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OAKLAND — The Oakland police department plans to put extra officer on the streets this weekend to crack down on “sideshows,” loosely organized events where fast cars spin doughnuts in parking lots as young onlookers stand dangerously nearby. 

The extra police officers are part of a new mandatory overtime program initiated to prevent the dangerous, late night activity. the overnight hours. Sixty-five officers will focus on finding and stopping sideshows Saturday night. Oakland Police Lieutenant Mike Yoell said the department would put officers in strategic locations throughout the city and have them citing and towing “as many violators possible.” 

A 22-year-old woman died in February when the car she was riding in was broadsided by a Buick that moments before had been spinning “doughnuts,” police said. Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown said he wants the state to enact emergency laws giving police the power to impound any car involved in sideshows.