APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
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CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER WANG
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ASSEMBLY BILL 1588 (STEFANI) – VEHICLES: SIDESHOW ENHANCEMENTS
WHEREAS, illegal sideshows and street takeover s have become an escalating public safety crisis in the City of Oakland, endangering re sidents, pedestrians, bystanders, and first responders through reckless stunts, blocked intersections, and the fr equent presence of firearms and illegal fireworks; and
WHEREAS, the Oakland City Council is committed to advancing meaningful, effective tools that empower law enforcement to protect Oakland communities from the harms caused by organized sideshow activity; and
WHEREAS, current California law treats participa tion in a sideshow as a misdemeanor regardless of prior convictions, and enhanced penalties are ava ilable only when serious bodily injury results, leaving enforcem ent agencies without sufficient deterrent tools against repeat offenders and increasingly organized sideshow networks; and WHEREAS, existing sideshow enforcement frameworks fail to address the use of unlicensed and un-plated dirt bi kes and motorbikes, which have become common instruments of dangerous sideshow activity on Oakland streets; and
WHEREAS, Assembly Bill 1588, authored by Asse mblymember Catherine Stefani, would strengthen the state’s sideshow enforcemen t framework by: authorizing courts to issue warrants for the immediate seizure and impoundment of vehicles used in sideshow offenses; expanding the sideshow framework to cover moto rbikes and dirt bikes; making bodily injury during a sideshow and repeat sideshow convictions wobblers chargeable as either a misdemeanor or felony; and declaring vehicles used in sideshows a public nuisance subject to forfeiture upon conviction; and
WHEREAS, these reforms would close critical enforcement gaps, increase accountability for chronic offenders, and provide Oakland law enforcement with proportionate tools to address the most dangerous forms of sideshow conduct; and
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2 WHEREAS, the Oakland City Council recognizes that effective sideshow deterrence requires a statewide legislative framework that keeps pace with evolving tactics and supports local enforcement efforts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council here by expresses its strong support for Assembly Bill 1588 and urges the California State Legislature and the Governor to enact this legislation into law; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this resolution to Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, the offices of Oakland’s state legislative delegation, and the Governor of California.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - BROWN, FIFE, GALLO, HOUSTON, RAMACHANDRAN, UNGER, WANG, AND
PRESIDENT JENKINS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
A T T E S T :
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
3473365/JB