Home California Legislature Backs Frazier Plan to Put more CHP Officers on California Highways

Legislature Backs Frazier Plan to Put more CHP Officers on California Highways

by ECT

SACRAMENTO – A bill to restore California Highway Patrol officer positions that were cut during the Great Recession is now on the governor’s desk. AB 3135, authored by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), chairman of the Assembly Transportation Committee, received unanimous bipartisan support in both houses of the Legislature.

 

“AB 3135 requires the governor to prioritize the funding we collect for enforcing highway safety laws and spend it as it should be spent – on officers,” Frazier said.

 

Reductions in the state’s workforce ordered by the governor in 2010 resulted in the loss of 417 CHP officer positions.

 

“Despite the booming state economy, these officer positions have never been restored,” Frazier said. “Since 2010, the state’s highways have become less safe. Crashes have increased 29 percent. The number of deaths per mile driven has increased 27 percent. These alarming figures far outpace the state’s population growth of 8 percent since 2010, and the 11-percent increase of licensed drivers and registered vehicles. It’s time for the state to take action to reverse these trends and properly fund the officers we need to ensure Californians can travel safely.”

 

“The California Highway Patrol is vital to protect the public and to ensure goods can move efficiently on our roadways,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, speaking in support of the bill on the Assembly Floor. “Research shows having additional Highway Patrol officers reduces accidents and removes traffic hazards. Since cuts were made in the recession, California has gained more people, more drivers and more vehicles. It makes sense we have more CHP as well. The CHP is important to public safety and our economy.”

 

“AB 3135 requires the administration to add more CHP officers and to fund them first from the monies intended for this purpose,” Frazier added. “This bill enjoys widespread support and there is no opposition. If we don’t act now, our roads will continue to grow less safe and more people will needlessly die on our highways.”

 

Assemblymember Frazier represents the 11th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove.

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