POLICE Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

San Jose First City to Criminalize Promoting Sideshows

Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and face fines of up to $1,000, six months in jail or some combination of both if they promote, instigate or encourage any such events online in the wake of a new ordinance passed by San Jose City Council this week.

July 5, 2021
2 min to read


As many cities are looking for new ways to clamp down on the rampant spread of illegal street races and sideshows, San Jose is believed to be the first in the nation to make it a crime to promote or encourage them through social media.

Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and face fines of up to $1,000, six months in jail or some combination of both if they promote, instigate or encourage any such events online in the wake of a new ordinance passed by San Jose City Council this week, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Ad Loading...

“Don’t come to San Jose — that’s the message,” said Councilmember Maya Esparza.

The new measure marks the city’s latest attempt to deter people from taking part in dangerous and reckless driving, speeding down San Jose streets and performing stunts in parking lots, especially in events that tend to attract crowds of spectators.

At least eight people, including participants and innocent bystanders, have lost their lives in recent years in suspected street racing events across San Jose. Most recently, 19-year-old Jamie Pech was killed in a crash on June 11 in South San Jose when he and the driver of another vehicle both swerved off the road and smashed into separate trees during what police believed was a street race.

“Folks should be able to go to bed at a decent hour and not have their lives disrupted at one, two, three o’clock in the morning,” Councilmember Magdalena Carrasco said during Tuesday’s meeting.

Ad Loading...

More Patrol

Black background with POLICE logo, police light bar, and headline Top 10 Videos of 2025.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamJanuary 7, 2026

Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025

What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.

Read More →
Blue tinted background of a police dispatcher with headline Flock Safety + Coreforce Integation
TechnologyJanuary 7, 2026

Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement

A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.

Read More →
three background images - man in tactical gear, image of ballistic helmet, photo of police officer in tactical gear approaching a car, and a circle with logo for Ballistic Armor Co.
PatrolJanuary 7, 2026

Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities

Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
image of men on bicycles and women competing in martial arts and a log for the US Police & Fire Championships
PatrolDecember 10, 2025

Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility

The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.

Read More →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactic & TIps against a black background and an illuminated police car light bar. Headline for Tips for Watching the Hands
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 5, 2025

Tips for Watching the Hands

How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.

Read More →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with yellow headline 10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops.
Sponsoredby Wayne ParhamDecember 3, 2025

10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops

What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Screenshot of compute screen showing a blurred license plate compared to an image where the image has been enhanced to show the numbers and letters.
Patrolby Edited by StaffNovember 25, 2025

Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software

Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.

Read More →
Background orange tinted image of southern California with pushpin marking Burbank. Headline reads K-9 Killed by Gunman, Burbank Police Department
PatrolNovember 24, 2025

Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops

A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.

Read More →
Thumbnail image with blue and red police lights against a black background, large POLICE logo, headline for From the Show Floor: InVeris
Patrolby Wayne ParhamNovember 23, 2025

From the Show Floor: InVeris

In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail image for video series POLICE From the Show Floor featuring Polaris Government & Defense.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamNovember 19, 2025

From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense

Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.

Read More →