BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) \u2014 Drivers caught speeding more than 100 miles per hour in California could now face faster and harsher penalties under a new enforcement program between the Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Highway Patrol.<\/p>\n
The fast-track initiative allows CHP officers to automatically forward cases involving extreme speeding to the DMV\u2019s Driver Safety Branch, where a driver\u2019s license can be suspended or revoked more quickly than before. <\/p>\n
State officials say the program is designed to improve roadway safety and reduce dangerous driving behavior.<\/p>\n
Truck driver Albert Orellana says the change is welcome. After four years on California highways, he describes speeding and aggressive driving as a daily concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore I go to work, I pray,\u201d Orellana said. \u201cI ask God to cover me because there are a lot of crazy people on the road, especially in L.A.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orellana says some drivers leave little time to react when they speed excessively.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome things people do they press more on the gas and give you no chance to react,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to the California Highway Patrol, officers cite about 1,600 drivers each month for traveling at least 100 miles per hour. <\/p>\n
In 2024 alone, CHP issued more than 18,000 of those citations statewide. <\/p>\n
County-specific data, including figures for Kern County, is not publicly available.<\/p>\n
DMV officials say the key difference with the new program is speed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe difference here is how quickly we\u2019re able to obtain the information by going directly into the CHP system,\u201d said Veronica Bowie with the DMV.<\/p>\n
The DMV and CHP hope the fast-track system will help curb ongoing safety concerns on California roads, including those felt locally in Kern County.<\/p>\n
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