Why aren’t there more CHP officers out there going after the crazy drivers?
Q. Dear Mr. Honk: I grew up in Orange County and have since retired to the Palm Springs area. Because most of my family lives in OC, my wife and I make frequent trips there. My question has to do with the Highway Patrol. We never see them on the road anymore. People routinely drive 80, 90 miles per hour, zigzagging in and out of traffic and committing all kinds of moving violations and yet we never see the CHP. What gives? Isn’t their officers’ primary job to patrol the highways?
Richard Scales, Indio
A. Honk’s view: The state declines to cover the bill to add enough officers.
In 2007, when motorists drove an estimated 335.2 billion miles in California, the CHP had 7,420 officers, according to the agency’s statistics.
A decade later, us Californians drove 21 billion additional miles, yet there were only 188 more CHP officers.
Further, in recent years the CHP has more often had to patrol and guard state-owned facilities, including Department of Motor Vehicle offices, because of the days we live in, taking officers off of the highways and the freeways.
“The CHP is really moving towards becoming a full-service state police agency,” Duane Graham, a CHP officer and spokesman based in Westminster told Honk in an email. “(And) an officer covering a beat has a number of responsibilities; they enforce the Vehicle Code, they respond to and investigate traffic collisions. (They provide aid) to disabled motorists, and they remove hazards from the roadway. (Those) are some of the reasons that an officer, at any given time, may be less visible to the public.”
Q. I am curious, and I have wondered for some time: Can someone use the privileges of a handicapped license plate, if that plate was not issued for him or her?
Sandi Cain, Laguna Beach
A. Not if driving solo.
Honk’s father-in-law has handicap plates, for example, and Honk can borrow his car and tool about by himself – but he can never use any parking privileges meant for disabled people.
If the ol’ father-in-law hops aboard, sure, Honk can pull into a spot reserved for those with handicap plates – because his fine, distinguished passenger will have a shorter walk to his favorite steak house.
And so will Honk.
Ain’t life swell?
Honkin’ update: The DMV is now open on Saturdays, at least at 60 of its field offices, including those in Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Stanton (only for driver’s licenses and ID cards) and Long Beach. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and all of the services the office provides will be available, except behind-the-wheel exams. (Advice: Get an appointment).
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He only answers those that are published. To see Honk online: ocregister.com/tag/honk.