Police estimate that 100 vehicles and nearly 200 spectators gathered on Saturday just before midnight.
According to the OPD, when officers arrived at the scene they were met with laser pointers, rocks, fireworks, and thrown bottles. Oakland police had anticipated possible sideshow activity over the weekend and posted a warning to participants on Twitter saying that "violent, disruptive and illegal behavior will not be tolerated." Police are investigating a Friday night sideshow in downtown Oakland. Video shows a car hitting someone in the crowd and throwing them to the ground.Sideshows, which are illegal demonstrations of automotive stunts held without official permission, are a problem in many Bay Area cities.
Vallejo has taken steps to confront sideshows by going as far as to outlaw even being a spectator at one of the impromptu events. Vallejo considers a crackdown on automobile sideshows that not only targets drivers, but spectators and organizers as well.