Being a spectator at a vehicle sideshow or street race is now illegal in Turlock
When two people were shot at a vehicle sideshow in Turlock on New Year’s Eve, precious minutes were lost getting them aid because first responders had to contend with dozens of spectators and their vehicles around the scene.
One of the victims survived, but the other, a 20-year-old Tracy man, died of his injuries.
Now, such spectators can be held criminally liable with the passage of a new city ordinance.
The Turlock City Council in February voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that makes it illegal to be a spectator at a street racing event or reckless driving exhibition, known as a sideshow.
With enforcement going into effect this month, the ordinance gives officers the discretion to issue a $1,000 citation or arrest a spectator on a misdemeanor charge. The City Attorney’s Office would make the decision of whether to pursue a misdemeanor charge, which comes with a maximum penalty of six months in jail.
Sideshows involve drivers, usually in illegally altered vehicles, doing stunts like burnouts, donuts or street racing. They have been a problem in the Turlock area for several years and have been an issue throughout the state and other parts of the nation for decades.
Dozens, sometimes hundreds, of spectators gather to block intersections, highways and parking lots to create a space for the sideshows.
Sideshows have resulted in damage to public and private property and interfered with the operation of local businesses, according to the ordinance.
When police have gone to break them up, the crowds have launched illegal fireworks toward officers, and pursuits and crashes have ensued.
“The multitude of spectators not only emboldens participants to act in a reckless manner and without due regard for public safety, it makes apprehending those responsible difficult,” according to the ordinance.
Under the new ordinance, which is modeled after one adopted by the city of San Jose, a sideshow is defined as an event in which two or more people block or impede traffic on a highway or in an off-street parking facility for the purpose of performing motor vehicle stunts, races, exhibitions of speed or reckless driving for spectators.
To prove someone is a spectator at a sideshow, Turlock officers will consider factors including whether the person has previously participated or been a spectator at a sideshow or aided and abetted street racing or reckless driving. They also will consider the time of day, the number of people and vehicles at the scene and whether those vehicles had been modified or altered to increase power, handling or visual appearance.
Turlock Sgt. Mike Parmley said there is at least one sideshow in Turlock each month. He said enforcement of the new ordinance started this month.
This story was originally published April 6, 2023 at 10:16 AM.
