Compton Courthouse, Spectating a Street Race, No File

Our client, age 21, went with some friends to see a “Slide Show” in Compton, at the corner of West Caldwell Street and South Central Avenue.  It was about 11:00 p.m.  The location is just about a mile southwest of the Compton Courthouse and just a few blocks north of the 91 Freeway.

Our client’s friends invited her and she was a passenger in the car going to watch the others.

When the client and her friends arrived at the location, there were dozens of other cars already there.  They parked and walked a block or two to the intersection.  They watched others doing donuts and sliding until someone said, “Cops are here” and everyone left.

Our client and her friends walked back to their car and started to drive away, but were stopped by the CHP.  The CHP officer gave each person a ticket for “Spectating a Street Race,” a violation of Los Angeles Municipal Code § 13.46.010, et. seq. 

The client was surprised that just watching a street race was illegal.  She called Greg Hill & Associates and asked if the law was unconstitutional.  Greg explained that it was not and why it was not.

The client had no prior criminal history and was a college student.

The client then asked how much the fine would be on such a “ticket.”  Greg explained that the offense was a misdemeanor, so the fine could be up to $500 and six months in county jail, or both.  However, in his experience with such cases, the District Attorney assigned to the case will often resolve the case for a small amount of community service and informal diversion for six months or a year.  Greg then explained what diversion was and how it worked.

Greg explained that such “street takeovers” were often noisy and reported in the news whenever someone is injured by an out of control car.  Often, alcohol and marijuana are also openly consumed and spectators will leave beer cans or bottles in the area, upsetting local residents, so police are vigilant about discouraging such street takeovers.

Greg explained that the terms of judicial diversion are flexible and Greg recommended that the client take a court from “Street Racing Kills,” a non-profit in Torrance, that offers a three-hours class online for $50.  Greg predicted that the District Attorney and the judge would find such a course much more appropriate or fitting for this offense than just community service, as the course would educate the defendant about why street takeover and sideshows are illegal and dangerous.

The client then retained Greg Hill & Associates and Greg wrote a letter to the Compton District Attorney’s Office, suggesting that the case be a no file because our client had no prior history and was at the street show just because her friends invited her.  She did not drive there or find the slide show.  Moreover, she planned on taking the “Street Racing Kills” course prior to the arraignment in anticipation of judicial diversion if the case were filed.

After our office prepared and sent this letter, we received no response from the Compton District Attorney’s office.  The client also received nothing in the mail.

Greg then went to the Compton Courthouse on the day of the arraignment, curious to see if the case was filed at all.  Greg did not see the client’s name listed on the court listing of hearings, so he went to the District Attorney’s office to double-check on a filing.

Greg was told that the case was a “DA reject,” which meant the case was declined for filing.

Greg then shared this news with the client and explained that this did not mean that the case could still be filed within the one-year statute of limitations, particularly if there was any other contact between law enforcement and our client.  However, it probably would not be filed unless this took place.

This was great news for our client, who incidentally did not attend the Street Racing Kills class.