CHP Issues 1,000 Citations During I-15 Freeway Campaign

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- More than 1,000 moving violation citations were issued by the California Highway Patrol during a two-day "speed compliance" campaign on Interstate 15 from northern Riverside County to the Nevada state line, authorities said Monday.

A total of 1,206 motorists were stopped on the heavily traveled corridor between Jan. 9-11, resulting in 1,110 citations.

Most of the citations -- 849 -- were for excessive speed, according to CHP Officer George Foard. Another 46 motorists were cited for failure to wear seat restraints, and three drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, he said.

Two of the California Highway Patrol Officers were conducting speeding enforcement on I-15, North of MCAS Miramar. One of the officers was using a hand held radar device to check speeding vehicles approaching near the crest of a hill.
 
The officers were suddenly surprised when the radar gun began reading 300 miles per hour. The officer attempted to reset the radar gun, but it would not reset and turned off.
 
Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in fact locked onto a USMC F/A-18 Hornet which was engaged in a low flying exercise near the location.
 
Back at the CHP Headquarters the Patrol Captain fired off a complaint to the USMC Base Commander.
 
Back came a reply in true USMC style:
 
Thank you for the message, which allows us to complete the file on this incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the Hornet had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked onto your hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it. Furthermore, and air to ground missile aboard the fully armed aircraft had also automatically locked onto your equipment. Fortunately the Marine Pilot flying the Hornet recognized the situation for what it was, quickly responded to the missile system alert status and was able to override the automated defense system before the missile was launched and your hostile radar was destroyed.
 
Thank you for your concerns.

 

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