Sideshows, Fireworks, and Gunshots – Oh My!
Vallejo, California, experienced a hectic and dangerous July 4th weekend, and the city’s police force is now asking for help. Over the weekend, police were forced to contend with gunshots, illegal fireworks, and a number of sideshows. On one occasion, when officers attempted to intervene in a sideshow, they were met with thrown firecrackers. There were also arrests for blocking first responders.
What is a Sideshow?
Sideshows are part of the Bay Area and Northern California culture, but they can be dangerous and disruptive. They have caused a lot of problems for law enforcement for decades. The term refers to informal and unregulated stunt driving events. Motorists do donuts, ghost ride their whips, perform brake stands, and do various other tricks in front of a gathered crowd. Others just drive very slowly down the street to show off their vehicles.
Sideshows normally pop up during the early hours of the morning and move among predetermined locations over the course of a few hours. They delight the participants and spectators but bother neighbors in the areas in which they occur.
Dealing with the Sideshow Problem
For more than two decades, the law in California has been that police may impound a car for up to 30 days if it is involved in a sideshow. This law was passed in 2002. In some California cities, spectators may also be arrested or fined. Despite these potential consequences, sideshows are more popular than ever, which points to a problem with the enforcement or effectiveness of the related laws.
Vallejo’s Hectic Weekend
There were around a dozen sideshows that broke out throughout different areas of Vallejo on Sunday night. Approximately 1,000 people were estimated to have taken part. Police communicated that they do not have enough resources to adequately deal with the escalating problem, and are requesting the assistance of city leaders in dealing with the dangerous events by the establishment of new ordinances. One such new law requested by Vallejo’s Chief of Police is to make it illegal to be a spectator at these spontaneous stunt-driving events.
The proposed ordinance would mean that spectators, as well as participants, could face jail time, vehicle impoundment, and fines up to $1,000. Promoters of the sideshows could also face legal consequences. It is also believed by the Vallejo Police Department that funding from federal sources could help them tackle the sideshow problem. The money could establish a sideshow task force, and be used to increase staffing and make improvements in technology, including the installation of cameras at areas prone to luring these events.
Watch the YouTube video. Posted below is a report that Kron 4 uploaded about the 4th of July sideshows in Vallejo.
Moving Forward With Enforcement
After the July 4th weekend, it became clear to Vallejo Police that they need help to deal with sideshows and their related crimes. They believe it will take a concerted and creative effort due to the spontaneous nature of the events.
Vallejo Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello. Thank you for visiting our legal blog. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Vallejo personal injury lawyer. Participation in a sideshow is one example of dangerous driving behavior, but there are many others. Accidents caused by negligence injure many Northern Californians every day. If you have suffered injuries caused by another motorists’ carelessness or recklessness, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our experienced injury lawyers can help. Call us to set up a no-obligation consultation to go over your potential case. We can also simply offer free and friendly legal advice. Our local number is (707) 564-1900, and we also provide a toll-free line for those that are outside of the Vallejo region: (800) 404-5400.
Our firm has been helping injured Northern Californians for nearly four decades. See our settlements and verdicts, and our client reviews at the sites linked below:
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/sparkler-america-sparkle-fireworks-801902/
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