New KC law increases street racing fines. But some city officials fear negative impacts
Drivers participating in illegal street racing and automotive stunts can face heftier fines after a new law unanimously passed Kansas City’s city council Thursday.
But some council members who approved the new law fear it could negatively impact people who are not involved in illegal activity.
A city ordinance on the events, also known as “sideshows,” is updated with increases in maximum fines and lowers the bar for when police can have vehicles impounded.
Participants can face fines of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $1,000 for third and subsequent offenses. Before the new law, those fines were $150, $300 and $500 for first, second and third offenses. Fines for spectators were kept at $100 under the new law, but its language allows for their cars to be impounded too.
Police can impound a vehicle based on probable cause alone, the new ordinance reads, when police believe someone was involved as a driver, participant or spectator at a “sideshow.” An administrative fee determined by the public works director can be applied to an impounded car, the law reads.
Impounding spectator vehicles is a concept that concerns Third District Councilwoman Melissa Robinson, who’s now pushing for public awareness after the law passed.
The way the law is written, applying to anyone within 200 feet of the activity, could lead to someone being wrongfully impacted by the ordinance, Robinson said.
“I am concerned about the public awareness about this and would want folks to know they shouldn’t be participating as a spectator in these types of sideshows,” Robinson said. “We also want to make sure that folks aren’t being penalized or punished unnecessarily.”
“We want to make sure that residents who... may just be in the area are not... being wrongfully deemed as someone who is a spectator, but certainly we don’t want people to be an active participant in any of the sideshows,” she said.
Sixth District Councilman Johnathan Duncan said the ordinance’s new language is not specific in its definition of participants and spectators. The new law, he said, could give the Kansas City police too much authority to implicate people they believe might be involved in illegal activity.
Duncan said he has heard from people living in Kansas City’s Brookside and Waldo neighborhoods claiming they were stopped by police because a sideshow was happening in the area.
“My worry is, how will this ordinance implicate them, and what discretion will KCPD be using when they are identifying ‘spectators and participants?’” Duncan said.
Sideshows persist despite city efforts
The perennial problem of vehicle stunts and racing on Kansas City streets has heated up in recent years. The city has implemented several different kinds of road modifications to deter them, police ran public awareness campaigns on their enforcement efforts and community members have been outspoken at meetings.
Most recently, the Kansas City Police Department posted on X on Sept. 9 about overnight enforcement at sideshows. The post said enforcement that weekend led to two arrests, six towed vehicles and 57 citations, including some to spectators.
Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a spokeswoman with KCPD, said she is not yet aware of the specifics of the new ordinance. But, she said, laws that allow police to move forward with enforcement efforts in a more efficient way are beneficial to public safety and police resources.
“Harsher penalties for street racing may be what is needed to encourage people to think twice before participating in these types events, but only time will tell if we have found a solution or need to continue looking at other ways to be proactive in stopping (and) preventing side shows,” Gonzalez said in an email to The Star.
Concerned community members say police can do more to be proactive in their enforcement, Duncan said. Many sideshow events are publicized on social media platforms days before the events take place.
Robinson said it was around two years ago when she noticed more sideshows in her neighborhood, and that they have persisted since.
Despite concerns about innocent people being inadvertently impacted by the new law, Robinson said it is still a step in the right direction to ensure enforcement.
“I have experienced it first hand, and not only is it challenging for people who live in the neighborhoods who aren’t able to get around in their communities because these things are going on, but it is extremely dangerous for pedestrians,” Robinson said.
The ordinance defines “sideshow” as an “unsanctioned demonstration of automotive stunts which obstructs the orderly flow of traffic.” It was sponsored by Mayor Quinon Lucas, Fourth District at Large Commissioner Crispin Rea and Second District Councilman Wes Rogers.
Duncan said he has serious concerns about the new law opening a door to unchecked, broad police authority to arrest people within 200 feet of a sideshow, regardless of what they are doing.
Still, Duncan is on board with enforcement and recognizes that when it comes to sideshows, quick action is necessary, he said.
“Something has to be done, there has to be an immediate impact,” Duncan said. “I’m hoping that increased enforcement for sideshows will be that deterrent.”
