Fed-up S.F. neighbors rejoice at installation of speed bumps to combat sideshows

San Francisco Chronicle / July 11, 2024

City crews installed a set of speed bumps on Tuesday morning at the intersection of Divisadero and California streets with the aim of thwarting increasingly noisy, disruptive car sideshows that have irritated neighbors for more than two years.

The sideshows typically begin anywhere between around 12:40 a.m. and 1:20 a.m, and usually last about a half hour, according to one nearby business owner. Two to three cars take over the intersection at a time, spinning doughnuts and screeching across the pavement, leaving dozens of tire marks, neighbors told the Chronicle.

SNIP

According to DataSF, there have been 24 different reports of stunt driving since January in San Francisco, with 11 reported in June. DataSF also shows that there were 52 reported cases of stunt driving last year.

The speed bumps drew what appeared to be universal praise from neighbors living not just right at the intersection, but for several blocks around.

Full story (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/fed-up-neighbors-happy-see-speed-bumps-combat-19565296.php

Highlights (from the link):

• San Francisco passed legislation in 2020 allowing officers to impound the cars of sideshow participants. Just six vehicles were impounded in 2023 and five so far in 2024.

• In 2023 Oakland City Council approved penalties of up to six months in jail or a $1,000 fine or both for anyone who starts or facilitates a sideshow.

• Alameda County Board of Supervisors approved a law that can fine sideshow spectators $1,000 and lead to three months of jail time.

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Shits and giggles until someone is killed. Give it time.

Speed bumps: great idea. But tax money that could be useful elsewhere. Sideshow assholes.