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Council introduces ordinance to ban spectators at illegal motor‑vehicle speed contests
Summary
The council introduced, by first reading, an ordinance adding a new chapter to the municipal code that would make it an offense for people to attend as spectators at illegal speed contests or exhibitions of speed and would allow LASD and code enforcement to issue administrative citations as an alternative to criminal prosecution.
The City Council introduced for first reading an ordinance that would prohibit spectators at illegal motor‑vehicle speed contests and exhibitions of speed.
Public Safety Director Nora Garcia and council members described the draft ordinance as a tool to discourage organized street takeovers and to complement enforcement actions against drivers. The proposed code language would make it a crime for a person to be present as a spectator at an illegal speed contest or exhibition of speed or at locations where preparations for those activities are occurring. The ordinance also gives LASD and city code enforcement the option to issue an administrative citation (the draft cited a $2,000 per‑violation penalty unless the council adopts a higher amount through the municipal code) in lieu of criminal prosecution.
Councilmember Jim Dear, who introduced the motion, said the item was brought to him by a member of the Public Safety Commission and emphasized the ordinance's preventive intent: to reduce crowding and the spectator culture that encourages dangerous driving.
The ordinance passed first reading by voice/roll call vote and will return for a second reading and a vote to adopt at a subsequent meeting in accordance with the council's ordinance adoption process.
