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Are Sideshows Illegal in California? What You Need to Know

are sideshows illegal

If you live in the Bay Area, you’ve likely heard about sideshows – those flashy, unauthorized car shows that tend to pop up in parking lots, intersections, and vacant streets. While sideshows have been a part of California’s car culture for decades, law enforcement is increasingly cracking down on these illegal events.

As criminal defense attorneys, we at The Nieves Law Firm want to make sure you understand the legal risks of participating in or even watching a sideshow in California.

What is Considered a Sideshow Under California Law?

Under California law, a sideshow is an event in which two or more vehicles block or impede traffic on a highway for the purpose of performing vehicle stunts, speed contests, or reckless driving for spectators. This can include cars doing donuts, burnouts, drifting, and other hazardous maneuvers that put public safety at risk.

Sideshows often involve dozens of vehicles and hundreds of spectators illegally taking over intersections, parking lots, and stretches of road or freeway. They are frequently associated with street racing, which is also prohibited under California Vehicle Code Section 23109.

Penalties for Sideshow Drivers in California

If you are caught driving in a sideshow, you could be charged with a misdemeanor offense and face some serious penalties, including:

  • Up to 6 months in county jail
  • Fines of up to $1,000
  • Impoundment of your vehicle for up to 30 days
  • Driver’s license suspension

In addition to the sideshow-specific charges, you would likely face additional charges for reckless driving, speeding, and other related traffic violations. These can tack on additional fines, points on your license, and even longer jail sentences for repeat offenders.

Reckless Driving Charges for Sideshow Participants

Most sideshow participants will also be charged with reckless driving under California Vehicle Code Section 23103. Reckless driving is defined as driving with “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” It’s a misdemeanor punishable by:

  • 5 to 90 days in county jail
  • $145 to $1,000 in fines
  • Possible license suspension of 30 days to 6 months

Doing donuts and burnouts with a crowd present is a clear public safety hazard that shows a disregard for the safety of others. If you cause an accident or injury to a spectator, you could face felony charges and civil liability as well.

Are Sideshow Spectators Breaking the Law in California?

You don’t have to be behind the wheel to get in legal trouble at a sideshow. Just being a spectator at an illegal sideshow can land you a hefty fine or even jail time.

Many cities in California, including San Jose and Oakland, have passed ordinances that make it illegal to attend or watch a sideshow within a certain distance, typically 200 to 500 feet. Being a spectator at a sideshow is usually a misdemeanor offense that can be punished by:

  • Fines ranging from $100 to $1,000
  • Jail time of 6 months or more
  • Probation
  • Community service

The goal of these spectator laws is to discourage the large crowds that enable illegal sideshows to occur. However, there is some controversy over whether these ordinances may infringe on First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble. If you were arrested or fined as a sideshow spectator, it’s important to speak with a criminal defense lawyer about your rights and legal options.

How California Law Enforcement is Cracking Down on Sideshows

Illegal sideshows have been a thorn in the side of California law enforcement for years. However, police have recently been escalating efforts to crack down on sideshow activity across the state. Some of the tactics being used include:

  • Dedicated Sideshow Enforcement Units: Cities like San Jose and Oakland have formed special units focused solely on preventing and breaking up sideshows. These teams often involve officers from multiple agencies working in coordination.
  • Air Support and Undercover Officers: Police are increasingly using helicopters to track and follow sideshow participants. Undercover officers in unmarked cars are also being deployed to infiltrate sideshow groups.
  • Social Media Monitoring: Because sideshows are often promoted on social media, investigators are using social media posts to identify and charge organizers.
  • Roadway Barriers and Traffic Calming Measures: Cities are starting to install physical barriers like roundabouts and speed bumps at common sideshow intersections to deter donuts and drifting.
  • Surveillance Cameras: More cameras are being installed along roadways to capture license plate numbers of sideshow vehicles.

While enhanced enforcement is helping combat the sideshow problem, there are concerns that aggressive policing and surveillance tactics could lead to profiling or infringement of civil liberties. If you believe you were unfairly targeted or arrested at a sideshow, it’s crucial to consult with a criminal defense attorney about your case.

The Public Safety Risks and Impact of Illegal Sideshows

Sideshows aren’t just harmless fun – they pose serious risks to public safety and put an enormous strain on law enforcement resources. The dangerous car stunts create a high potential for crashes, leading to injury or death for participants, spectators, and innocent bystanders. In 2021, it was reported that the CHP responded to a staggering 7,300 sideshow activity calls in the Bay Area alone.

When hundreds of vehicles and spectators block off major intersections, they severely impede traffic and can prevent critical emergency vehicles like ambulances from getting through. This puts lives at risk far beyond the sideshow itself.

The huge crowds that sideshows attract also tend to facilitate other illegal activities like auto theft, street racing, vandalism, and drug use. Fights, shootings, and hit-and-run incidents involving pedestrians are all too common. Even if you aren’t participating directly, just being in the vicinity of a sideshow puts you at risk.

For residents near popular sideshow spots, the screeching tires and revving engines are a constant nuisance, negatively impacting their quality of life. And for law enforcement agencies already stretched thin, the immense cost and resource drain of sideshow enforcement takes valuable energy away from addressing violent crime and other community safety priorities.

Our office is not only able to assist those accused of sideshow related offenses in litigating their case but we also focus on educating the accused of the potential impacts to their future and the lives of others in hopes of preventing future charges.

Know Your Legal Rights and Options as a Sideshow Participant or Spectator

Participating in or even watching a sideshow in California is illegal and can leave you facing misdemeanor charges, fines, vehicle impoundment, and even jail time. While sideshows may have cultural significance and community ties, they put lives and property at serious risk.

If you or someone you know has been arrested or cited in connection with a sideshow, it’s critical that you seek out experienced legal counsel right away. Don’t leave your future and your freedom to chance. The Bay Area criminal defense attorneys at The Nieves Law Firm are here to protect your legal rights and explore your options for fighting sideshow-related charges.

Contact us today for a confidential consultation about your case.

Author Bio

Jo-Anna Nieves is the Founder and Managing Attorney of The Nieves Law Firm, an Oakland criminal defense law firm she created in 2012. With more than 11 years of experience in criminal defense, she has zealously represented clients in a wide range of legal matters, including DUIs, domestic violence, expungement, federal crimes, juvenile law, motions to vacate, sex crimes, violent crimes, and other criminal charges.

Jo-Anna has received numerous accolades for her work, including being named a Super Lawyer Rising Star the past 9 years, the #12 Fastest Growing Law Firm in the U.S. by Law Firm 500 in 2019, and one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. by Inc 5000 in 2023 and 2024.

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