CHP Golden Gate Division

Car seat education services were REALLY amazing. We made an appointment for both of our cars. The guy who took my information on the phone asked a lot of questions, and I felt like I was in good hands from the beginning. Officer Brown (Jeff?) who inspected our car seats was incredibly knowledgeable, kind and helpful. We both felt like he REALLY cared about the safety of our unborn child. I appreciated this service so much, and how wonderfully caring the Officer was. Really impressive!

Thank you to the officer that sat there for over an hour on I-​80 in Berkeley today to make sure I stayed safe while waiting for the tow truck. I didn’t catch your name, but I really appreciate you!

Ok people, I know CHP’s aren’t usually the most popular of law enforcement. But, I needed to have my yet-​unborn kiddo’s carseat installed and inspected by folks who know what they are doing (and whose hands don’t hurt from pregnancy carpal tunnel, ow). Officer Dave Leroux (? La reaux?) was awesome. He didn’t make fun of my half-​assed attempt to put the car seat in on my own, and he went through how to install it in different ways, different positions in the car, and how it should fit on the kiddo once she decides to make her appearance. Very patient, kind, and the mechanics in the back shop were also hilarious and welcoming. And I now feel like the munchkin will be safe in the carseat. Yay CHP! Thanks!

This review is for their car seat education services. I didn’t realize you have to have an appointment because Marin General told us to go the the Fire Department, but they said «just go to the CHP,» so we didn’t call ahead. Thankfully they were able to fit us in anyway.
It takes at least an hour for them to do the whole program, Officer Diane helped us by going over all the features of our car seat and properly installing it — she said 70−80% of people install them wrong. We were one of those people — and we had followed the directions — or so we thought. Now the seat is securely installed in preparation for bringing baby home :)
Every parent should take their car seat in and take the time to have an officer check the installation, it might be time consuming but it’s so worth it!

After reading these posts, and steaming about a recent ticket I received, I’ll put in my 2 cents. And since the very officer that ticketed me (Bruestle) is named in another post here, all the more reason to let you guys know:
I was ticketed for parking a car on a public street with a «For Sale» sign in the window.
So I’m sure everyone is familiar with the practice of parking a car for sale in a high exposure area. There are areas all around the county that are known for being able to find a car for sale. As long as there are no restricted parking signs posted, one may park a vehicle on a public street for up to 72 hours without being targeted for an abandoned vehicle. Well, apparently there REALLY is a law that you cannot park a car on a street with a «for sale» sign in it. That means, if you are selling your car and plan to take the bus, you have to take the signs out of your car before you park it! Ridiculous! Right? I even took the ticket to Novato PD and they suggested I fight it! They were not aware of the law. I then went to CHP and the officer there did not know of the code, called someone else (I am assuming in CHP), who also was not aware of it and had to call back. Yes, there is a law against parking with For Sale signs in the window.
Maybe Officer Bruestle should be more concerned with going after true violators, like speeders or wreckless drivers, rather than play Meter Maid.

I’ve lived in Marin or travelled here regularly for most of my adult life. I’m not sure who wrote the review below but it sounded biased to me. The police officers in Marin have had so many discrimination suits one dept. (twin cities, next to richmond bridge) even changed their name.
I got upset with a CHP officer who followed me off the fwy, I won’t go into too much detail but he assumed I had a financial deficiency he could ticket me for. I was all paid up. I called him on what I thought was following me to try to find another infraction and assuming I was unpaid because of my color. I was loud. For the next 3 days I saw CHP in the same area ticketing other demographics. I’ve seen them train their radar gun at me and when I pointed to the white male speeding up behind me he lowered the gun and rode about 5 car lengths in front of me for more than 3 miles and sped off when I moved to an exit lane.
I tweeted negatively about the CHP, especially after they beat up that woman in LA, I’ve gotten 2 tickets since, which is especially unusual (unheard of) for me.
In short, black men from the East Bay sometimes get nervous in Marin. I get nervous, whether I’m speeding or not. They sometimes (for me always) behave badly and I think they protect their reputation by ticketing people. They don’t take criticism well, and they’ve targeted people for reasons that have nothing to do with whether they break the law. I’m a little nervous even writing this. I expect to have to call the Police watchdog group. They’ve already cost me quite a bit.

