ORDINANCE O2023-XX
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MANTECA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AMENDING AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING A NEW ORDINANCE REGARDING SIDESHOWS, STREET RACES, AND RECKLESS DRIVING EXHIBITIONS – CHAPTER 9.54 The City Council of the City of Manteca finds and declares as follows:
WHEREAS, “Sideshows” have proven to be a drain on public safety resources and constitute a risk to the wellbeing and safety of City of Manteca residents; and WHEREAS, this issue is not unique to the City of Manteca; and WHEREAS, on more than one occasion within City of Manteca city limits, public safety officers have been faced with dozens of cars and spectators taking over an intersection while performing dangerous stunts; and WHEREAS, these spectators block intersections, interfere with local businesses and law enforcement, and cause damage to public and private property, while evidencing a disregard to law and public safety; and WHEREAS, City staff and the City Council, by and through the Manteca Police Department, is committed to protecting the City of Manteca; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that not only addressing the crowds at these events, but also addressing the promotion of these events is a critical and helpful tool to curtail these dangerous and hazardous events; and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered all information related to this matter, as presented at the public meeting of the City Council identified herein, including any supporting reports by City Staff, and any information provided during public meetings.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City of Manteca hereby adopts the following ordinance regarding the prohibition of Street Races and Reckless Driving Exhibitions within the City of Manteca.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MANTECA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1: Creating. Manteca Municipal Code section 9.54 is hereby to read as follows:
9.54.020 - Definitions.
The definitions in this Section apply to the following terms as used in this Chapter:
A. “Street Race” means any motor vehicle speed contest or motor vehicle exhibition of speed referred to in subdivisions (a) and (c) of California Vehicle Code Section 23109, as may be amended.
B. “Reckless Driving Exhibition” shall mean any exhibition of reckless driving referred to in California Vehicle Code Section 23103, as may be amended.
C. “Sideshow” means any exhibition of reckless driving referred to in California Vehicle Code Section 23103, as may be amended.
D. “Offstreet Parking Facility” is defined in subdivision (c) of California Vehicle Code Section 12500, as may be amended.
E. “Participant” means any individual driving a vehicle which is found to have engaged in a reckless driving exhibition, as referred to in California Vehicle Code Section 23103.
F. “Passenger” means any individual riding in a vehicle which is found to have engaged in a reckless driving exhibition or sideshow, as referred to in California Vehicle Code Section 23103.
G. “Spectator” shall mean any person who is present at a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition, or the site of the Preparations for either of these activities, for the purpose of viewing, observing, watching, or witnessing the event as it progresses. A “Spectator” includes any person at the location of the event without regard to the means by which the person arrived.
H. “Scene” shall mean the location of the Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition or the location of the Preparations for the Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition.
I. A person is “present” at the Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition if that person is within two hundred (200) feet of the location of the Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition, or within two hundred (200) feet of the site of the Preparations for either of these activities.
J. “Preparations” for any Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition include, but are not limited to, any of the following acts done for the purpose of a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition:
1. One (1) or more motor vehicles and persons have arrived at a predetermined location on a public street or highway or in an Off-street Parking Facility;
2. One (1) or more persons have gathered on, or adjacent to, a public street or highway;
3. One (1) or more persons have gathered in an Offstreet Parking Facility;
4. One (1) or more persons have impeded the free public use of a public street, highway, or Offstreet Parking Facility by acts, words or physical barriers;
5. One (1) or more motor vehicles have lined up on a public street, highway, or Offstreet Parking Facility with motors running;
6. One (1) or more drivers is revving a motor vehicle's engine or causing the motor vehicle's tires to spin; and/or
7. A person is standing or sitting in a location to act as a race starter.
9.54.030 – Passengers and Spectators Prohibited at Street Races and Reckless Driving Exhibitions.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to:
1. Be knowingly present as a Spectator or Passenger at a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition conducted on a public street or highway or in an Off-street Parking Facility; or
2. Be knowingly present as a Spectator where Preparations are being made for a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition conducted on a public street or highway or in an Offstreet Parking Facility.
