designed to help catch more speeders.

Time to start impounding cars: CHP issues 1,600

tickets a month for drivers going 100 mph or more

The unofficial San Joaquin Valley take on the Autobahn starts just south of Lathrop where the commuting hordes veer onto Interstate 205.

The first segment starts as you clear the Kasson Road interchange.

It’s a warmup, if you will, for the 200 plus mile drive to where Interstate 5 meets with Highway 99 and continues up and over the Grapevine and into the Los Angeles Basin.

The speed limit is 70 mph. But for more than a few drivers that is a coasting speed.

Passing by the edge of infrequent towns, things slow down a bit.

Heavy truck traffic helps slow super speeders.

Yes, super speeders.

The segment of Interstate 5 has its share of 100 mph plus speeders.

But even more reckless pedal to the medal action takes place crossing the desert stretches on Interstates 15 and 40.

Rest assured, all of the 100 mph plus idiots aren’t found just on freeways.

They can be found throughout the state, even on Highway 395 making its way down California’s backbone.

The California Highway Patrol issues and average of 1,600 tickets a month for drivers speeding in excess of 100 mph.

The number of triple digit speeders exceeded 20,000 in 2024.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg as it represents just those that are caught.

On any given day, the CHP fields more than 1,000 calls regarding reckless driving.

To combat the problem and to catch more violators, the CHP last year rolled out a fleet of 100 “low profile” SUVs.

The color scheme doesn’t stick out as much and the emergency lights are more sleek and low profile. The prerequisite CHP emblems are on the doors but are not against a white backdrop.

In December, the California State Transportation Agency launched a pilot program aimed at super speeders.

Now when a ticket is issued for someone for exceeding the 100 mph mark, it is sent directly to the safety division of the Department of Motor Vehicles instead of to the court.

Depending upon the circumstances, the DMV could move to immediately revoke or suspend the driver’s license.

That is akin to putting a Barney Band-Aid on a gushing artery.

Keep in mind, this is not the fault of the CHP or the DMV.

The blame lies squarely with the State Legislature for not giving them the tools needed to help keep Californians safe.

Last year was particularly bloody on California’s roads.

There were 3,998 fatalities, up 34 percent from the previous year.

Now consider what happened nationally.

There were 44,000 traffic fatalities in the United States in 2024, down 1 percent of 82 less lost lives.

There are 260,000 traffic accidents in California every year, or 680 a day.

Speeding was a significant contributing factor in 32 percent of those accidents.

Now go back to that pilot program.

You will notice tickets are issued. There’s no mention of impounding the vehicle.

To be fair, existing California law allows the impounding of the vehicle of a driver going over 100 mph is combines with an infraction such as reckless driving.

Here’s a thought: What would happen if the California Legislature passed a law making it mandatory that any motorist caught driving 100 mph or above automatically has their vehicle impounded?

Anyone with such a wanton disregard for the law, and the safety of others, that drives 100 mph or above should have their car impounded on the spot even if they were “just speeding” and pulled over when a police officer turns on their lights and siren.

A 30-day impound with storage fees and such — plus the loss of the use of a vehicle for a month — should send a message.

It is much more effective than a ticket meandering through the court system or even it going directly to the DMV safety division.

Plus, what message does either revoking a license or suspending it send?

The driver still has his or her car.

If someone was going down the street randomly aiming a rifle at people but didn’t discharge it, would they be issued a citation and allowed to walk away with the gun?

There were more people killed by a car in California in 2024 than were the victims of homicide.

That is 1,666 homicide deaths — that excludes gun accidents and suicides and includes death by knifing, fists, and other means — versus 3,998 traffic fatalities.

More Californians are killed every year by cars than guns.

And 32 percent of those traffic fatalities are pedestrians.

Yet all of the oxygen in the legislative chambers is taken up by debating gun control laws while tough rules against deadly driving behavior — including driving under the influence — has become more relaxed

It’s time that the California Legislature did its job.

The Golden State needs consequences that match deliberately reckless driving behavior including going for a spin at 100 mph or more.

Of course, the argument would be where to draw the line for impounding the cars of those that speed excessively.

Doing so at 100 mph and more is a start.

No one can rationally argue that is a safe driving speed.

And after such a threshold is set, it could still be lowered in the future.

There needs to be real consequences to those who are so self-centered that they wantonly ignore the law and place innocent people in jeopardy.

I know, I know.

Most speeders tickets for going over 100 mph don’t cause an accident.

But that is not the point.

At 100 mph there is a lot less room for errors.

You don’t stop on a dime.

Other people have less reaction time to get out of the way.

Speed clearly kills Californians.

And its time to take steps to protect other people on the road.

This column is the opinion of editor, Dennis Wyatt, and does not necessarily represent the opinions of The Bulletin or 209 Multimedia. He can be reached at dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com