State police vs highway patrol

Posted on November 8, You were just cited for speeding on a rural California road by a CHP officer. Can this be right? The California Highway Patrol can generally exercise its law enforcement authority anywhere in the State of California. The CHP has primary patrol jurisdiction over the following:. According to California law , any member of the Department of the California Highway Patrol is a peace officer whose authority extends to any place in the State of California.

Chp

The CHP also has primary patrol jurisdiction over roads and streets outside city limits and all California state routes , including state:. In addition to the above, law enforcement personnel of the CHP can generally assist local police and county agencies to patrol major city streets. In exercising its jurisdiction , members of the CHP perform several important functions throughout California.

Some of these include:. There are generally three main types of peace officers in California. These include:. Note that the State of California is comprised of numerous different counties. If a particular community within the state has not been incorporated into a specific city for example, it is unincorporated , the county in which that community is situated helps with law enforcement efforts.

State police vs local police

Please keep in mind, though, that despite the above distinctions, all of the above peace officers can exercise their general police powers anywhere in California. The California Highway Patrol is headed and directed by a commissioner who is then supported by a:. You can find your nearest CHP area office by clicking here.