Special to the Town Crier
Steve Oreglia, public affairs officer for the California Highway Patrol, laid it on the line at the Los Altos Kiwanis Club meeting Nov. 23. Starting today, the CHP will be using radar on every roadway in the San Jose district.
Oreglia, who spent 10 years as a motorcycle officer in the San Jose area, knows what to look for.
"If you're an aggressive driver, beware. We'll get you," Oreglia said. "With the holidays upon us, we are looking for drivers speeding, drivers weaving through traffic, tailgating and passing on the shoulder. We want to stop those drivers because they are the ones who cause collisions and fatal accidents."
After 10 years of traffic duty, Oreglia transferred to the front office this year to help with driver education and information. He now speaks to grade school and high school students, as well as at corporations that have significant numbers of commuting employees. He has also been on television and radio stations explaining what the CHP is doing to reduce accidents on the highway.
Over the holidays, the CHP intends to have numerous DUI checkpoints because most traffic fatalities are related to drunk driving.
"When we have DUI checks, we are trying to plant a seed in the public's mind. The problem of driving while drinking doesn't go away, so a checkpoint is a defensive move by the police," Oreglia said. "Think about having a designated driver this time of year."
The CHP recently received a $350,000 federal grant to stop aggressive driving on the highways, with Interstates 680 and 280 specifically designated as areas to enforce.
Oreglia said there is zero tolerance for speeders, adding that when drivers in a group are going over 70, the CHP won't pull over the first person. However, there is always one driver who will be driving faster, shooting the gap, or charging to the front. That's the one the CHP looks for, he said.