California Highway Patrol

In support of the California Highway Patrol's (CHP) responsibility to keep California's roadways safe by reducing collisions, and related to the current Independence Day Weekend Maximum Enforcement Period the CHP's Moorpark Area office deployed three officers and one sergeant this morning to partner with the crew of "Air 73," a CHP airplane, to patrol State Route (SR) 126 between Fillmore and the Los Angeles/Ventura County lines. "Air 73" was staffed by two CHP officers, one a Pilot and the other a Flight Officer. The aircraft and crew are based in Paso Robles with another CHP airplane ("Air 71") and a paramedic staffed rescue helicopter ("H-70"). These three aircraft primarily support both CHP and allied agencies within the CHP's Coastal Division (Santa Cruz to Moorpark).

Typically, on these types of missions the aircraft's Flight Officer observes a violation, radios the information to a ground officer who then makes contact with the violator.

This morning's mission occurred in a posted 55 MPH speed zone on SR 126 between 8:58 AM and 10:50 AM (1:52). During this time ground officers made 22 total enforcement contacts. Eighteen drivers were issued citations for driving between 68 and 80 MPH, and an additional four drivers received warnings.

The CHP Moorpark Area wishes to thank our partners at Caltrans for working cooperatively with us in the installation of appropriate signs and roadway markings making it possible to conduct aircraft mission in support of improving roadway safety and reducing collisions.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone who shares the road: drivers, motorcycle riders, bicyclists and pedestrians to take just a moment to reflect how delicate life is, how delicate our bodies are when compared to the energy of a collision.

R. D. COHAN, Lieutenant Commander