News and events in Trinity County that involve the California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies. The following reports are the official Press Releases from the CHP Headquarters and posted when we recieve them.
To contact the Trinity County CHP Office call (530) 623-3832
The Trinity River CHP will be holding the following free drivers safety classes.
* DISTRACTED DRIVING EDUCATION FOR TEENS
* ADULT DISTRACTED DRIVER EDUCATION
* SENIOR DRIVER EDUCATION CLASS
* DRIVING EDUCATION FOR TEENS AND THEIR PARENTS
To view a full list of these classes with dates & times click here.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 01-16-18
On January 16, 2018 at approximately 3:05 PM, the CHP received a call of a single vehicle collision on SR-299 at the Trinity River bridge in Douglas City. Witnesses observed Eddy's vehicle prior to the collision swerving across both lanes, nearly colliding head on with a pick up. Eddy related to the investigating officer her 14 month old child started to cry so she diverted her attention to her child. Due to diverting her attention, her vehicle collided into the bridge railing. Eddy was wearing her seat belt and her child was properly restrained in a car seat at the time of the collision.
While Officer Morrison was conducting the investigation of the collision, Officer Morrison determined Eddy had recently ingested her prescription medication. Eddy was arrested for 23152(f) of the California Vehicle Code, driving under the influence of any drug. The child was picked up by family members while Eddy was transported and booked into the Trinity County Jail.
Officer Merryman : "Looking at this collision shows us three separate things...
1) Seat belts and properly installed child restraint safety seats do help to prevent serious injury or even worse death.
2) Even Prescription medications and driving do not mix.
3) While you are behind the wheel, driving is a full time job. At 55 mph you have traveled close to 120 feet in a second, so diverting your attention can be a life changing event.
The California Highway Patrol is here to provide Safety, Service, and Security to the public of California."
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 01-16-18
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 11-21-17
On August 15, 2017, officers from the California Highway Patrol Trinity River office and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, have coffee, and build relationships.
All community members are invited to attend. The event begins at 9:00 am on August 15, 2017 at Starbucks Coffee, 1665 Main Street in Weaverville. Please contact Officer Scott Merryman with questions at 530-623-3832 or 175SocialMedia@chp.ca.gov.
Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the Department’s work in Trinity’s neighborhoods.
The majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community, and some community members may feel officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.
“We hope community members will welcome the opportunity to ask questions, bring concerns forward, or simply get to know our officers,” said Ryan Ham. “These interactions are the foundation of community partnerships.”
Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are being held across the country as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.
The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 08-02-17
A 40 year old Asian Male was traveling Southbound on FS Route 1 at an unknown speed. It appears the party lost control of the vehicle for unknown reasons. Subsequently, his vehicle collided with a tree causing traumatic injuries which resulted in fatal injury. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in the collision.
The man has been identified at 44 year old Nao Lee. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be a factor.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 07-27-17
The call of the open road may be one of summer’s great attractions. Before drivers head off on a road trip, however, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) would like everyone to remember some crucial advice for a safe trip.
“Prevention and planning may take a little time up front, but can spare you from the consequences of a breakdown later,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Getting to your destination and back safely is priority number one.”
• Plan your trip. Know where you are going and where you will stop. Before you leave, research road conditions and construction to anticipate delays. The California Department of Transportation has a mobile app for traffic information, or visit http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ for highway conditions.
• Check your vehicle. Regular maintenance will help keep it road-ready. Tires, belts, hoses, wiper blades, the cooling system, fluid levels, lights, and air conditioning should be in good condition. After California’s unusually wet winter, windshield wipers have seen a lot of wear and tear and may need to be replaced.
• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is using their seat belt. Double-check that young passengers are using the correct child safety seat for their height and weight.
• Use your cell phone only if it is properly mounted and in hands-free mode while driving. A new California law prohibits drivers from holding a cell phone while driving. Program any Global Positioning System devices before you start your trip.
• If you have a vehicle issue, such as a flat tire, drive off of the highway if at all possible. The shoulder of a freeway, no matter how wide, is not a safe place for repair work.
• Never leave a child or pet alone in a car, not even for a minute. California laws address situations in which children or pets are left in heated cars. However, the best approach if you see an unattended child or pet is to call 9-1-1.
