AB 1588 — Vehicles: Sideshow Accountability and Community Safety Act.

Summary

Existing law prohibits a person from, among other things, engaging in, aiding, or abetting a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility. Under existing law, a violation of this prohibition is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than 90 days, by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) , or by both that fine and imprisonment. Existing law, beginning on January 1, 2029, authorizes a court to suspend the privilege to operate a vehicle for 90 days to 6 months for a person who engages in, aids, or abets a motor vehicle exhibition of speed that occurred as part of a sideshow. For these purposes, existing law defines "sideshow" as an event in which 2 or more persons block or impede traffic on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility for the purpose of performing motor vehicle stunts, motor vehicle speed contests, motor vehicle exhibitions of speed, or reckless driving for spectators. This bill would revise the definition of sideshow to include the use or operation of any motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, motorcycles or off-highway motor vehicles, as specified, to barricade, block, impede, or otherwise obstruct traffic. The bill would also provide enhanced penalties for engaging in, aiding, or abetting a motor vehicle exhibition of speed as part of a sideshow, including, as specified, increasing fines, requiring a mandatory minimum jail sentence, and making the offense punishable as a misdemeanor or felony if the offense proximately causes injury to another person. By increasing the punishment for an existing crime, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 23109 of the Vehicle Code proposed by AB 1830 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1830 are enacted and this bill is enacted last. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 09/20/26 - Chaptered html September 20, 2026
• Enrolled 09/03/26 - Enrolled html September 03, 2026
• Amended 08/21/26 - Amended Senate html August 21, 2026
• Amended 04/16/26 - Amended Assembly Current pdf April 16, 2026
• Amended 03/16/26 - Amended Assembly pdf March 16, 2026
• Introduced 01/15/26 - Introduced pdf January 15, 2026
• AB1588 View text html

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the California codes: Section 23109 of the Vehicle Code.

• Section 23109 of the Vehicle Code

  upon (a) (A) shall violation block or impede traffic on in an driving, for spectators. A sideshow known cited SEC. 2. → SEC. 1.1. Section 23109 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: on (a), or is convicted of a violation of engaging in an exhibition of speed on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility pursuant to subdivision (c), where the violation occurred as part of a sideshow, (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a shall, violation, (B) A conviction of engaging in an exhibition of speed on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility pursuant to subdivision (c), where the violation occurred as part of a sideshow, shall be punished as follows:(i) A conviction is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than 24 hours nor more than 90 days or by a fine of not less than three hundred fifty-five dollars ($355) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.(ii) If the driver proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver, the conviction is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.(iii) If the driver proximately causes one or more of the injuries specified in subdivision (b) of Section 23109.1 to a person other than the driver, the conviction is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months, or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.(iv) If the conviction is for an offense that occurred within five years of the date of a prior offense that resulted in a conviction of any violation of this subparagraph, that person shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than four days nor more than six months and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).(v) If the perpetration of the most recent offense within the five-year period described in clause (iv) proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver, a person convicted of that second violation shall be imprisoned in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).(vi) If the perpetration of the most recent offense within the five-year period described in clause (iv) proximately causes serious bodily injury, as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, to a person other than the driver, a person convicted of that second violation shall be imprisoned in the state prison, or in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than one year, and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). or gathering barricade, block, impede, or otherwise obstruct traffic upon or access to without the consent of the owner, operator, or agent thereof, driving. A sideshow may involve the use or operation of any motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, motorcycles or off-highway motor vehicles, regardless of whether or not those vehicles display license plates or are registered. A sideshow known, cited, (n) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed. SEC. 1.2. Section 23109 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read: 23109. (a) A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway or in an offstreet parking facility. As used in this section, a motor vehicle speed contest includes a motor vehicle race against another vehicle, a clock, or other timing device. For purposes of this section, an event in which the time to cover a prescribed route of more than 20 miles is measured, but in which the vehicle does not exceed the speed limit, is not a speed contest

  amended

Action History

1. September 09, 2026

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m.

2. August 30, 2026

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.).

3. August 30, 2026

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.

4. August 30, 2026

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0.).

5. August 30, 2026

   Ordered to special consent calendar.

6. August 24, 2026

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

7. August 21, 2026

   Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.

8. August 13, 2026

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

9. August 13, 2026

   From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).

10. August 03, 2026

    In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

11. July 01, 2026

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

12. June 24, 2026

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 23). Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

13. June 03, 2026

    Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and PUB. S.

14. May 27, 2026

    In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

15. May 26, 2026

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 75. Noes 0.)

16. May 18, 2026

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

17. May 14, 2026

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (May 14).

18. May 06, 2026

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

19. April 21, 2026

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

20. April 21, 2026

    Coauthors revised.

21. April 20, 2026

    Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

22. April 16, 2026

    Read second time and amended.

23. April 15, 2026

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 14).

24. April 07, 2026

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

25. March 17, 2026

    Re-referred to Com. on PUB. S.

26. March 16, 2026

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on PUB. S. Read second time and amended.

27. March 16, 2026

    Referred to Coms. on PUB. S. and TRANS.

28. January 16, 2026

    From printer. May be heard in committee February 15.

29. January 15, 2026

    Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

• Catherine Stefani · Primary

Votes

Subjects