Speeding, Street Racing and Sideshows in San Diego

• Call 911. SDPD's When to Call 9-1-1 page says to call 911 if there is "a danger to life or property" or "a crime currently in progress or crime that happened within the last 5-10 minutes." Speed contests and exhibitions of speed on public streets are illegal (see below), so a race or sideshow in progress qualifies.
• Tell the dispatcher where. The intersection or block, which way the cars are heading, how many vehicles and people there are, and whether anyone is hurt.
• Keep your distance. In the City, being knowingly present as a spectator within 200 feet of an illegal speed contest or exhibition of speed is a misdemeanor under the Municipal Code. Report from a safe place, and do not approach the crowd or the cars. SDPD said in 2022 that "Sideshow takeovers often result in injuries, violence, and property damage" and that "Fireworks are often used."
• Do not film while driving. The DMV's driver handbook says: "Driving while using a handheld cell phone is unsafe and illegal." If you are behind the wheel, pull over safely before you call.

Speeding is a moving violation, so it goes to the police, not to the City's Get It Done app. As of November 3, 2026, the Get It Done categories on the City's Vision Zero Report an Issue page cover things like signs, signals, striping and traffic service requests, not speeding.

• Non-emergency line. SDPD's contact page says to report a non-emergency by calling 619-531-2000 or 858-484-3154. SDPD says response to non-emergency calls depends on "the relative urgency or priority of the situation," "the likelihood of making an arrest" and "the availability of an officer."
• A pattern at the same place. SDPD's Request Additional Patrol form is for "recurring issues in your neighborhood" and asks you to "provide as much information as possible." It notes: "This is only a request. Additional patrol will be assigned as staffing availability permits."
• SDPD Traffic Division. SDPD's contact directory lists the Traffic Division at 858-495-7800 and [email protected]. Its 2024 operations manual says the division "enforces state and local traffic laws" and responds "directly to citizens' concerns via Citizen Complaint Form investigations, Citizen Request Forms, Route Slip responses, email requests from the city's Traffic Engineering Department, and educational programs." It says "Much of Motors activity involves responding to citizen complaints and evaluating requests for traffic improvements," and that motor officers may send requests to the City's Traffic Engineering Division "to make traffic conditions safer."
• Changing the street itself. For speed humps, speed tables and other traffic calming, see our speed humps, stop signs and red curb guide; it explains the Traffic Service Request form and the neighbor petition. For speeding near a school, see our school zones guide.
• Loud cars, not fast cars. Loud mufflers and car stereos are noise complaints; see our noise complaints guide.

• State law. We could not load the Vehicle Code from the Legislature's website, so this relies on how the City describes it. San Diego Municipal Code section 52.5201 says that "pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 23109, motor vehicle speed contests and exhibitions of speed conducted on public streets and highways are illegal," and that they "are more commonly known as street races or drag races." The DMV's driver handbook says: "A person convicted of reckless driving or engaging in a speed contest that causes injury to another person is subject to imprisonment, a fine, or both."
• The City's spectator law. Municipal Code Chapter 5, Article 2, Division 52, "Spectators Prohibited at Illegal Speed Contests or Exhibitions of Speed," was added in October 2002. Section 52.5203 says anyone "knowingly present as a spectator" at an illegal speed contest or exhibition of speed, or where preparations are being made for one, on a public street or on private property open to the public without the owner's consent, "is guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of $1,000." A person is present "if that individual is within 200 feet of the location of the event, or within 200 feet of the location where preparations are being made." On-duty law enforcement is exempt.
• What counts as preparations. Section 52.5202 lists examples, including a group lining one or both sides of a street to watch, people blocking a street "by actions, words, or physical barriers," "two or more vehicles have lined up with motors running," a driver "revving his engine or spinning his tires in preparation for the event," and someone "serving as a race starter." This division of the Municipal Code does not use the word "sideshow."
• Who investigates. SDPD's 2024 Traffic Division operations manual describes a Traffic Special Investigations Unit that "investigates crimes and provides investigative expertise to reduce or eliminate criminal behavior associated with street racing, sideshows, and unsanctioned car meets or related events." In an October 2022 news release, SDPD reported a joint operation with CHP and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in which two people were arrested, 29 driving-related citations were issued and seven vehicles were impounded.
• Tips about planned events. In that release, SDPD said anyone with information "relating to these events" is "encouraged to contact SDPD or they may contact Crime Stoppers and remain anonymous." SDPD's contact page lists Crime Stoppers at 888-580-TIPS.

• The CHP patrols the freeways. The CHP San Diego Area office says it "consists of fourteen different freeway systems, covering over three hundred miles, encompassing the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, National City and Coronado." Call 911 for a race or a dangerous driver on the freeway right now. The office is at 5902 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego 92123, phone (858) 293-6000, open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Statewide sideshow effort. In October 2024 the CHP announced a $2 million federal grant to crack down on sideshows and street racing statewide.

Our speed humps guide explains how the City sets speed limits with Engineering and Traffic Surveys. In short:

• Default and basic speed rules. The DMV's driver handbook says that in business or residential districts "The speed limit is 25 mph, unless otherwise posted," and its safe driving section says "you may never drive faster than is safe for the current road conditions. This is known as the Basic Speed Law."
• The 2026 speed plan. The City's Comprehensive Speed Management Plan (February 2026) says that under Assembly Bills 43, 1938 and 382, over 20% of City streets (679.1 centerline miles) may be eligible for lower limits: 189.6 miles as Safety Corridors, 32.6 miles as High Pedestrian & Bicyclist Activity Corridors, 58.7 miles as Business Activity Districts, and 371.1 miles within 500 feet of schools.
• Not automatic. The plan says: "All speed limit changes identified in this plan require further evaluation, field verification, and approval by City Council before implementation. The corridors identified represent eligibility and opportunity, not automatic or immediate changes." It estimates implementation will take "approximately one year."
• Questions about a street. Contact the Transportation Department's Traffic Engineering staff; details are in our speed humps guide. A missing or damaged speed limit sign is a Get It Done report; see our traffic signals and signs guide.

• Vision Zero. The speed plan says the City adopted Vision Zero, "a commitment to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries," relying on "safer street design, appropriate and enforceable speed limits, education, enforcement, and public communication."
• Published citation data. The City's Vision Zero Events & Enforcement page posts SDPD citation reports by division, most recently for 2024. It says the listed citations "are only for citations issued near locations that have had 2 or more serious injuries or fatal crashes per year. Many more citations are issued by SDPD throughout the City." A 2023 SDPD news release on a state Office of Traffic Safety grant listed enforcement operations "focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes"; it said that grant ran through September 2024.
• Speed cameras. As of November 3, 2026, we did not find a City of San Diego page describing a speed camera program, and the speed plan does not describe one. A state pilot under Assembly Bill 645 is running elsewhere; the City of Oakland, for example, says it "is one of six cities in California participating in a five-year pilot program to install and operate speed cameras under Assembly Bill 645."

• Exact location. The block or address and the nearest cross street, and which direction the cars travel.
• The time pattern. Days of the week and times of day, such as weekend nights or the morning commute. A short log over a week or two helps show a pattern.
• Vehicles. Make, model, color, any distinctive features, and a license plate if you can see it safely. For a sideshow, roughly how many cars and people.
• Photos or video only when safe. Take them from your home or the sidewalk, never while driving, and do not step into the street or confront drivers.