Officials in Alameda County took a big step in trying to rein in sideshows Tuesday by giving initial approval to a proposed law to make it illegal to even watch one of the illicit car-stunt events.
One big amendment in the ordinance that was passed by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors by a vote of 4-1 was that being a spectator at a sideshow could now land individuals in jail for three months. The original proposal was for standard sentencing of six months.
Sideshows have only increased it seems since the advent of cell phones and social medica which helps spread the videos of hundreds of people gathered and recording cars executing stunts and spinning donuts in the middle of an intersection. The Alameda County Sheriff's Office hopes it will serve as a deterrent and a mechanism to get people to disperse.
But a number of questions remain about the legality of the ordinance, specifically its constitutional when it comes to the First Amendment, since sideshows are happening in public spaces.Time and time again, I've seen a huge disproportionate amount of Black and Brown people get swept up simply because they are Black and Brown. And this ordinance has the potential to do that," said public defender Brendon Woods during the hearing on the ordinance.
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