The California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP) was established in 1920, nine years prior to the establishment of the California Highway Patrol. The very same principles we were founded on guide us today. The CAHP is concerned with the safety and welfare of California's citizens as well as the safety and welfare of our members and their families.

Over the years we have been very successful in gaining passage of laws making our state safer. These include tougher laws against drunk drivers and tighter regulations on commercial vehicles to assure the safety of the motoring public. We have also supported legislation requiring the use of seat belts by motorists and the use of motorcycle helmets by riders, which since the implementation, has reduced injuries as well as saved hundreds of lives. At the same time we have fought to maintain the salaries and benefit levels of CHP officers in order to recruit and retain the best law enforcement officers possible.

We are proud to have earned the reputation as "California's Finest." At the same time we recognize that being a CHP officer is the most dangerous law enforcement job in the State of California. The CHP has one of the highest felony arrest rates in the state. We have lost more officers in the line of duty than any other law enforcement agency. One hundred seventy two CHP officers have made the ultimate sacrifice and given up their lives in the line of duty protecting the citizens of California

The CHP has very broad, statewide emergency service responsibilities. The CHP patrols all freeways, most highways and all roadways in unincorporated areas of California. In addition, the CHP is involved in drug interdiction programs, commercial vehicle inspection and a number of other traffic and law enforcement programs.

The CHP is responsible for the safety and security of all constitutional officers, Supreme Court Judges, as well as safety and security in the State Capitol and all other State property.

Under the state's collective bargaining law, the Ralph C. Dills Act, we are now required to represent both members and nonmembers, yet our organization is the only organization representing state employees that does not use what is commonly called "agency shop." We do not require nonmembers to pay a fee. Officers are free to choose whether they want to belong or not, and yet the CAHP has the highest percentage of membership of any organization representing state employees. We represent 97 percent of all uniformed officers. This includes officers, supervisors and managers. We represent approximately 10,000 active and retired CHP officers.

The CAHP strives hard to meet the needs of both the public we serve and our membership. We are proud of our long tradition of serving California and maintaining the highest standards of conduct possible. We have worked hard to gain the respect of California citizens and we make every effort to uphold that respect.

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