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The agency patrols all state-maintained highways, including all freeways. Its officers enforce the provisions of the California Vehicle Code (especially the prohibition on speeding), pursue fugitives spotted on the highways, and attend to all significant obstructions, particularly car accidents. They are often the first government agents at the scene of an accident and in turn summon paramedics or tow truck drivers as required.
CHP officers often run what are known as traffic breaks to enable other officers ahead to clean up accidents or obstructions safely. This is done by the officer activating his unit's rear or overhead flashing lights, waiting for surrounding traffic to drop back, and then swerving violently back and forth across all lanes of the freeway to gently force the traffic behind him to an eventual stop. Traffic breaks can be a frightening sight for out-of-state visitors or children who have never seen them before.
On July 12, 1995, the California State Police was merged into the CHP. This added to the mandate of the CHP. In addition to safety on the state's roads, they are now responsible for the safety of all state elected officials and people who work in or are utilizing a state building in California, such as the State Capital Building in Sacramento.
They also publish data on traffic accidents in California from a database called SWITRS (Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System).
CHiPs is a fictional television show of the 1970s about the CHP.Law enforcement in the United States