Mayor Lurie Celebrates New State Law to Stop Dangerous Sideshows on San Francisco Streets

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today celebrated the signing of AB 1588, strengthening tools for law enforcement to combat sideshows and street takeovers. The new law, authored by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani and sponsored by Mayor Lurie, will expand law enforcement’s authority to act and ensure accountability for repeat offenders.

The legislation builds on Mayor Lurie’s work to keep San Franciscans safe on city streets. Last year, Mayor Lurie signed legislation introduced by District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter to double fines for misdemeanor sideshow offenses. His Street Safety Initiative is bringing together city departments to keep pedestrians, drivers, cyclists, and transit riders safe. Crime is down in 2026, following a significant decrease last year, with car break-ins at 22-year lows.

“Crime numbers are down across the city, but numbers don't mean anything if San Franciscans don’t feel safe, and stopping sideshows will help both,” said Mayor Lurie. “With this new law, we are sending a clear message: Dangerous sideshows have no place in our neighborhoods, and we will use every tool available to stop them. I want to thank Assemblymember Stefani for her leadership and Governor Newsom for helping us give law enforcement the tools they need to keep San Franciscans and our streets safe.”

“Sideshows are dangerous, reckless, and can turn deadly in an instant,” said Assemblymember Stefani. “AB 1588 makes sure people who repeatedly put our communities at risk face real consequences. I am grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this bill and to Mayor Lurie for working with me to make our streets safer.”

AB 1588 gives law enforcement more authority to stop sideshows and increases accountability for repeat offenders. The new law will help combat sideshows by:  

• Adding motorbikes and dirt bikes to the sideshow framework, closing enforcement gaps when unlicensed and unplated motor or dirt bikes are used to perform dangerous stunts or block city streets
• Making serious bodily injury caused by a driver in a sideshow felony-eligible  
• Authorizing vehicle impoundment upon conviction for sideshow-related offenses, with increased accountability for repeat offenders  

“Sideshows pose a significant risk to public safety, and they will never be tolerated in San Francisco,” said San Francisco Police Department Chief Derrick Lew. “San Francisco Police Department officers will continue to work diligently to crack down on sideshow and stunt driving and follow up on investigations to impound vehicles and hold perpetrators accountable. I want to thank Mayor Daniel Lurie and Assemblymember Catherine Stefani for their work to give officers more tools to combat sideshows.”

“Sideshows and dangerous stunt driving put the public at great risk. I'm grateful to Assemblymember Stefani for her leadership in bringing more accountability and enforcement options forward to stem this dangerous activity,” said Supervisor Sauter. “Alongside Mayor Lurie and law enforcement partners, we've worked to step up local enforcement, and this new state-level effort is exactly the right next step.”

Although California and San Francisco have taken steps to respond to more organized sideshow events, enforcement tools have not kept pace with how organized sideshow events operate. AB 1588 closes the gap by updating state law to reflect current realities and brings consistency to enforcement by reducing ambiguity and strengthening the ability to hold repeat offenders accountable.

“Sideshows are no longer a fun side activity; they've become big business for those who organize them. They are not merely a public nuisance, but a public health and public safety issue,” said Damian Kevitt, Executive Director, Streets Are for Everyone. “AB 1588 updates California law so penalties match the danger and damage these sideshows bring to the community. Thank you, Governor Newsom, for signing AB 1588, and thank you, Assemblymember Stefani, for your work to bring this important piece across the finish line.”