“CHiPs,” a new film opening nationwide on Friday, pays homage to the original dramedy that ran on television from 1977 to 1983.
It followed the exploits of California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers Jon Baker and Frank Poncherello as they patrolled the Greater Los Angeles freeway system.
But what is it like to be a real California Highway Patrol motor officer?
We recently took a drive on the 22 freeway alongside CHP Sergeant Chris Johnson and CHP Officer Christian Cavenaugh. Johnson has been a motor officer for 24 years, Cavenaugh for 10.
Then we asked the officers five questions. But before we began, Cavenaugh said that being a CHP motor officer is everything he hoped it would be.
“What other job pays you to ride a motorcycle around Southern California while wearing awesome leather boots?” he joked.
1. Officer Poncherello had this Kawasaki Z1-P up to 99 mph in the pilot episode and Officer Baker got to pilot a helicopter. What’s your fastest speed and did you ever want to pilot a helicopter?
Johnson has Ponch’s top speed beat by one mile per hour on his Harley
Electra Glide. Cavenaugh hesitated to give a specific mph but said that he’s ridden the department’s BMW1200RT at top speed. “I’ve submitted an application three times to be on the CHP hang glider/jet ski emergency response team but have never heard back,” Cavenaugh quipped.
2. Erik Estrada played the character of Ponch on ChiPs. On one occasion the stuntmen had gone home for the day so Estrada said he’d do his stunt. He ended up breaking eight ribs, punctured both lungs, his jaw, collarbone and wrist. The studio gave him a $100,000 Rolls Royce as compensation. Have you ever been injured?
Fortunately neither Cavenaugh or Johnson have been injured on the job. Cavenaugh joked that he wouldn’t mind a few bumps and bruises in exchange for a Rolls Royce.
3. What are a few of the most stupid or funny things a driver has said to you when you pulled him over?
Both said that the most frequently given reason for speeding is “I have to pee.” Johnson recalled his favorite excuse was a driver who said he was speeding because he was rushing home to take care of his worm farm. “He had a warrant so he spent the night in jail — poor worms!” said Johnson.
4. What are the three most frequent violations drivers make on the freeways?
Johnson and Cavenaugh said speeding, driving in the carpool lane and tailgating were the most common offenses. “Everyone knows that you’re not supposed to talk on a phone or text while driving, but they do it anyway,” said Johnson. “We could make a stop every 10 minutes.”
5. ChiPs characters Ponch and John had quite a few brushes with fame. They chased after pro football player Fred “The Hammer” Williamson while he was wearing roller skates; had a karate fight with Danny Bonaduce (of the Partridge Family TV program) and went to a disco with Ed McMahon and Ginger from Gilligan’s Island. Have you ever pulled over or escorted a celebrity?
“I’ve escorted every president since Gerald Ford,” said Johnson. “Carter, Reagan, both Bushes…..all the way through Trump. It’s a real honor.” Johnson said he’s only pulled over one celebrity. I once pulled over a car for speeding. I recognized the driver was drag racer Kenny Bernstein. I let him go. I figured that if he can drive a dragster at 300 miles an hour, he could probably handle 80,” he joked.
