The streets of Vallejo became the backdrop for a vehicular spectacle as police cracked down on a large sideshow event, resulting in multiple arrests and vehicle impoundments. According to the Vallejo Police Department, officers were summoned to the intersection of Hichborn St. and Wilson Ave. in the early hours of January 27, where around 300 vehicles were disrupting traffic with a sideshow - an event marked by car stunt performances that often block public roadways.
In a display of swift enforcement, officers arriving at the chaotic scene pinpointed a gray Toyota Camry and a white Lexus IS300 actively engaging in the sideshow, the drivers found themselves promptly arrested, cited for “Spectating Sideshow” under Vallejo Municipal Code (VMC) 8.74.040 and their cars towed; the offenders were later released, the Vallejo Police Department detailed the occurrences in a statement. The incident did not mark the end of sideshow activities in the city, as another driver was stopped and cited the following day for spinning donuts at the intersection of N. Camino Alto and Sereno Dr. - his Chevrolet Corvette was also removed from the streets.
Authorities in Vallejo are tightening the reins on such gatherings, warning that anyone partaking in sideshows could face an arrest followed by hefty fees for vehicle retrieval, the financial penalties include a $339 tow release fee, a $300 tow service charge, daily storage fees of $60, and an additional $150 for after-hour tows, totaling an estimated $2,589 in expenses for a 30-day impound stint.
Vallejo’s attempt to curb these reckless driving exhibitions extends to a ban on spectating, with the local ordinance declaring it unlawful for any person to knowingly witness or be present at street races and similar events on public streets or highways or in off-street parking facilities, the rule also applies to those spectating where preparations for such events take place, ensuring that potential onlookers think twice before attending, the police department earnestly cautioning residents and thrill-seekers through their public communication that being a mere bystander to the thrill can lead to legal consequences.
