CHP Begins Patrols to Check Speeding

The California Highway Patrol began patrolling the streets inside the gated community of Coto de Caza on Tuesday in an effort to reduce speeding and other traffic violations on the private roads.

The CZ Master Assn. Board, the largest homeowners association within the community, voted in August to approve CHP patrols inside Coto de Caza. In an agreement signed by the homeowners association, the county has agreed to fund the patrols through Jan. 15, 2002.

The CHP plans to patrol over a staggered 40-hour week. Drivers in the community will be given a warning on their first offense, after which they will receive a ticket with a fine imposed by the county.

The community had to make a number of changes in order for its streets to meet California Vehicle Code regulations, which must be adhered to before the streets can be patrolled by a public agency. A number of these changes, including increasing the speed limits on the main thoroughfares and removing speed bumps throughout the community, angered some residents who opposed the presence of the CHP and felt higher speed limits only created a more dangerous situation.