Mayor Breed Proposes New Law to Enforce Against Sideshows, SFPD and Regional Law Enforcement Discuss Enhanced Prevention and Disruption Strategies

San Francisco, CA - Today, Mayor London N. Breed and Supervisor Matt Dorsey announced new legislation to combat sideshows by increasing criminal penalties for people who plan and participate in sideshows and stunt driving. Mayor Breed announced the legislation today at San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Headquarters, standing alongside regional law enforcement leaders who discussed strategies to prevent and disrupt sideshows in the Bay Area.

Sideshows are a regional issue in the Bay Area, with groups often moving from one city to the next in the course of one day or one night, meaning that regional coordination is critical to track and stop them from happening. These efforts will target sideshows involving cars in intersections as well as roving groups of dirt bikers who disrupt neighborhoods.

The new legislation, which will be introduced by Mayor Breed and Supervisor Dorsey on Tuesday, would establish the following new criminal penalties:

• Make it illegal to participate in promoting a sideshow.
• Make it illegal to participate in assembling for a sideshow. Those cars that block or obstruct streets to set up for a sideshow will now face criminal penalties.
• Make it illegal to impede law enforcement from doing their job to disrupt sideshows.
• Extend the amount of time the City can hold a vehicle seized in a sideshow beyond 30 days if the District Attorney is charging in the case and allows for the permanent seizure of the vehicle if there is a conviction.

The above crimes will all be misdemeanors, which is the highest penalty allowed under current state law.

"Sideshows are dangerous, disruptive and illegal, and our law enforcement agencies must not only take action here in San Francisco but coordinate across the Bay Area to prevent and disrupt them," said Mayor London Breed. "With new technology and expanded strategies, we can work to meet this challenge, but we also need to give our officers more tools to stop these dangerous activities. By changing our laws, we can not only hold those accountable that participate in sideshows here, but we can also send a message that there will be consequences when you come to San Francisco."

"Sideshows are reckless and endanger pedestrians, local businesses, and participants themselves. Too many of these illegal events have led to serious injuries and even fatalities in some cities," said District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. "Recent events make it clear we must continue to send a strong message: these activities have no place in San Francisco. Our streets belong to the community, and we will take every measure necessary to ensure the safety of all residents."

SFPD and partner law enforcement agencies across the region revealed coordinated and expanded strategies to disrupt sideshows, including the use of drone and license plate reader technology and efforts to corral and track participants in sideshows.

The No. 1 priority when sideshows occur is public safety. SFPD coordinates with regional law enforcement partners to identify when large groups of vehicles are traveling through jurisdictions in the Bay Area and Northern California. SFPD formulates a plan and works to identify where groups are traveling to prevent sideshows from forming.

When sideshows and stunt driving occur in San Francisco, officers prioritize stopping the illegal activity to protect the public. When possible, officers will arrest participants and tow vehicles as they move through the City. Investigators follow up with evidence collected during the events to identify participants, hold people accountable, and impound vehicles in the days and weeks after.

SFPD has seized 67 vehicles related to sideshows and reckless evasion so far in 2024. The SFPD has documented 15 sideshows so far in 2024. In 2021, there were 72 reported sideshows.

Members of the public are urged to call 911 when they witness a sideshow and share pictures and video, which police use in their investigations.

"These illegal events are unacceptable in our city," said Chief Bill Scott. "I want to thank Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Dorsey for their work to give our officers more authority to enforce the law. I also want to thank our hard-working officers who put themselves in harm's way when responding to these dangerous and unlawful gatherings."

The legislation will be in front of the Board of Supervisors this fall.

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