Summer driving can be more dangerous than winter for several reasons. More teenagers, who are inexperienced drivers, are more likely to be on the road. Vacationing drivers, unfamiliar with an area, may also drive erratically or unpredictably, either admiring the scenery or trying to find their way. Road construction requires extra caution and may create delays.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 06-19-17
Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of summer and a time when many families and travelers will be on the go. California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers will take to the roads throughout the holiday weekend and will be working to save lives through seat belt education and enforcement.
To help ensure the safety of all motorists, the CHP will be conducting its annual Memorial Day Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) throughout the state. The MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, Ma y 26, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 29. Although the focus of the MEP is seat belt usage, the CHP will be closely watching for distracted drivers and those driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol.
“Seat belts save lives and prevent injuries. Do not put your own life at risk, or the life of your family or friends. Buckle up,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Making sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained could make the difference between life and death.”
An unrestrained child in a car is at significant risk of injury or death in the event of a traffic collision. Protect your children by using age-appropriate passenger restraint devices. As of January 1, 2017, any child who is under two years old must be secured in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat.
Thirty-nine people died in collisions during the 2016 Memorial Day MEP. Two-thirds of those killed in the CHP’s jurisdiction were not wearing seat belts. That same year, CHP officers made 1,065 DUI arrests during the Memorial Day MEP.
California also joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign, May 22 to June 4. The NHTSA reports that in 2015 seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,941 lives. Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seat belt. The national seat belt use rate is at 87 percent, and in California it is more than 97 percent.
“Those statistics are good, but we can do even better. Continued education and enforcement efforts can bring the seat belt compliance rate to 100 percent,” added Commissioner Farrow. “Many of the deaths and injuries that occur on the highway are entirely preventable.”
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 05-23-17
A driver’s first year behind the wheel is one of the most dangerous times in their life.
A TEENAGER is KILLED in a traffic collision every 4 HOURS NATIONWIDE, that is more than 1,870 TEENAGERS KILLED EACH YEAR and another 184,000 teenagers are injured in traffic collisions.
DESPITE safer vehicles, better roads, and countless driving programs, the above numbers have remained fairly constant for more than a decade. However, these deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk behaviors.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has created a unique two-hour class designed to help your teen driver to START SMART.
START SMART is a free class offered to current and prospective teenage drivers (15 – 18 year old), and their parents or guardians. You and your teen will be more aware, more educated, and better prepared.
The START SMART Class will be held at the Weaverville CHP Office on Saturday, May 27, 2017, 1:30 PM and end at 3:30 PM.
SPACE IS LIMITED FOR THIS FREE CLASS, contact the CHP Office at (530) 623-3832 to register.
Funding for Start Smart is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 05-04-17
April is recognized as National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
In California, the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), and Impact Teen Drivers (ITD), as well as community partners and law enforcement agencies throughout the state, are working together to make the roads safer.
The campaign aims to end distracted driving through education and raise awareness about the associated dangers. The goal is to change motorist behaviors and save lives, not just in the month of April, but year-round. The week of April 3-9, 2017, is California Teen Safe Driver Week and in conjunction with the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, safety presentations will be held at various high schools and venues throughout the state to teach teens the reality and consequences of distracted driving.
“Distracted driving is absolutely avoidable, but it continues to be a serious problem among drivers. Too many lives are lost every year due to distracted driving,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “We believe that through continued education and enforcement, the number of deaths and injuries can be reduced.”
To better understand the dangers and consequences of smartphone distracted driving, AT&T is bringing its virtual reality simulator to more than 50 California schools and communities for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this year as part of its IT CAN WAIT initiative. “AT&T is proud to join the California Highway Patrol, the Office of Traffic Safety, and Impact Teen Drivers in this important effort to remind everyone that smartphone distracted driving is not only extremely dangerous, it is completely preventable,” said Ken McNeely, President, AT&T California. “We encourage everyone to take the IT CAN WAIT pledge – to keep your eyes on the road, not your phone – and help keep our roads safe. No text, e-mail, or social media post is worth a life.”
California drivers under the age of 18 are prohibited from using a cell phone or a hands-free device while operating a motor vehicle (VC §23124). Lawmakers agree that distracted driving continues to be a problem among California’s motorists. On January 1, Assembly Bill 1785 went into effect, requiring all California drivers to keep a cell phone out of their hands while operating a motor vehicle. Under the new law, a driver may activate or deactivate a feature or function of the cell phone or wireless communication device by swiping or tapping its screen only if it is mounted or not being held in a driver’s hand.
