San Jose Ordinance Fines And Jails Anyone Within 200 Feet Of An Illegal Speed Exhibition

Authorities across the country are constantly testing new ways to stop the violent delights and violent ends of street racing. In California, where the problem is particularly widespread, the city of San Jose passed an ordinance this week making it illegal to even watch a street race or sideshow as a spectator, a crime now punishable by a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. It's a bold new tactic for police—and one that warrants a closer look.

ABC7 News reports the San Jose City Council voted unanimously to approve the legislation, which is written in broad strokes to give authorities a lot of latitude in going after spectators. Essentially, police can arrest anyone standing within 200 feet of a street race or "reckless driving exhibition"—think burnout, donut, and drifting shenanigans—taking place on either a public road or an off-street parking lot. Here's the relevant text in full:

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MDarringer - 5/8/2019 8:35:28 PM

+2 Boost

AMEN. We need to ICE them and send sanctuary California into a snit.

People could legitimately be in the area and be completely unaffiliated. This is a money making grab.

A Civic with a fart-can exhaust passes you. A police officer pulls your over and tickets you because he says the Civic was doing an illegal exhibition of speed for going 46 in a 45 zone and you pay and pay.

SanJoseDriver - 5/8/2019 1:18:39 PM

-1 Boost

San Jose in the news =)

More specifics on the rule:

"It shall be unlawful for any person to (1) Be knowingly present as a Spectator at a Street Race conducted on a public street or highway; or (2) Be knowingly present as a Spectator at a Reckless Driving Exhibition conducted on a public street or highway or in an Offstreet Parking Facility."

Agent009 - 5/8/2019 2:58:35 PM

+5 Boost

and how do you prove "knowingly" ?

MDarringer - 5/8/2019 8:36:53 PM

+4 Boost

@009 For Democrats it's easy. They said Trump knowingly colluded with the Russians. That was proven false and that the DEMOCRATS were the ones colluding and yet they still KNOW Trump is guilty. THAT is the BS mindset of these morons.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 5/8/2019 1:43:41 PM

+6 Boost

I'd love to see how this ordinance holds up if challenged. There was something similar during the G20 in Toronto. Protestors were surrounded and kettled by the police. Sadly as it was in the downtown core and they took everyone on the sidewalk too, including people walking home from work. Blaming bystanders or observers has to be the height of idiocy.

PUGPROUD - 5/8/2019 4:22:02 PM

+4 Boost

But officer I was just walking down the avenue and a street race broke out. Honestly.

ricks0me - 5/8/2019 10:12:41 PM

0 Boost

Matt said: DEMOCRATS were the ones colluding and yet they still KNOW Trump is guilty

Rick said: You should run for President

MDarringer - 5/9/2019 8:23:43 AM

-1 Boost

Step #1: Kill squads for stupid unicorns
Step #2: Airlift illegals back home and let them fly at 30K feet
Step #3: Crusades V2.0
Step #4: Wellfare? Schmelfare!
Step #5: Send Feinstein, Pelosi, Schumer, Obama, Clinton, Omar, Tlaib, O'Rourke, Obama, Sanders, and AOC on a rocket to Mars.
Step #5: Bask in the admiration of all Americans for saving their country.
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@rick now let's see how many people cannot see the absurd sarcasm in the above. Triggered in 3...2...1