CHP Ride Along

[KWalkerM]

so im going to be a rider on a CHP patrol soon, and i was wondering what to expect. i have done numerous ride alongs with city PDs, game wardens etc but everytime the officers pull a traffic stop i have been in the car watching. on CHP ride alongs am i just going to be sitting in the car for all the stops or do they allow riders to shadow the officers depending on the situation? also is their anything else i should know?
i have never been interested in CHP as a career until recently, been looking more towards SO or Game Warden.
thanks guys!

[Nick22]

How did you get a ride along with CHP?!

[P5Ret]

Your probably going to be spending a lot of time sitting in the car, or standing outside the car. I don't think anyone would allow a non LEO to approach cars on stops with them. Too many hazards and unknowns.

[Mr310]

Sweet. Let me know how it goes; mine is scheduled soon.

[Baconator]

Been on a few. Depends on the Officer. Usually they will make initial contact and then you can approach. Can be exciting or boring depending on the beat.

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[erik_26]

Been on a few. Depends on the Officer. Usually they will make initial contact and then you can approach. Can be exciting it boring depending on the beat.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

^This^

[Doheny]

Try CHP Fourms. They'll be able to help you.


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[KWalkerM]

How did you get a ride along with CHP?!

...i asked...?

im not surprised on waiting around, ill definitly be asking lots of questions

[uzigalil]

well i went a CHP ride along for 2 years, It really depends on Where you are doing the ride along and how seasoned the officers are, and IF they are a SH** Magnet.

[BigStiCK]

so im going to be a rider on a CHP patrol soon, and i was wondering what to expect. i have done numerous ride alongs with city PDs, game wardens etc but everytime the officers pull a traffic stop i have been in the car watching. on CHP ride alongs am i just going to be sitting in the car for all the stops or do they allow riders to shadow the officers depending on the situation? also is their anything else i should know?
i have never been interested in CHP as a career until recently, been looking more towards SO or Game Warden.
thanks guys!

8 year Chippie here and I've given many ride-alongs. It may just be me but just about every time I take one out, It turns into an exciting day for him/her & a ton of paperwork for me. Last one I took out we went to a fatal scene, and it was obvious he'd never seen a dead body before- very unnerved to say the least.

I generally have the person stay in the car on all traffic stops, unless they turn long, then they can get out & observe as long as they stay near the patrol vehicle.

On collision scenes, I let them get out & observe after I make sure the scene is relatively safe.

It can be a distraction because our main concern is bringing you back safe, but we still have a job to do with all the inherent danger.

Best advice is to dress professionally, be polite, dont touch anything without asking, have a list of good questions but be prepared to shut it, because the Officer will always have one ear on the radio. Watch the Officer's back as well, because he/ she is the only thing standing between you & the bad guys, and its our job to meet & greet them

-Stick

[Shoot-it]

8 year Chippie here and I've given many ride-alongs. It may just be me but just about every time I take one out, It turns into an exciting day for him/her & a ton of paperwork for me. Last one I took out we went to a fatal scene, and it was obvious he'd never seen a dead body before- very unnerved to say the least.

I generally have the person stay in the car on all traffic stops, unless they turn long, then they can get out & observe as long as they stay near the patrol vehicle.

On collision scenes, I let them get out & observe after I make sure the scene is relatively safe.

It can be a distraction because our main concern is bringing you back safe, but we still have a job to do with all the inherent danger.

Best advice is to dress professionally, be polite, dont touch anything without asking, have a list of good questions but be prepared to shut it, because the Officer will always have one ear on the radio. Watch the Officer's back as well, because he/ she is the only thing standing between you & the bad guys, and its our job to meet & greet them

-Stick

No problem my eyes will be glued to your ar with no bb and me ..

[KWalkerM]

8 year Chippie here and I've given many ride-alongs. It may just be me but just about every time I take one out, It turns into an exciting day for him/her & a ton of paperwork for me. Last one I took out we went to a fatal scene, and it was obvious he'd never seen a dead body before- very unnerved to say the least.

I generally have the person stay in the car on all traffic stops, unless they turn long, then they can get out & observe as long as they stay near the patrol vehicle.

On collision scenes, I let them get out & observe after I make sure the scene is relatively safe.

It can be a distraction because our main concern is bringing you back safe, but we still have a job to do with all the inherent danger.

Best advice is to dress professionally, be polite, dont touch anything without asking, have a list of good questions but be prepared to shut it, because the Officer will always have one ear on the radio. Watch the Officer's back as well, because he/ she is the only thing standing between you & the bad guys, and its our job to meet & greet them

-Stick

alright, thanks for the info, im already aware of the radio stuff. trying to listen to the radio when my partner was conversing with me was a pain in the butt when i did volunteer work with my local dept. though i gotta admit driving/occupying the front seat of a squad car is something i have been missing since i moved up here so im definitly looking forward to this. i dont misss all the paper work though haha. i would be interested to respond to a TC since i was traffic control trained but never dispatched to an accident, not that i would want to help, just curious how it pans out in real life and not training

[P5Ret]

traffic control trained but never dispatched to an accident, not that i would want to help, just curious how it pans out in real life and not training

Remember the Navy's old slogan "it's not a job it's an adventure"? Think of directing traffic the same way. A lot of folks just get stupid with a steering wheel in their hands. The only good thing about directing/controlling traffic on a freeway is the traffic is usually only one way.

[KWalkerM]

Remember the Navy's old slogan "it's not a job it's an adventure"? Think of directing traffic the same way. A lot of folks just get stupid with a steering wheel in their hands. The only good thing about directing/controlling traffic on a freeway is the traffic is usually only one way.

haha, im not the old bud so i dont remember that phrase. what i was told by my trainer was basically, its like herding cats on a residential street and people always try to go through the scenes.

[retired]

haha, im not the old bud so i dont remember that phrase. what i was told by my trainer was basically, its like herding cats on a residential street and people always try to go through the scenes.

Boy, did your trainer get that one right. It was a frequent occurrence to have people tell me they were trying to get home and the road I have blocked is the only way they know how to go....even if they have lived there for 20yrs. or more.

That used to happen just working traffic control at the Rose Parade. You'd think the locals would know different ways to get home considering how long the parade has been held. I had no sympathy for them.