- New laws in California take effect on January 1, 2025, impacting street takeovers and speeding.
- Speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway will trigger civil penalties ranging from $50 to $500.
- Sideshow participants can face a suspension of their driver’s license for up to six months.
California is about to drop a slew of new laws on its citizens. Before those laws go into effect, the state wants residents to know what’s coming. Drivers especially need to beware of two big changes including ones regarding speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway and how officers can now handle street takeovers and sideshows.
Speaking of illegal takeovers and sideshows, the state now authorizes heavier and broader penalties as of July 1, 2025. Specifically, police officers can now impound vehicles more readily. In addition, those who aid or spectate sideshows or street takeovers can find themselves in jail or facing heavy fines. For example, just attending a sideshow could lead to up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine. The state will also have the right to suspend a driver’s license for between 90 days and six months if that person is guilty of partaking in a sideshow.
Other new bills expand the definition of speed contest, takeover, or sideshow to include ones that happen at an off-street parking facility. Notably. California went as far as to create an entire bill just to clarify that sideshow is a separate term for street takeover so that there is no confusion on the legal side when convictions are at stake.
“Sideshows are reckless, criminal activities that endanger our communities. We have seen too many people killed or hurt at these events. Today, we are sending a clear message to anyone considering participating in or attending a sideshow: stricter penalties are in place, including the potential loss of your vehicle,” said Governor Newsom.
Another bill specifically focuses on speeding on the Pacific Coast Highway. It enables the state to set up five new automated speed enforcement cameras on the PCH. The government says it’ll focus on “high-risk areas like school zones,” but the final placement of the cameras isn’t settled on yet. Those caught speeding by the cameras will face a civil penalty.
Those going 11 to 15 mph over the limit will pay $50. Above 15 mph but below 25 mph warrants a $100 penalty. Those above 26 mph over the limit will pay $200 unless they’re going 100 mph or more in total. In that case, they’ll pay $500.
Will all of these new measures make a difference? Only time will tell but no doubt, California will be back again a year from now with new bills aimed at cracking down even further.