I was headed to the corte Madera mall approaching the CHP parking lot. An SUV guns it out of the lot between cars and nearly side swipes me pushing into my lane. I pull my car to the right and brake so this caveman can get to his destination 1 second before me.
Whatever…right?
At the next light I happen to pull up next to the same SUV; I was hoping to get away from him but the light changed and there we were. I look to my left at the guy in the driver’s seat (thats all, no words no gestures). Suddenly he is yelling out of his rolled down window the following, «Yeah thats right!» «F— You!» «Want me to drag you out of your car and beat you to death»!? ~ All this while showing me his Highway patrol badge.
Cocaine paranoia or steroid rage? Fewer drugs and some anger management might help.
CHP — Before you write this off as some angry person who hates «the cops» you should know: My passenger that day was off duty SFPD, I have a spotless DMV record for nearly 20 years, educated and well-​off. Please be careful who you threaten

On Wednesday, 28 May 2014 I was driving across the Golden Gate bridge at 2:30 pm when an apparently drunk driver cut in front of me, side swiped the toll booth, cut off two other drivers and then proceeded to swirve over the dividing cones 5 times. I instinctively (as the billboards suggest) dialed 911 and reported a drunk driver. I described the vehicle, gave the license plate number, described the driver and the direction and speed of travel as asked by the dispatcher. I then continued to tail the car while the dispatcher informed me that CHP officers were on their way. For 25 minutes in light traffic I followed the vehicle as I passed a total of five CHP vehicles and 1 CHP motorcycle between Sausalito and Novato, two of which were involved in traffic stops, the other three just driving aimlessly in the slow lane. Honking at the officers and pointing at the drunk drivers vehice were not enough to prompt the officers to perform their duties and, after losing all hope in our public servants, I watched the drunk driver merge onto Highway 37 and disappear. Another drunk driver getting off scott free.

These guys are awesome. I got a flat tire just before getting on the Golden Gate Bridge going south. I pulled off at the Alexander exit and parked on the side of the road by a CHP named Eric. He offered to change my tire saying that at rush hour it would take a couple hours to get AAA there. What a wonderful surprise.

Throughout America, there are good cops and bad cops. Hard working ones and fat lazy donut eaters. Disgraceful cops. I would be the last guy to glamorize a police officer, but I must say, having been pulled over over the many years of my life (usually for no reason or chickensh*t), cops can be cocky and often ask foolish irrelevant questions, for who knows what reason (boredom, trying to provoke an innocent tax paying citizen for a stupid incident?).
However many rotten police departments exist in the State of California and America, one thing seems apparent – the CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL (CHP) OVER ALL IS PROBABLY THE BEST, MOST PROFESSIONAL COLLECTION OF POLICE OFFICERS IN THE UNITED STATES (well, the US Secret Service might be a tad better, but they are different types of cops).
I am not really trying to massage anyone’s ego. I have dealt with lazy, incompetent, angry police officers over the years, but I have never, ever seen this attitude in ANY CHP officer, wherever it be in California.
In the Bay Area, I now find the officers are truly a diverse collection of the population at large… black, white, Asian-​American, Latino, male, female officers. Jerry Brown must feel privileged to command the finest very large police department in the nation, perhaps the world.
No silly pullovers, and if you are pulled over there seems to be just cause (expired plates, etc.). They focus on doing their job as the CHP academy trains them and are not into wasting time. Above all, when you deal with them on duty (or off… I have had conversations with off-​duty CHP officers) I get the feeling that, as silly as it might sound, they really care about and take pride in doing their best to do their job well. And that job is to not necessarily to stringently enforce traffic laws (pulling you over for doing 62 in a 55MPH zone), but to always do their best to maintain PUBLIC SAFETY.

Did you know the CHP will check your carseat installation? Yep! It turned out we had not installed the seat correctly, so I am very glad we took advantage of this free service. The officer was friendly, thorough, and gave us some tips on how to make the carseat safe as our new baby grows. My understanding is that all CHP offices offer this service. Take advantage of it!