The Facts

SFPD says an illegal sideshow at Clement St. and 32nd Ave. on Jan. 18 ended with two arrests, a vehicle tow, and the seizure of an illegal assault rifle plus magazines and ammunition, per an SFPD release and Jessica Flores at the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Context

SF has been tightening sideshow enforcement on two tracks: better tools for police and stronger consequences.

In 2024, the Board of Supervisors passed legislation to create new criminal offenses related to organizing/promoting sideshows and to expand vehicle impound authority.

More recently, an ordinance sponsored by Danny Sauter and co-sponsored by Stephen Sherrill, Rafael Mandelman, Matt Dorsey, and Alan Wong doubled the maximum fine for misdemeanor sideshow convictions from $500 to $1,000.

The GrowSF Take

Sideshows aren't harmless fun. They destroy intersections, create noxious pollution, and put lives at risk -- especially when participants bring assault rifles with them.

SF should treat every sideshow as a public-safety incident: rapid dispersal, aggressive towing/impounds, and consistent prosecution for drivers and organizers. And City Hall should keep funding the staffing and modern tools (like drones and license plate readers) that make follow-up enforcement possible.