California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is the principal state police agency for the U.S. state of California. The CHP has primary jurisdiction, including patrol and investigations, over all California freeways and state property. Additionally, the CHP is responsible for the enforcement of all laws regulating the operation of vehicles on highways, including all roadways, outside incorporated city limits. The CHP can exercise law enforcement powers anywhere within the state.

The California State Legislature originally established the California Highway Patrol as a branch of the Division of Motor Vehicles in the Department of Public Works, with legislation signed by Governor C. C. Young on August 14, 1929. It was subsequently established as a separate department with legislation signed by Governor Earl Warren in 1947. The CHP gradually assumed increased responsibility beyond the enforcement of the State Vehicle Act and eventually merged with the smaller California State Police in 1995. It is currently organized as a department under the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).

In addition to its highway patrol duties, the CHP also provides other services including protecting state buildings and facilities (most notably the California State Capitol) and guarding state officials. The CHP also works with municipal and federal law enforcement agencies, providing assistance in investigations, patrol and other aspects of law enforcement.

The California Highway Patrol is the largest state police agency in the United States, with 11,000 employees, over 7,600 of whom are sworn, according to a study in December 2019.

The CHP gained international recognition in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, through the broadcast of the TV series CHiPs, which chronicled the adventures of two fictional CHP motorcycle officers.