[KHTS] – Officer Eric Priessman of the Newhall office of the California Highway Patrol generally begins his shift with coffee and a 5 a.m. briefing.
After discussing concerns, such as traffic hazards, road conditions, Amber Alerts or any other information Priessman and his fellow officers might need to know, they hit the roads. WATCH VIDEO HERE
The Santa Clarita Valley office – which is in Castaic, but dubbed Newhall because that’s where it used to be – covers a fairly wide berth.
Photos by Megan Perez/SCVTV
Their area of responsibility reaches from Interstate 5, north of the 405-5 interchange through Gorman; on Highway 14, from its southernmost point to Ward Road, near Red Rover Mine; heading west on Highway 126 until the Ventura County line; and on the 210 Freeway until it hits the 118 Freeway.
Each officer covers a different area or beat, and officers get to choose their area of preference according to seniority. Priessman generally takes what’s known as the central area, which is on Interstate 5, from the Calgrove Boulevard off ramp to the Templin Highway exit.
Putting about 150 miles a day on the wheels of his patrol SUV, a stock Ford explorer – the CHP’s choice of succession to the Crown Victoria, which is no longer made – he keeps an eye out for distracted driving, speeding and any other activity that might make for unsafe passage on the SCV’s roadways.
His patrol shift usually begins with “sweeping the beat,” checking the area for abandoned vehicles or any unsafe conditions, he said.
He can then decide if he wants to stay moving in his patrol car, or go “fishing,” i.e. perch his vehicle near an onramp that allows him a view of oncoming traffic from alongside the road, where he can look for any unsafe practices.
For Priessman, a former Air Force officer who served for eight years before joining the CHP 14 years ago, he “was looking for a job where I could make a difference,” when it was time to leave the armed forces, he said.
One of the biggest priorities for CHP officers is distracted driving, noting its role in about 1.6 million crashes each year.
“The National Safety Council has accumulated 1.6 million crashes last year, and of those 1.6 million, at least 200,000 had to do with texting, as opposed to talking, on a cellphone,” Priessman said. “It’s illegal for a reason and it’s causing collisions.”
And the figure is likely much higher, Priessman said, as drivers are generally hesitant to admit they were talking on the phone or texting before a crash.
CHP officers train extensively in all manner of road action, from how to gauge a driver’s speed, to investigating crash scenes to vehicle pursuits, of which Priessman has taken part in a handful of in his years with the CHP.
Speeding is one of the most common infractions officers see, he said, and they train extensively on their ability to judge a car’s speed without using a radar.
Officers train by gauging the speed of 100 vehicles, testing themselves against the radar until they become certified – practiced at the skill to the point where their certification stands up in court as expert testimony.
Few people realize CHP officers don’t need a radar in order to issue a speeding citation, Priessman said; however, officers frequently use radar to verify their estimations.
At the end of his shift day, by around 3:30 p.m., Priessman has finished his reports in a fairly nondescript office space where radio batteries are charging on several walls, and computer keyboards await those on the next shift, which runs from noon to 10:30 p.m.
A third overnight shift, from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. assures around-the-clock coverage, Priessman said.
“On any given day, even the most boring day in the department, I may not feel it, but I know that I made a change, hopefully for the positive, for at least one person,” he said. “If I stop someone for speeding, and I write them a citation, they may not be very happy with the Highway Patrol – but I could have potentially saved their life by getting them to slow down.”
For those interested in joining the California Highway Patrol, there’s information available [online].
Two vehicles collided on Interstate 5 in the Santa Clarita Valley late Wednesday morning, causing minor injuries to the occupants and disrupting traffic, according to California Highway Patrol officials.
Traffic was brought to a stop on the Interstate 5 and Highway 14 split Tuesday afternoon, after a fire extinguisher on the road deflated two vehicle’s tires.
A vehicle reportedly hit an embankment and came to an abrupt stop on Highway 14 Thursday afternoon.
Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
you notice the whole story is on him giving out tickets to cars and they think (at the CHP) this is for “safety” its just for money
how about pulling over some semi-trucks once and awhile ??? nope?? takes too long and does not “net$$” enough$$$???
how about doing your jobs and look for all that debris and junk that gets in the road –tires– rocks — cargo straps off trucks-things that have DAMAGED my car in the night right here on the 5 and 126 ???? is that not the CHP’s job road safety????
The city of Santa Clarita hosted the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Unity Walk on Monday, Jan. 20 at 8 a.m. in Central Park in Saugus. The event attracted a crowd of several hundred from throughout the Santa Clarita Valley to listen to speeches and entertainment before walking through Central Park.
