Gov. Newsom Signs 4 Bills Into Law Aimed At Fighting Street Takeovers, Sideshows

Governor Gavin Newsom signed four bills into law Monday designed to help law enforcement in the state go after sideshows, street takeovers, and other dangerous illegal auto events that can result in injury and death.

All four bills were introduced earlier this year. While reasons behind each bill slightly differed, all four were united on public safety and for stopping illegal street races and “sideshows.” Many backers also cited the need for such bills following major incidents resulting in the injuries or deaths of innocent people not involved in the illegal event, such as an incident last year where an illegal street race in Los Angeles resulted in the death of a 20-year-old musician.

The four bills include:

• Assembly Bill 1978, authored by Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita), which gives law enforcement the power to impound vehicles of people who help block off roads and highways for street races without outright arresting them.
• Assembly Bill 2186, authored by Assemblyman Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs), a bill that allows law enforcement the ability to seize vehicles taken in illegal street races without a warrant.
• Assembly Bill 2807, authored by Assemblyman Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton), which clarifies that a “sideshow” is also known as a “street takeover.”
• Assembly Bill 3085, authored by Assemblyman Mike Gipson (D-Carson), which would allow law enforcement to impound a car for up to 30 days if a driver is found to be illegally racing on a highway or in a parking facility, as long as a warrant or order is issued by a magistrate.

All four bills received bipartisan support shortly after being announced, with many local leaders and law enforcement groups jumping in with support as well because of the growing number of incidents involving illegal street races and takeovers in recent years.

“Street racing and sideshows have become increasingly problematic, posing significant risks to public safety,” said Beverly Hills Mayor Lester Friedman in a letter to Governor Newsom earlier this year. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) experienced a notable increase in incidents involving motor vehicle speed contests and exhibitions of speed. Despite some reduction in 2023, these dangerous activities remain prevalent and continue to endanger lives and property.

“The expanded authority to impound vehicles closer in time to the occurrence of these offenses is crucial. By acting promptly, law enforcement can more effectively deter individuals from engaging in these dangerous behaviors. This proactive approach will help reduce the incidence of reckless driving, street racing, and sideshows, ultimately making our communities safer.”

The outpouring of support was well-reflected in the voting for all four bills. Some bills had high abstention votes early on over increased costs for cities and law enforcement agencies, with extra resources needed with the expanded scope of law enforcement in the bills.

AB 3085, for example, passed with a 66-0 with 14 abstention Assembly votes in May, with the AB 1978 vote coming to a 72-0 with 7 abstention vote total in the Assembly last month. However, with bipartisan support coming in, as well most urban lawmakers surprising some by voting for a expansion of law enforcement power, all four bills made it through to Newsom.

On Monday, Governor Newsom wound up signing all four into law. In a press release, Newsom cited safety reasons and the need to stop such large gatherings for his decision in signing all four bills.

California is increasing accountability & strengthening law enforcement’s ability to combat sideshows & street takeovers.

These dangerous activities put communities at risk and we’re holding participants accountable.https://t.co/yqcxtVJthp

— California Governor (@CAgovernor) September 24, 2024

“Sideshows are reckless, criminal activities that endanger our communities,” said the Governor on Monday. “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.”

The four signings brought relief to many supporters of the bills on Monday and Tuesday, with many saying that the four bills were a long time coming.

“Street racing and drifting contests and blocking off parking lots so drivers can do things like donuts and burnouts. That is all so dangerous,” explained Craig Crowe, a former police officer for two cities in Southern California, to the Globe on Tuesday. “We all wish we had these laws when we were out there going after these people. I was on the scene of street races gone bad where a sports car lost control during one of these races and plowed into a building or guard rail and the wreckage didn’t even resemble a car anymore. I remember interviewing one woman who was out walking her dogs and one of these cars was literally within an inch of her life as they passed by. Security footage we saw had her yanking her dog back by the leash pretty hard to save them.

“And there are so many more where innocent people, the drivers, or passengers in the car died. And then there is property damage, especially to parking lots after one of those shows. When I retired, we were thankful that these kids were stupid enough to record themselves with their phones, or have dozens of others do it, so we could easily identify them later.

“These things are illegal and dangerous. These bills were needed. No argument. Thankfully all of them went through.”