Newsom Signs California Legislation to Curb Illegal Racing, Street Takeovers

Posters of street racing offenders and victims are displayed next to race cars in Santa Ana, Calif., on April 29, 2022. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a slate of bipartisan bills on Sept. 23 in an effort to curb street racing, sideshows, and street takeovers in the state that have resulted in fires, mob robberies, injuries, and deaths.

Sideshows and street takeovers generally involve a group of drivers gathering in vacant lots or blocking public roadways to perform stunts or race for onlookers.

The four new laws—Assembly Bill 1978, AB 2186, AB 2807, and AB 3085—provide law enforcement the authority to seize the vehicles of both participants and spectators, among other stricter penalties.

Along with increasing the list of offenses for which police can impound a vehicle, the new laws also expand the number of locations where speed contests are prohibited and standardize the language around these crimes.

“Sideshows are reckless, criminal activities that endanger our communities,” Newsom said in a statement. “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.”

Reports of sideshows and street takeovers have been on the rise throughout the Golden State, according to the governor’s office, including activities such as drifting, blocking intersections, and disrupting traffic—and some have turned deadly.

This past weekend, the Sacramento Police Department responded to two separate sideshows that resulted in one death each.

Just after 2 a.m. on Sept. 22, police responded to reports of a shooting and found one male victim, who was declared dead at the scene. Around 3 a.m., police were called to a second sideshow, where two people had been shot, one fatally.

“Due to the circumstances, homicide detectives and crime scene investigators responded to take over the investigation,” said the police department in a news release about the first incident. “They will be processing the scene, canvassing the area, and interviewing witnesses.”

On Sept. 24, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors also approved new laws proposed by Mayor London Breed and a supervisor to combat illegal sideshows and stunt driving in the city.

“Sideshows are dangerous, disruptive, and illegal, and law enforcement agencies across the Bay Area need to work in close coordination to prevent and disrupt them,” Breed said in a statement.

Alongside the sideshow legislation, Newsom has signed legislation this year increasing penalties for a variety of crimes, including smash-and-grab robberies, retail theft, auto burglaries, and other property crime, according to the governor’s office.