A dangerous sideshow activity left an AC Transit bus stranded in Oakland, reflecting the challenges faced by law enforcement despite recent moves to crack down on the problem according to KRON4. Over 50 vehicles gathered near Edes Avenue and Hegenberger Road around 4 a.m., causing chaos on the streets.
Sideshow at Hegenberger & Coliseum Way in East Oakland - before it’s broken up by @ACSOSheriffs @oaklandpoliceca pic.twitter.com/4TVNQ0Ldhh
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) July 24, 2023
Alameda County, where Oakland is located, implemented a controversial law last month making it illegal to even watch a sideshow, punishable by a $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail as reported by SFist. The law, which has civil liberties groups expressing concern over its wide net, has not yet appeared to have an impact on discouraging sideshow activities.
In response to escalating sideshow incidents and street racing, the Regional Side Show Enforcement Team (RESET), a multiagency enforcement operation, launched on July 8, 2023. RESET includes officers from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, Hayward Police Department, San Leandro Police Department, and California Highway Patrol's Hayward Area Office Hoodline announced. Although the efforts resulted in significant arrests and citations, the recent incident in Oakland demonstrates that the problem of sideshows persists.
Last month's Alameda County law represents only one of the many strategies authorities are exploring in an attempt to curb dangerous sideshow activities. San Jose prosecutes those who promote sideshows on social media or act as spectators, while San Francisco is exploring the use of drone technology to monitor license plates via SFist. These novel approaches indicate the growing concern over the safety risks posed by illegal sideshow activities in the Bay Area.