In California, there were 85 people killed in collisions in which distracted driving was a factor in 2015, 87 in 2014, and 84 in 2013. The number of injured victims due to these collisions for the same three-year period shows an increase: 10,078 in 2013, 10,540 in 2014, and 11,262 in 2015. “These statistics are likely much higher and are often under-reported to law enforcement since motorists don’t always admit to driving distracted,” said Commissioner Farrow.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 71 percent of young people admit to sending a text while driving. Furthermore, 10 percent of all drivers ages 15 to 19 involved in fatal collisions were reported as distracted at the time of the collisions. The NHTSA reports that 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle collisions involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9 percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year.
“The message is out, and people know that distracted driving is dangerous,” said Dr. Kelly Browning, Executive Director of Impact Teen Drivers. “Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go to change attitudes and behaviors about distracted driving. Just as it took a change in the driving culture through education and enforcement to reach a 98 percent seat belt compliance rate in California, so too will it take a multifaceted approach to eliminate distracted driving.”
According to a study conducted by NHTSA and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, distracted driving is “anything that diverts the driver’s attention away from the primary tasks of navigating a vehicle and responding to critical events.” A distraction can be: visual – something that takes your eyes off the road; cognitive – something that takes your mind off of the road; or manual – something that takes your hands off the steering wheel.
The CHP will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the state to conduct education and zero tolerance enforcement efforts to discourage distracted driving. Officers will enforce cell phone and texting laws as well as other Vehicle Code violations.
“Law enforcement would rather see everyone off their cell phones than hand out a lot of tickets,” said Rhonda Craft, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “Take care of calling, texting, setting your GPS, and everything else before you hit the street. Apps are great, but not while you’re driving.”
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 04-03-17
A driver’s first year behind the wheel is one of the most dangerous times in their life.
A TEENAGER is KILLED in a traffic collision every 4 HOURS NATIONWIDE, that is more than 1,870 TEENAGERS KILLED EACH YEAR and another 184,000 teenagers are injured in traffic collisions.
DESPITE safer vehicles, better roads, and countless driving programs, the above numbers have remained fairly constant for more than a decade. However, these deaths and injuries can be substantially reduced or prevented by eliminating high-risk behaviors.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has created a unique two-hour class designed to help your teen driver to START SMART.
START SMART is a free class offered to current and prospective teenage drivers (15 – 18 year old), and their parents or guardians. You and your teen will be more aware, more educated, and better prepared.
The START SMART Class will be held at the Weaverville CHP Office on Saturday, April 8, 2017, 1:00 PM and end at 3:00 PM.
SPACE IS LIMITED FOR THIS FREE CLASS, contact the CHP Office at (530) 623-3832 to register.
Funding for Start Smart is provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 03-28-17
The Trinity River CHP Office has been receiving numerous phone calls in regards to the law about pedestrians crossing the State Route 299 in downtown Weaverville and Hayfork.
The common question from both the pedestrians and drivers is “can you cross the highway anywhere and does the pedestrian have the right of way regardless to being within the crosswalk or not?”
Let’s take a look at what the California Vehicle Code says;
21950 CVC states:
“(a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.” (Only when the pedestrian is already within the roadway)
“(b) No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.”
“(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.”
21954 CVC states: “(a) Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard, (If the pedestrian is not within the roadway-you cannot just walk into the roadway expecting the vehicles to stop.)
The vehicle code clearly states, as a pedestrian you do have the right to cross the highway, but only when safely possible. As a driver of a vehicle, you shall exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon the highway.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 03-15-17
On March 6, 2017, officers from the California Highway Patrol Trinity River office and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, have coffee, and build relationships.
All community members are invited to attend. The event begins at 10:00 am on March 6, 2017 at Red House Coffee, 86 South Miner Street in Weaverville. Please contact Scott Merryman with questions: 530-623-3832, SMerryman@chp.ca.gov.
Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the Department’s work in Trinity’s neighborhoods.
The majority of contacts law enforcement has with the public happen during emergencies or emotional situations. Those situations are not always the most effective times for relationship building with the community, and some community members may feel officers are unapproachable on the street. Coffee with a Cop breaks down barriers and allows for a relaxed, one-on-one interaction.
“We hope community members will welcome the opportunity to ask questions, bring concerns forward, or simply get to know our officers,” said Ryan Ham. “These interactions are the foundation of community partnerships.”
Coffee with a Cop is a national initiative supported by the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Similar events are being held across the country as local police departments strive to make lasting connections with the communities they serve.
The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and community members one cup of coffee at a time.
Submitted By: California Highway Patrol 03-01-17
