CALIFORNIA is stepping up its fight against illegal sideshows in 2025 – but a new law could see drivers have their cars impounded even if they’ve done nothing illegal.
Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom agreed to a series of new laws that are set to go into effect in 2025, designed to give law enforcement more power to deter these dangerous events.
Police in California will have more powers to fight illegal sideshows across the state[/caption]
That includes more powers to imbound cars of those involved[/caption]
However, the new laws for 2025 could see people targetted even if they’ve done nothing illegal[/caption]
Sideshows, which often involve hundreds of people gathering to watch drivers perform reckless stunts like donuts and burnouts, have plagued Californian cities for decades.
But now, police have more authority to impound vehicles found to be involved in such events.
Assembly Bill 2186, for example, now extends impoundment powers to vehicles participating in “exhibitions of speed” in parking lots, closing a loophole that previously limited this to roadways.
What’s more, Assembly Bill 1978 will give police the power to impound vehicles suspected of aiding or abetting sideshows or street races, even without an arrest.
This targets individuals providing support to the events without direct involvement, and aims to deter individuals from helping organise and run these gatherings.
Those involved don’t just run the risk vehicle impoundment either, as penalties for taking part in a sideshow are set to be increased.
As of 1 July 2025, those convicted of exhibition of speed at a sideshow may have their driver’s license suspended for 90 days and up to six months – although courts have been urged to consider personal hardship.
Additionally, Assembly Bill 2807 clarifies the legal definition of a “sideshow” to include “street takeover,” giving prosecutors more leeway in court.
According to a report by NBC Bay Area, these new laws build upon existing efforts to combat sideshows and reflect a growing concern about their impact on public safety.
In recent times, incidents of violence, injuries, and even deaths have been reported at sideshows, while law enforcement has also found itself overwhelmed by the scale of some events.
It’s an approach that has previously seen results, as the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, for instance, reported a significant decrease in sideshow activity following a large-scale crackdown in February 2024 – which saw 88 vehicles impounded.
But while these measures aim to improve public safety, they have also raised concerns.
Some critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that AB 1978 grants excessive authority to police, allowing them to impound vehicles without due process.
The ACLU also raises concerns about the impact on low-income individuals who rely on their vehicles and may face severe hardship if their cars are impounded.
The legality of penalising spectators has also been questioned, as it could unfairly target individuals inadvertently present near a sideshow.
This comes as a helpless passenger was left trapped in a driverless taxi – after a glitch sent it spinning around eight times.
Mike Johns, a tech entrepreneur from Los Angeles, recently fell victim to the dangers of self-driving technology.
The footage, which emerged on Monday, shows the steering wheel of the Waymo car spinning frantically on its own, as Mike sits in the back seat in shock.
As the glitching vehicle goes round in circles, Mike simply sits and watches out of the window.
The stunned passenger attempted to call tech support during the incident which he likened to a scene from a “sci-fi thriller”.
