Drivers Unaware Of Certain Traffic Laws
Here’s another reason to drive safely at all times: Any law enforcement agent can pull you over.
“We’re not limited to just freeways,” said California Highway Patrol Officer Joe Zagorski. “We’re not limited to county areas. We can be in the city of Palm Desert, the city of Indio. We can go anywhere within the state.”
Just as true: A Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy can pull you over on the freeway and a Palm Springs officer can issue you a ticket in another city.
California Penal Code 830.1 says, in a nutshell: “Any sheriff, undersheriff, or deputy sheriff…any chief of police of a city…any police officer… is a peace officer. The authority of these peace officers extends to any place in the state.”
News Channel 3 quizzed drivers about the little-known law. They were asked three questions:
1. True or false: A Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy can pull you over and issue a ticket on the freeway.
2. True or false: A California Highway Patrol officer can pull you over and issue a ticket in the city of Palm Springs?
3. True or false: A Palm Springs officer can pull you over and issue a ticket in the city of (another city).
All of the above statements are TRUE.
Don Calderon, of Desert Hot Springs, answered FALSE to questions #1 and #3.
“They’re all true?” he asked.
Contrary to popular belief, the CHP does not make a profit from all of the tickets it issues.
The fines benefit the state’s general fund and Riverside County.
The CHP is funded completely from vehicle registration fees.
