specially marked patrol ve,idcle study

110 Pages·2012·3.62 MB·English

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DEPARTMENT OF
CALIFORJI.'IA HIGHWAY PATROL
A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE FINDINGS OF THE
SPECIALLY MARKED PATROL VE,IDCLE STUDY

/
(--.-
SENATE BILL 1873
OPERATIONAL PLANNING SECTION
This publication may be purchased for $5.70 plus California sales tax.

LDA

AUGUST 1988
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DISCLAIl\fER
TIle opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this report are
those of the California Highway Patrol and not necessarily those of the State of
California. TIle contents of this report do not constitute standards, specifications, or
regulations.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Specially Marked Patrol Vehicle Pilot Program was conducted in accordance with the provisions of Senate Bill 1873.
This legislation, approved by Governor George Deukmejian on September 26, 1986, was authored by State Senator John
Seymour and sponsored by the California Trucking Association.
Executive Management of the California Highway Patrol had ultimate responsibility for the ovemll management and
direction of the pilot program. Members of Executive Management are:
JAMES E. SMITH, Commissioner
MAURICE HAI'lNIGAN, Deputy Commissioner
LARRY WATKlNS, Assistant Commissioner, Field
JACK KELLAR, Assistant Commissioner, Staff
(HAROLD JONES, former Assistant Commissioner, Field)
(HARRY ADAIR, former Assistant Commissioner, Staff)
REPORT CREDITS
Editors: Captain Bob Haworth, Operational Planning Section
Lieutenant Dan Baizer, Operational Planning Section
Author: Sergeant Jim Innes, Operational Planning Section
Graphic Design: Mr. Randy Choy, Graphic Services Unit
Ms. Terry Stephens, Graphic Services Unit
Photography: Mr. Jim Morgan, Graphic Services Unit
Document Preparation: Ms. Carol Gray, Operational Planning Section
Mr. Bruce McLeod, Office Automation Group
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PROGRAM STAFF
Program Director -Don Hinton, Chief
Commander, Planning and Analysis Division
(former Director· Joe Barnell, Chief)
Program Manager -Bob Haworth, Captain
Commander, Operational Planning Se<:tion
(former Manager -Bill Dwyer, Captain)
Public Information Coordinator -Kent Mlllon
Commander, Office of Public Affairs
Program Coordinator/Analyst-Dan Baizer, Lieutenant
Operational Planning Se<:tion
(former Coordinator -Mark Schock, Lieutenant)
Program Officer/Analyst-Jim Innes, Sergeant
Operational Planning Section
Information Services Coordinator -Bev Christ,
Associate Governmental Program Analyst,
Management Information Section
KEY PERSONNEL
Harry Adair Chief, Golden Gate Division
Eric Svede (former Chief, Golden Gate Division)
John Anderson Chief, Central Division
Ed Gomez Chief, Southern Division
Ben Killingsworth Chief, Border Division
Phil McCarthy Commander, Administrative Services Division
Jay Emery Commander, Motor Transport Section
Credit for the success of this pilol program is due, for the mosl pan, to the Traffic Officers and Sergeants from
participating Division and Area Commands. Field Commanders were instrumental in coordinating Field activities.
Appreciation is extended 10 the staff of Operational Planning Section, with special thanks 10 Mr. Dan Germain,Research
Analyst n, for assistance in preparation of this report.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXEC!lTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................ix

MCKGROUNP
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 3

TRUCK ACCIDENTS .................................................................................................. 3

CHP ENFORCEMENT ................................................................................................. 5

UNSAFE TRUCK OPERATIONS ............................................................................... 6

LEGISLATION ............................................................................................................. 6

PILOT PROGRAM MISSION ..................................................................................... 7

PROGRAM OPERATIONS
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 11

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION ............................................................................. 11

TEST SITES ................................................................................................................ 13

PERSONNEL .............................................................................................................. 18

COMMERCIAL VEI:fiCLE TRAINING ................................................................... 19

SPECIALLY MARKED PATROL VEI:fiCLES ........................................................ 20

SMPV DEPLOYMENT AND OPERATIONS .......................................................... 26

ENFORCEMENT AND PATROL GUIDELINES .................................................... 29

PUBLIC AFFAIRS ..................................................................................................... 31

SUITABU,JTY OF SMPYs
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 35

QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY .................................................................................... 35

OFFICER COl\1MENTS ............................................................................................. 39

EVALUATIONS BY CHP AREA COMMANDERS ................................................ 41

PROGRAM OFFICER INTERIM REPORTS .......................................................... .41

SUl\1MARY ................................................................................................................ 43

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TRUCK ACCIDENTS

IN1RODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 47

TOTAL TRUCK-AT-FAULT (TAF) ACCIDENTS ................................................ .47

TOTAL INJURY TAF ACCIDENTS ......................................................................... 48

SOCIETAL SAVINGS ............................................................................................... 48

COMPARISON OF TEST SITE T AF ACCIDENT TREl\'DS ................................. .49

ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY
IN1RODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 53

COLLECTION OF ENFORCEMENT DATA ........................................................... 53

CITATION ACTNITY: SMPV VERSUS
BLACK Al\'D WFDTE PATROL UNITS ........................................................ 54

CITATIONS PER OFFICER PATROL HOUR ......................................................... 60

CITATION DISPOSITION RATES ........................................................................... 61

OFFICER ACTIVITY
IN1RODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 67

WORK AND PATROL HOURS ................................................................................ 67

PUBLIC ATTITUDES
IN1RODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 73

QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY .................................................................................... 73

OFFICER COMMENTS ............................................................................................. 74

LEGISLATNE CONCERN ....................................................................................... 75

PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE ........................................................................................... 75

CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................... 79

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY