CHP 'Speeding Ticket Frenzy' in South Orange County
Netlore Archive: Email hoax claims the California Highway Patrol is launching a 'speeding ticket frenzy' in South Orange County to collect more fines and increase the state's revenues.
Description: Email hoax
Circulating since: Jan. 2006 (this version)
Status: False
Email example contributed by Sean G., Jan. 18, 2006:
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Subject: FW: Warning to OC for Traffic violations Subject: Warning to OC for Traffic violations For those of us who like to drive fast..... California Highway Patrol will launch a 30-day speeding ticket frenzy in South Orange County starting January 25, 2006. The state estimates that 22 million dollars will be generated in speeding tickets. 3 million will go to pay California Highway Patrol officer overtime. There will be 90 California Highway Patrol officers on duty at all times patrolling the 7 freeways. They are the following: 73, 55, 133, 241, 57, 5, 605 freeways. Now 7 mph above the limit can justify a ticket and every California Highway Patrol officers is supposed to pull a car over and write a ticket every 10 minutes. They have issued 50 brand new unmarked Crown Victoria cruisers and they are bringing all their part timers on full time. If you live or work in South Orange County you must take one of their freeways. It's up to you how fast you are doing when they do. This is a test by the CHP to raise the extra funds for the State of California. The wealthy folks of South Orange County can afford this new tax. The California State Legislators dreamed up this law to help close the budget gap or something like that. I was told KICU-FM confirmed all of this. So be safe and don't forget speeding tickets are on you. You've been warned. |
Analysis: Recycled hoax. Similar messages circulating in 2005 claimed that state troopers in New Jersey and Tennessee were ordered to hand out speeding tickets every 10 minutes during a specified period of time to collect more fines to benefit the state treasuries. Officials in both states denied planning or implementing any such program.
In a January 19, 2006 article in the Orange County Register, CHP spokesman Chris Goodwin stated that the current email is "100 percent false," noting that the California Highway Patrol does not have speeding ticket quotas.
Update: A revised version of this email claims the "speeding ticket frenzy" will occur in Dallas, Texas.
Update: Another version claims it will occur in Michigan.
Update: Yet another version warns of a speeding ticket frenzy beginning February 1, 2006 in Pennsylvania.
Update: And yet another warns of a speeding ticket frenzy in Tennessee.
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Sources and further reading:
Phony Email Warns of Freeway Speed Trap
Orange County Register, 19 January 2006
Last updated: 02/10/06
