CALIFORNIA — In an aggressive move to combat rising rates of reckless driving, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has launched a fleet of low-profile enforcement vehicles aimed at catching speeders, aggressive drivers, and those treating public roads like a racing simulator.
New Fleet Offers Stealth & Speed
The CHP is deploying 100 specially marked patrol vehicles (SMPVs). Specifically, Dodge Durangos equipped for stealth enforcement. This allows officers to blend into traffic and monitor dangerous behaviors before taking action. According to the CHP, these vehicles are part of a broader strategy to deter what officials call “video game-styled” driving. This style of driving is defined by triple-digit speeds, dangerous lane changes, and road rage incidents.
CHP Commissioner, Sean Duryee.
“The new vehicles give our officers an important advantage,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee.
Duryee continues, “They allow us to identify and stop drivers who are putting others at risk, while still showing a professional and visible presence once enforcement action is needed.”
Additionally, the CHP is placing the new Durangos alongside its existing fleet of high-performance Dodge Chargers and Ford Explorers. Officers will position these vehicles along California’s busiest and most dangerous highways. The first 25 of the SMPVs will begin patrol this week, with the remaining units fully deployed by June of this year.
Reckless Driving Numbers Drive Urgency
New stealth Durango, apart of the SMPVs.
Moreover, the move comes as California continues to grapple with high rates of traffic crashes and reckless behavior. Each year, California sees more than 390,000 crashes, and CHP officers issue nearly 18,000 citations to drivers caught speeding over 100 miles per hour.
Speed remains one of the most dangerous factors in collisions — contributing to around 30% of all crashes. It reduces reaction times, increases stopping distances, and worsens the impact of crashes, making fatalities and severe injuries more likely.
A Message to Drivers
CHP officials are encouraging motorists to take this enforcement effort seriously. While vehicles may not stand out immediately, their message is loud and clear: reckless driving will not be tolerated.
“Speed isn’t a thrill — it’s a threat. And the CHP is responding.”
CHP reminds drivers to obey posted speed limits, avoid aggressive behavior, and remain focused behind the wheel. The goal, according to CHP leadership, is simple: to reduce injuries, prevent fatalities, and restore safety to California’s roadways.
California CHP
