SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In an effort to address what officials describe as “video game-styled” driving on California’s highways, the California Highway Patrol is rolling out 100 specially marked patrol vehicles designed to combat aggressive and reckless behavior on the road, according to an agency news release.
The new fleet of low-profile Dodge Durangos will allow officers to discreetly monitor dangerous driving — including lane weaving, excessive speeding, and road rage — before making highly visible enforcement stops.
“These new vehicles give our officers an important advantage,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “They will 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.”
May 11, three days after the announcement of the Dodge Durangos, the CHP tweeted that the new specially marked patrol vehicles are already having an “INSTANT IMPACT.”
“On its first day, a CHP-Modesto unit stopped a reckless driver just one mile from the area office—thanks to the SMPV design that helps officers spot dangerous behavior in real time.”
INSTANT IMPACT: SMPVs are already making a difference. On its first day, a CHP-Modesto unit stopped a reckless driver just one mile from the area office—thanks to the SMPV design that helps officers spot dangerous behavior in real time.#CHP #SMPV #SafetyServiceSecurity pic.twitter.com/eB97z3MkTJ
— CHP Headquarters (@CHP_HQ) May 11, 2025
According to the CHP, California sees more than 390,000 crashes annually and nearly 1,000 reports of reckless driving every day. Speed remains a major contributor, playing a role in roughly 30% of all traffic collisions. In 2023 alone, CHP officers issued nearly 18,000 citations for drivers caught exceeding 100 mph.
The new SMPVs are intended to help tackle these figures, according to the release. By blending into traffic, officers can more effectively identify egregious offenders before initiating a stop, with vehicle markings that clearly communicate enforcement once engaged.
The first 25 vehicles are being deployed this week across key regions in California, with all 100 units expected to be operational on the state’s busiest roadways by June.
“Speed isn’t a thrill — it’s a threat,” the agency stated. “And the CHP is responding.”
This article, originally published May 9, 2025, has been updated with a video and additional information.
