California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol is a law enforcement agency of California. The CHP has patrol jurisdiction over all California highways and can act as the state police. They also have jurisdiction over city roads, and may conduct law enforcement procedures there.

The California State Legislature 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 reestablished as a separate department 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 part of the California State Transportation Agency.