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CHP Cracks Down on Speeders Along I-5

H

HamSupLo

Diamond Member
CHP Cracks Down on Speeders Along I-5
By Alicia Wittmeyer
Times Staff Writer

11:16 AM PDT, June 16, 2005

Speeders statewide were met with a nasty surprise in the past day ? 461 California Highway Patrol officers stationed along the length of Interstate 5 from Oregon to the Mexican border. At least 2,010 motorists were cited for speeding as of 6 a.m. today, about five times the normal number, the CHP said.

And motorists can expect more of the zero-tolerance sweeps this summer, the CHP said.

The extra officers were assigned for 24 hours, starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Violators were charged with traveling at speeds ranging from less than 10 mph over the speed limit to more than 30 mph.

The CHP plans to conduct similar operations on every major interstate freeway in California this summer.

"We've noticed that the speeds have creeped up, accidents have creeped up, and we want to do something about it," said Arthur Anderson, assistant commissioner in charge of field operations.

I-5 is a major commerce artery for the state. An accident along the road can have major repercussions.

"It's the main commerce conduit for the economy ? just a hugely significant freeway system," said Lt. Todd Morrison, whose Redding area office wrote 42 tickets. "When you get an overturned truck closing I-5, it really, really shuts things down."

Over the years, both speed and traffic ? and therefore accidents ? have increased, said Coalinga area Sgt. Don Tripp, whose office roped in 65 speeders, including one going 113 mph.

Coalinga, along with other local offices, performs its own 24-hour crackdowns periodically, and has another planned for I-5 next month.

When people get out onto interstate freeways like I-5, the wide open spaces can inspire drivers to push the peddle a little too close to the metal, Anderson said.

"If you've noticed, when you get out onto Interstate 5, when you get out of urban areas, the tendency is it's a big open roadway, there's nobody out there, there's no houses, I'm going to speed," Anderson said. "There's a psychological reason behind it."

And the CHP is making no allowances for people going only a few miles per hour over the speed limit.

"Realistically, if an officer sees a bunch of people speeding, he's probably going to pick off the one going the fastest, because it sets a good example, but there is no cushion," said Capt. Ellen Connely.

Her Newhall area office handed out 167 speeding tickets, including one to a truck traveling 62 mph in a 55-mph zone.

The cushion is "a myth," she said. "And I think quite a few people found that out."
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I usually do 80 so i am gonna watch out.
 
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I've always wanted to see something like that. The most I've ever seen in a trap is like 3 cops.
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Heh. I saw the Alabama Highway Patrol set up a stretch of highway to catch speeders once. They had a line of 6 cruisers and 3 motorcycles on the on-ramp to I-20 and a plane overhead. They were just going out one after the other to get the speeders as they passed by.
 
Lame. I-5 is perfectly safe high speeds. I've set my cruise control at 99mph on I-5 before... you can just fly on that road, it's straight and empty.

Almost everyone on it drives close to 90.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
Lame. I-5 is perfectly safe high speeds. I've set my cruise control at 99mph on I-5 before... you can just fly on that road, it's straight and empty.

Almost everyone on it drives close to 90.
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Thats N. Cali bro, and yes I've driven there. You're right, its empty and straight.

The congestion is terrible in S. Cali for the I5 and one accident can cause a nitemare for commuters.

 
I was visiting Texas a couple of years ago and saw on the news where the police setup a "rolling" road block to control the freeway speed.

They showed 4 police cars side by side on the freeway going exactly the speed limit...then they showed the traffic jam that it caused.

I believe the news story stated that they would go back to standard speed traps etc. to try to get people to slow down.

- TK

Edit: I know...I know... not related to the CHP at all...but I figured I'd share. 🙂
 
The one thing I don't get is the police also ticketing folks that are only going slightly over the speed limit. Granted I don't live in CA I live in CO but at least here the police typically don't pull you over for going 5-10 mph over the limit as long as the speed you're maintaining is with the flow of traffic.
 
It's not uncommon to see a group of 4-8 cops just pulling people over right and left. If the average income is $100/ticket, and it takes 10 minutes to pull someone over, write a ticket, and then get stationed back up. That's $2400-4800/hr. They can easily pull in a quarter of a million in a week.
 
Originally posted by: nsafreak
The one thing I don't get is the police also ticketing folks that are only going slightly over the speed limit. Granted I don't live in CA I live in CO but at least here the police typically don't pull you over for going 5-10 mph over the limit as long as the speed you're maintaining is with the flow of traffic.
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State needs money. Raising taxes, or cutting spending causes problems with a legislator's image. Think of it as a random tax.
 
What they really should do is crack down on people hogging the damn left lane. If people knew how to drive and werent talking on their cell phones, or had their heads of their asses, things wouldnt be so bad.


seth
 
I love it when governments make excuses to crack down on the citizens that they're supposed to be serving.

"This is for your safety... we rule with an iron fist... for your safety."


It's even better when they throw some irony in there, to play phsychological games with you:

"We're taking away your rights for your freedom"
 
I used to drive the I-5 between the SF and LA areas, and the best idea was to watch the truckers, and do what they did. Never failed. Big rigs slow down, I'd slow down with 'em, half a mile or so down the road, there's a Kojak with a Kodak!! 😉

That was back when it was still 55 there, and we were all doing 80 most of the time, and only slowing down for the radar traps. :laugh:
 
time for me to keep to 70, i cant afford a ticket. I however should bring out my CB radio to listen to teh truckers for speed traps.
This sucks if they are ticketing people for doing 75 or so. Base speed for I-5 is about 75-80. I usually am doing that speed. I hate left lane hoggers, but CHP should really be cracking down on the high speed speeders rather than speeders who are going 5-10miles on speedlimit.

I think im going to take teh 99 back home just to be safe.
 
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