Rohnert Park Municipal Code Ch. 9.42 Reckless Driving Exhibitions, Street Racing, and Sideshows

For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

A. "Off-street parking facility" means any off-street facility held open for use by the public for parking vehicles and includes any publicly owned facilities for off-street parking, and privately owned facilities for off-street parking where no fee is charged for the privilege to park and which are held open for the common public use of retail customers.

B. "Participant" means any individual driving a vehicle that is used in a reckless driving exhibition, a street race, or a sideshow.

C. "Passenger" means any individual riding in a vehicle which is used in a reckless driving exhibition, a street race, or a sideshow.

D. "Preparations" shall mean the performance of any of the following acts, while a gathering of five or more persons have been assembled, at a public street, highway, or off-street parking facility:

1. Impeding the free public use of a public street, highway, or off-street parking facility by acts or physical barriers for the purpose of facilitating or participating in a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition;

2. The lining up of two or more motor vehicles on a public street, highway, or off-street parking facility with motors running, for the purpose of facilitating, participating in or observing a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition;

3. Revving a motor vehicle's engine or causing the motor vehicle's tires to spin for the purpose of facilitating or participating in a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition; or

4. Standing or sitting in a position opposite or adjacent to more than one motor vehicle, in order to act as a race starter for the purpose of facilitating or participating in a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition.

F. "Reckless driving exhibition" shall mean the driving of any vehicle in a manner that can be defined as reckless driving as referred to in California Vehicle Code Section 23103, as may be amended.

G. "Scene" shall mean the location of any sideshow, street race or reckless driving expedition or the location of the preparations for the sideshow, street race or reckless driving expedition.

H. "Sideshow" shall mean any exhibition of reckless driving referred to in California Vehicle Code Section 23103, as may be amended, and shall also mean any event in which five or more persons acting together block or impede traffic on a highway or off-street parking facility, for the purpose of performing motor vehicle stunts, motor vehicle speed contests, motor vehicle exhibitions of speed, or exhibitions of reckless driving.

I. "Spectator" shall mean any person who is present, within two hundred feet of the location of a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition, or the location of preparations for such events, for the purpose of viewing or witnessing any such event as it progresses.

J. "Street race" means any motor vehicle speed contest or motor vehicle exhibition of speed as defined in subdivisions (a) and (c) of California Vehicle Code Section 23109, as may be amended.

(Ord. No. 974, § 2, 2-14-2023)

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

A. Knowingly participate as a driver at a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition conducted on a public street or highway or in an off-street parking facility; or

B. Be knowingly present as a passenger at a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition conducted on a public street or highway or in an off-street parking facility.

(Ord. No. 974, § 2, 2-14-2023)

It shall be unlawful for any person to:

A. Be knowingly present as a spectator at a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition conducted on a public street or highway or in an off-street parking facility.

B. Be knowingly present as a spectator where preparations are being made for a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition conducted on a public street or highway or in an off-street parking facility.

Nothing in this chapter prohibits peace officers, medical professionals, firefighters or their agents who are acting in the course of their official duties from being present at or responding to a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition, or being present at the location of preparations for any such events.

(Ord. No. 974, § 2, 2-14-2023)

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly organize, promote, facilitate, publicize, or aid in the gathering of persons to serve as spectators at a sideshow, street race or reckless driving exhibition on a public street, highway, or in an off-street parking facility.

(Ord. No. 974, § 2, 2-14-2023)

Any person who violates this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of one thousand dollars, unless at the discretion of the prosecuting city attorney or district attorney, the violation is reduced to an infraction.

(Ord. No. 974, § 2, 2-14-2023)