B. Nothing in this Section prohibits peace officers or their agents who are acting in the course of their official duties from being Spectators at a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition or Spectators at the location of Preparations for either of these activities.
9.54.040 - Promoting, Organizing, or Facilitating Spectators to Gather at Street Races and Reckless Driving Exhibitions Prohibited.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly encourage, promote, instigate, assist, facilitate, aide, or abet the gathering of persons as Spectators at a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition conducted on a public street or highway, or in an Off-street Parking Facility.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly encourage, promote, instigate, assist, facilitate, aide, or abet the gathering of persons as Spectators where Preparations are being made for a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition conducted on a public street or highway, or in an Offstreet Parking Facility.
9.54.050 - Relevant Circumstances to Prove a Violation.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, to prove a violation of this Chapter, admissible evidence may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:
1. That the person charged has previously participated in or been a Spectator at a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition;
2. That the person charged has previously aided and abetted Street Racing;
3. That the person charged has previously attended a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition;
4. That the person charged was previously present at a location where Preparations were being made for a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition, or where a Street Race or Reckless Driving Exhibition was in progress; or
5. Evidence of these prior acts may be admissible, to the fullest extent permissible by law, to show the opportunity, intent, plan, knowledge, identity, or the absence of a mistake or accident, or propensity of the defendant to be present at or attend a Street Race or a Reckless Driving Exhibition if the prior act or acts occurred within three (3) years of the presently charged offense. These prior acts may always be admissible to show knowledge on the part of the defendant that a Street Race or a Reckless Driving Exhibition was taking place.
B. In addition to the circumstances set out immediately above in subsection A, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, to prove a violation of this Chapter, admissible evidence may also include, but is not limited to, any of the following:
1. The time of day;
2. The nature and description of the Scene, including the number and configuration of traffic lanes;
3. The number of people at the Scene;
4. The location of the person charged in relation to any person or group of persons present at the Scene;
5. The number and descriptions of motor vehicles at the Scene;
6. That the motor vehicles at the Scene have been modified or altered to increase power, handling, or visual appeal; or
7. That the person charged drove or was transported to the Scene.
9.54.060 – Penalties
A. Any person who violates this Chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of $1,000.00, unless at the discretion of the City Attorney or District Attorney, the violation is reduced to an infraction.
B. Any person who violates this Chapter or who aids in the violation of this Chapter is liable for the actual damages caused by said violation, in such amount as may be determined by a jury or a court sitting without a jury.
9.54.070 – Validity
If any section, subsection, clause, word, and/or phrase of this Chapter is held to be unconstitutional and/or otherwise invalid for any reason, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Chapter. The Manteca City Council hereby declares that they would have passed this Chapter, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, word, and/or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, words, and/or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
9.54.080 – Enactment
This Chapter shall become valid and enacted thirty (30) days after the passage and adoption thereof, by the City Council. Prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days from the passage and adoption of this Chapter, this Chapter shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published in San Joaquin County, State of California, together with the names of the members of the City Council voting for or against the same.
SECTION 2: Severability. If any section, sub-section, subdivision, paragraph, clause or phrase in this Ordinance, or any part thereof, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections or portions of this Ordinance or any part thereof. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed each section, sub-section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, sub-sections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases may be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 3: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days following adoption.
City of Manteca, a municipal corporation
MAYOR: __________________________
GARY SINGH
ATTEST: __________________________
CASSANDRA CANDINI-TILTON
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF SAN JOAQUIN SS:
CITY OF MANTECA
I, Cassandra Candini-Tilton, City Clerk of the City of Manteca, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance had its first reading and was introduced during the public meeting of the City Council on the 2nd day of May, 2023, and had its second reading and was adopted and passed during the public meeting of the City Council on the ___ day of _______, 2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST: __________________________
CASSANDRA CANDINI-TILTON
City Clerk
ATTACHMENT 1
O2023-__ Page PAGE 2 of NUMPAGES 6 May 16, 2023
ATTACHMENT __
O20XX-__ Page PAGE 1 of NUMPAGES 2 Type adopted date of ordinance here