The Pittsburg City Council will discuss Monday creating an ordinance making being a spectator to sideshows on private property against the law.
A staff report for Monday’s meeting says “Vehicle exhibitions and street racing have been a recurring concern for the health and safety of motorists, pedestrians, and residents in the city. These activities have caused fatal collisions, property damage and traffic congestion, creating a public nuisance. Illegal speed contests, exhibitions of speed, and sideshows pose a clear danger to the residents of the city and the motoring public traveling on the roadways within the city.”
According to the report, California law prohibits sideshows and racing on public streets. But it doesn’t cover enforcing anti sideshow laws on private property, “where many of these events occur.”
“The purpose of the proposed ordinance is to prohibit spectators at illegal racing events with the aim of significantly curbing criminal activity,” the report says.
The report doesn’t specify what the penalty would be for watchig a sideshow or street racing on private property.
“The proposed ordinance would prohibit spectators at illegal street racing events, provide notice as to what activities are lawful and unlawful, and identify penalties for violations of this ordinance.”
“In response to illegal street racing and sideshow activities, several cities have adopted ordinances banning spectators at street racing events. These cities have reported that these ordinances are an effective tool to combat dangerous activities and to limit spectator involvement at street racing, exhibitions of speed, and sideshows.”
The Pittsburg City Council meets at 7 p.m. Monday, at the council chamber at city hall, located at 65 Civic Ave. in Pittsburg. The meeting can also be seen at www.pittsburgca.gov.
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If the State really wants to curb and eliminate sideshows, legislation should be passed to suspend driver licenses for a minimum of one year and confiscate and crush any vehicle used in a sideshow on public streets.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
NO REDUCED SENTENCES.
ZERO TOLERANCE.
The owner of the vehicle and the convicted river of the vehicle should be required to watch the vehicle being publicly crushed. Heck, the State should post videos of each crush on YouTube.
So the spectators are the criminals?
I suppose that simplifies things, no need to impound cars or arrest racers and confiscate weapons.
California logic.
I’ll go along with your agenda provided stolen vehicles are exempt from crushing.
Concur.
Why not make watching a shoplifting in progress a crime?? Unconstitutional.
108RS
…another law that won’t really be enforced
Like those who go to sideshows are law-abiding, role-model citizens.
Typical commies. Uh it’s now illegal to use your eyeballs 🤣🤣👍🏼 Whatever guies
I don’t know…I don’t think its such a bad idea. Side shows are just that – a “show” meant to be performed in front of an audience. No audience reduces the thrill of putting on a show, which just might help curb them. Individuals who choose to attend these events as spectators are perpetrating the illegal activity and often do damage do property and cause disturbances, thus they should be prosecuted.
That said, I agree with 12A about stiffer penalties for drivers.
So, property owners and residents where a sideshow is being performed on the street have to shun their eyes and avoid going outside to avoid being arrested?
Or they can, you know, report it and thus not get in trouble???
It’s like drugs Both the dealer AND the buyer should be punished. So, don’t act like the spectators are not also a problem. These are not good people.
The whole idea sounds stupid! So, If you walk outside of your residence to see what’s going on, because you hear tires screaming, and a cop happens to drive by at the same time, one could be arrested just for being an eyewitness?
I think sideshows should be allowed on private property, everyone assumes the risks, property owners have zero liability, insurance companies aren’t liable for wrecked cars, and spectators/drivers are responsible for their own injuries. Have fun, but I would never attend.
Is there any limit to how far government can kick people around like absolute idiots with propositions like this?
Time to remind government that they serve us, not the reverse.
Sideshows been part of bay area culture since the late 70s it will not stop! It was here before you either deal with it or keep it moving we aint gon let a few karens stop this wether ya like it or not LOL.
This is an excellent idea that should be adopted by Pittsburg. Spectators at sideshows are gathered to witness an illegal and fundamentally dangerous activity. Logic is that those spectators are participating in an unlawful activity.