Purpose
San Diego Municipal Code § 52.5101
in effect§52.5101 Purpose
The Council for the City of San Diego finds and declares that:
(a) Certain streets within the City of San Diego have been the site of continuing and escalating illegal street racing over the past several years. Such street racing threatens the health and safety of the public, interferes with pedestrian and vehicular traffic, creates a public nuisance, and interferes with the right of private business owners to enjoy the use of their property within the City of San Diego. The illegal street races occur on a regular basis on certain streets within the City. Hundreds of racers and spectators gather on these streets late at night and in the early morning hours, block the streets and sidewalks to traffic, form a racetrack area, place bets, and otherwise encourage, aid, and abet the racing process.
(b) Illegal street racers accelerate to high speeds without regard to oncoming traffic, pedestrians, or vehicles parked or moving nearby. The racers drive quickly from street to street, race for several heats, and then move to other locations upon the arrival of the police. Calls for police service, traffic accidents, and property crimes have increased dramatically. This Division is adopted pursuant to the authority granted by California Vehicle Code section 21101.4, which allows a local authority to adopt rules and regulations for temporary street closures due to serious and continual criminal activity.
(“Purpose” added 10-16-2000 by O-18870 N.S.)
Source: City of San Diego Office of the City Clerk, San Diego Municipal Code and City Charter (docs.sandiego.gov PDFs)URL: https://docs.sandiego.gov/municode/MuniCodeChapter05/Ch05Art02Division51.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/28/2026