shut down streets to perform stunts, can quickly turn deadly, often leading to accidents, spectator injuries, and other criminal activity, and block roadways and disrupt traffic flow, including access for emergency vehicles.

Participants, organizers, and spectators be warned

These new laws expand vehicle impoundment authority for law enforcement, including for spectators and those aiding in illegal speed contests and sideshows, while also standardizing terminology for “sideshows” and “street takeovers” statewide, and targeting reckless driving activities on highways and parking lots.

Governor Newsom today strengthened California’s ability to improve road safety by signing the following bills:

AB 1978 by Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita) – Vehicles: speed contests
AB 2186 by Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs) – Vehicles: impoundment
AB 2807 by Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton) – Vehicles: sideshows and street takeovers
AB 3085 by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) – Vehicles: removal and impoundment

Stronger enforcement. Serious penalties. Real consequences.

Today’s signing follows the Governor’s recent signing of landmark legislation providing law enforcement and prosecutors with additional tools to arrest and prosecute criminals for smash-and-grabs, retail theft, auto burglaries, and other property crime. While California’s crime rate remains near historic lows, these laws help California adapt to evolving criminal tactics to ensure perpetrators are effectively held accountable.

Photo by Stockton Police

Editors Note, a deeper look into the bills.

AB 1978: This bill would revise these provisions to authorize a peace officer to remove a vehicle pursuant to these provisions without taking a person into custody when the alleged offense is a violation of obstructing or placing a barricade or obstruction upon a highway or in an offstreet parking facility for the purpose of facilitating or aiding a motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition of speed, as specified.
AB 2186 Vehicles: impoundment: Existing law allows a peace officer to arrest a person and seize the motor vehicle of the person if a peace officer determines that the person was engaged in a motor vehicle speed contest, reckless driving, or an exhibition of speed on a highway. Existing law allows a vehicle seized under this provision to be impounded for up to 30 days. This bill would expand this provision to include an exhibition of speed that occurs in an offstreet parking facility, as specified.
AB 2807: This bill would clarify that a “sideshow” is also known as a “street takeover.”
AB 3085: This bill would include this crime in the list of offenses for which a peace officer may impound a vehicle pursuant to a warrant or order issued by a magistrate, and make other technical changes, as specified.

Related