RPD issues reckless driving citations, impounds cars during weekend sideshow
Richmond police cracked down on a large sideshow early Sunday morning, dispersing crowds and issuing citations as part of a growing effort to tackle reckless driving events in the Bay Area.
Richmond Police responded to calls reporting a sideshow at West Cutting and Canal Boulevards and encountered numerous vehicles driving recklessly with 200 spectators watching and setting off commercial-grade fireworks.
Officers followed four vehicles who attempted to flee into a dead end on E. Richmond Avenue and Wine Street.
Predawn sideshow at Cutting & Canal
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) September 8, 2024
in Richmond later dispersed by @RPDCAOnline pic.twitter.com/z6zslLc5wW
“One vehicle decided to try and escape and ended up with flat tires after running over a tire deflation device and a concrete island,” police said in a statement. “The remaining three vehicles remained, and the drivers were issued citations for reckless driving, and their cars were impounded for 30 days.”
According to police, the drivers face fines of up to $500 in addition to their tow fees and possible license suspension. Police said none of the drivers cited were from Richmond, with some traveling from Sacramento and the Central Valley.
In a statement, Richmond police emphasized their zero-tolerance policy toward sideshows, warning that offenders would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Sideshows continue to disrupt Bay Area traffic
Elsewhere in the Bay Area, sideshow activity brought traffic to a standstill on the Bay Bridge early Sunday morning. According to reports, approximately 100 vehicles participated in the illegal event near Treasure Island at around 3 a.m., blocking all westbound lanes for about 20 minutes.
While officers attempted to intervene, no arrests were made, and the drivers quickly dispersed once the highway reopened.
Sideshows were also reported in Vallejo and on El Portal Drive near the freeway.
Sideshows, in which drivers perform dangerous stunts such as doughnuts, have become a recurring issue in the region, particularly on weekends, often drawing large crowds despite efforts to curb them.
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