The Los Angeles County Joint Coordination Information Center has released the following information as of 11 a.m. on the Palisades and Eaton Fires. A total of 37,734 acres has been consumed in the two fires. More than 17,000 structures have been confirmed as destroyed or damaged.
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office has released the list of four productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Jan. 20 to Sunday, Jan. 26.
The leaders of federal and local law enforcement agencies have joined together to create the Joint Regional Fire Crimes Task Force to investigate and prosecute fire-related crimes as Los Angeles County recovers from devastating wildfires.
Spectrum has announced a donation of $2,500 to Finally Family Homes through the company’s employee-driven grants program that recognizes the value of community service, Spectrum Employee Community Grants.
The city of Santa Clarita hosted the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Unity Walk on Monday, Jan. 20 at 8 a.m. in Central Park in Saugus. The event attracted a crowd of several hundred from throughout the Santa Clarita Valley to listen to speeches and entertainment before walking through Central Park.
Metro has a plan to make it easier to get around by expanding the Metro rail system to the Westside with the D (Purple) Line Subway Extension Project. This critical, highly anticipated new addition to Metro’s network will add seven new stations and a reliable, high-speed connection between downtown Los Angeles and the Westside.
College of the Canyons has successfully completed the first year of its five-year Veterans Upward Bound grant program. This transformative initiative aims to provide comprehensive support services to eligible student veterans in the Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley and parts of the San Fernando Valley.
The Master's University men's and women's swim teams met in the pool against Fresno Pacific University at Sunnyside Aquatic Center in Fresno Saturday afternoon, Jan. 18.
Caden Starr tied a career high with eight three-pointers to lead The Master's University men's basketball team to a 90-54 win over the Park-Gilbert Buccaneers Saturday, Jan. 18 in Chandler, Ariz.
The Los Angeles County Joint Coordination Information Center has released the following information as of 11 a.m. on the Palisades and Eaton Fires. A total of 37,734 acres has been consumed in the two fires. More than 17,000 structures have been confirmed as destroyed or damaged.
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office has released the list of four productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Jan. 20 to Sunday, Jan. 26.
Too many turnovers turned costly for The Master's University women's basketball team in an 85-79 loss to the Park-Gilbert Buccaneers Saturday, Jan. 18 in Chandler, Ariz.
Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) been reappointed by Speaker Robert Rivas to the Utilities & Energy Committee, Health Committee and continues as Chair of Military & Veteran Affairs Committee. She has also been newly appointed to the Banking and Finance Committee and the Budget Committee, including the budget subcommittee focused on health.
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman has announced the appointment of Michael Gennaco as Special Prosecutor who is among the nation’s foremost experts in civil rights and police misconduct cases.
In response to the ongoing challenges posed by the Palisades and Eaton Fires, the county of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control has mobilized its resources and partnerships to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals affected.
The WiSH Education Foundation Wednesday Webinar series continues 5-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 with "College Admissions for Visual and Performing Arts Majors."
A Better World Running will host the Cupid Dash 5k, 10k, 15k, Half Marathon 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16 at West Creek Park 24247 Village Circle Drive, Valencia, CA 91354.
The Los Angeles County Department of Military & Veterans Affairs will resume normal operations at Bob Hope Patriotic Hall (1816 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, California, 90015) on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a windblown dust and ash advisory following strong Santa Ana winds expected to affect the region through Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 10 p.m.
The Master's University men's basketball defense stepped up in the final moments of the game to get an 80-72 conference road win over Benedictine Mesa Thursday night, Jan. 16.
Three different players each scored 17 points and the team shot nearly 50 percent from the field as The Master's University women's basketball team defeated Benedictine Mesa 83-71 Thursday night, Jan. 16 in Mesa, Ariz.
College of the Canyons men's basketball had four players reach double-digits but it wasn't enough to keep pace with No. 5 state-ranked Citrus College in a 111-77 road affair Wednesday night, Jan. 15.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
4 Comments
Thank you and job well done!
Yes, thank you!
These people are tax collectors, plain and simple.
you notice the whole story is on him giving out tickets to cars and they think (at the CHP) this is for “safety” its just for money
how about pulling over some semi-trucks once and awhile ??? nope?? takes too long and does not “net$$” enough$$$???
how about doing your jobs and look for all that debris and junk that gets in the road –tires– rocks — cargo straps off trucks-things that have DAMAGED my car in the night right here on the 5 and 126 ???? is that not the CHP’s job road safety????