The Lathrop Police Department has been sending a clear message to those participating in reckless driving and sideshow-related activities within the city limits – find somewhere else to go.

Last week the agency tracked down a driver that they claim was observed racing another vehicle down Lathrop Road – both vehicles fleeing when officers attempted a traffic stop.

That chase was called off in the interest of public safety after both vehicles fled on I-5 southbound at a very high rate of speed.

But that didn’t mean that the officers were giving up.

Using information gathered from the pursuit officers were able to track down the residence of one of the drivers and arrived with a tow truck to impound his Dodge Charger for 30 days. They even went as far as to poke at the owner a little bit by letting him know if he misses his ride, he can visit the station in River Islands to secure its pickup.

It wasn’t the only time in the last week the agency would come down on those who break the law by driving recklessly.

Over the weekend the owner of a Chevrolet Camaro lost his ride for 30 days after he was observed driving recklessly as part of a sideshow – an unofficial car meetup where people spin donuts and drift, often with huge crowds of people gathered around.

Originating in Oakland, the sideshow culture has become a flashpoint for law enforcement who see the meetups as an opportunity for problems to arise – from person-to-person violence to cars careening out of control into crowds full of people and seriously injuring or even killing them.

Intentionally breaking traction in a vehicle in California under any circumstance is illegal – it’s defined as “exhibition of speed” in the California Vehicle Code – and can result in citations, fines, or even the impounding of a vehicle.

Much like other areas of California, Lathrop has been dealing with the explosion of sideshows and related activity in recent years. Before the Lathrop Police Department took over law enforcement operations in the city last year, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office provided law enforcement services and was a lead agency in the San Joaquin County Sideshow Task Force – made up of representatives from agencies across the county working collaboratively to stem the issue.

For additional information about the Lathrop Police Department or their enforcement efforts, visit the agency’s website at https://www.ci.lathrop.ca.us/police.