Driving in So Cal––from a law enforcement point a view

Driving in So Cal––from a law enforcement point a view

Staff writer Daniel Wolowicz on page 10 reveals the perspective of Ken Ericsson, a 27-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol. Ericsson makes observations about the state of driving in Southern California.

The problem, of course, is that everyone who’s ever driven a car considers himself to be an expert on driving. Even people who’ve repeatedly had accidents and who get lots of tickets think they’re excellent drivers. Defying logic, they can’t understand why their insurance rates are so high.

Ericsson says drivers have too many distractions these days––enough of them to make you spill your Starbucks while you’re reading as you drive to work. Moments later you’ll be interrupted by a cellular call as you switch from your CD to talk radio and reach for a bagel.

Ericsson tells us about a few of the myths concerning the CHP. He says patrolmen don’t pick on motorists who are driving red or yellow cars. The color of the vehicle isn’t a factor in writing tickets, according to him. (We’ve always wondered if it’s the aggressive driving of people who buy yellow and red cars that causes the tickets.)

Speaking of tickets, CHP officers don’t have quotas. Who needs quotas in California? There are speeders galore. Perhaps we need quotas—like maybe a hundred per day.

Every motorist—even the really bad ones—sooner or later wishes he were a cop.

Ericsson says it’s not fun issuing tickets. Oh, come on.

It would be a privilege to give tickets to some of the jerks out there.

Ericsson warns us that stopping on highways or freeways must be done safely, whether it’s for a flat tire or whatever. His patrol car has been hit eight times while he was offering assistance, on the scene of an existing accident or perhaps even writing a ticket.

No doubt he’s earned his pay. The taxpayers of California have been served well by Ericsson.

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