View Full Version : CHP in Morgan Hill area
Alan_Hepburn
12-09-2007, 06:12 PM
I was wondering if there are any CHP people here who work in the Morgan Hill area? Last Friday evening (12/7) around 7 pm my wife and I were heading south on 101 in our motorhome when a person merged onto the freeway from Tennant Road - this person proceeded to wander between the #2 lane to the shoulder and back, going anywhere from 35 mph to about 55 mph. He almost hit several cars on his excursions into the #2 lane. I got close enough to the rear of the car to see the license plate and my wife called 911 to report a possible drunk driver. The dispatcher kept her on the phone as she gave a running commentary of our progress, calling out each exit we passed. The drunk exited at the 152 E exit, and then turned right onto Camino Arroyo while we continued on 152 E.
Anyway, we were just curious if the guy ever got spotted by an officer and if so, was he DUI or just a REALLY BAD driver?
Why didn't you follow the drunk until we could get into position?
at least you got through to the dispatcher. i followed a drunk from san jose to brisbane getting the busy tone the whole time. i eventually gave up after he exited the freeway.
also, lets just say its a good thing my car begs to stretch its legs at triple digit speeds :/
Alan_Hepburn
12-10-2007, 09:40 AM
Why didn't you follow the drunk until we could get into position?
I really tried to, but once he made the right onto Camino Arroyo I didn't want to follow him - if he went into the shopping center parking lot I would have had a hard time following with my 37 foot motorhome, and if he had made a U-turn or something I would have been unable to follow him either. I was expecting a cruiser to appear out of either the truck scale as we went past that, or th CHP office at 101 and 152E but I guess you guys were all busy.
I'm sorry you couldn't get him - maybe next time...
Alan_Hepburn
12-10-2007, 09:45 AM
at least you got through to the dispatcher. i followed a drunk from san jose to brisbane getting the busy tone the whole time. i eventually gave up after he exited the freeway.
I was really surprised - when my wife said she was going to call 911 I told her it was probably a waste of time because she'd be on hold for an hour or so, but she got right through and she said the dispatcher was really getting into the "chase".
also, lets just say its a good thing my car begs to stretch its legs at triple digit speeds :/
Fortunately this guy wasn't trying to set any land speed records - he was wavering between about 35 mph and 55 mph... I'm sure the traffic behind us was probably cursing at US in our motorhome!
Well I will say thanks for trying. I get a lot of DUI's from citizens calling in and following; but we can't get them all.
RolnCode3
12-10-2007, 11:11 PM
Well I will say thanks for trying.
Agreed. In a perfect world, any nearby peace officer - regardless of agency, would be alerted and would try to stop 'em. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.
I try to scan the Black and Gold in the hopes that I'll be in position to intercept a broadcasted one. Been close once, but a CHiPper actually got the car stopped just before I got there.
Agreed. In a perfect world, any nearby peace officer - regardless of agency, would be alerted and would try to stop 'em. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.
I try to scan the Black and Gold in the hopes that I'll be in position to intercept a broadcasted one. Been close once, but a CHiPper actually got the car stopped just before I got there.
Funny story, we did a DUI saturation patrol a few weeks ago. Had a citizen call in a DUI and you should have seen all the patrol cars trying to catch up, guy was kinda surprised when he got stopped by three of our cars and a CHP car. Doh.
Funny story, we did a DUI saturation patrol a few weeks ago. Had a citizen call in a DUI and you should have seen all the patrol cars trying to catch up, guy was kinda surprised when he got stopped by three of our cars and a CHP car. Doh.
if i could get your opinion,
was it wrong of me to drive faster than the posted speed limit while trying to connect to a 911 operator while following a drunk driver?
RolnCode3
12-11-2007, 01:48 AM
if i could get your opinion,
was it wrong of me to drive faster than the posted speed limit while trying to connect to a 911 operator while following a drunk driver?
80 in a 65. No.
120 in a 65. Yes.
Somewhere between the two is where it gets fuzzy. How fast were you going (if you're willing to say)?
i want to say we were goin about 90-110 at times.
i have a buddy down in Orange County California who witnessed a DUI rear end another car on the 5 freeway and take off. he followed the drunk driver and at times maxed out in his toyota tacoma hitting around 110mph. when the chp finally got in position and took him into custody the officers thanked my friend and told him that following the driver even at those high speeds was very commendable. he never got reprimanded or punished for going that fast.
RolnCode3 beat me to the question and answer.
Going 90-110 I would not advise anyone doing it and I would not do it personally in my own vehicle. If you crash you just don't realize how much liability you are opening yourself up to. Is it worth it to lose your house, savings, have your wages garnished for the rest of your life for killing or injuring someone, or going to jail/prison for?
Get a license plate number, last direction of travel, car description, and if possible a description of the driver.
RolnCode3 beat me to the question and answer.
Going 90-110 I would not advise anyone doing it and I would not do it personally in my own vehicle. If you crash you just don't realize how much liability you are opening yourself up to. Is it worth it to lose your house, savings, have your wages garnished for the rest of your life for killing or injuring someone, or going to jail/prison for?
Get a license plate number, last direction of travel, car description, and if possible a description of the driver.
i think thats the prudent and most sensible course of action. it was just very aggravating to see this guy nearly side swipe at least 3 cars and getting the busy signal everytime i dialed 911.
next time, i'll follow your advice and let the professionals do their thang. :thumbup
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