Golden Gate Division

GOLDEN GATE DIVISION COMMERCIAL OPPERATIONS UNIT

The Golden Gate Division Commercial Operations Unit’s (COU’s) specific objective is to achieve maximum service to the public and industry. COU will provide the coordination necessary to assure a professional and uniform commercial program within Division. The COU is guided by the policies and procedures incorporated in the Commercial Enforcement Manual, HPM 82.6; CHP manuals, guides incorporated within the general procedures of Division SOP and Host Area policies and procedures as they apply to the Division commercial regional personnel.

Composed of North and South Sector encompassing all 9 Bay Area Counties. North Sector – Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Contra Costa and Marin Counties. 4 Platform Scales are located in Marin and Contra Costa Counties. South Sector – Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. The COU is staffed by 16 Mobile Road Enforcement (MRE’s) Officers, 2 Platform Scales assigned MRE Officers, , 1 CIEP Coordinator, 1 Environmental Crimes Investigator, 1 General Support Officer/Variance Load Coordinator , 2 Motor Carrier Property Permit (MCPP) Officers, 2 Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Officers, 1 Staff Services Analyst (SSA) and 2 Sergeants.

The Northern Region encompasses the following CHP Areas:

• Marin (Including Terra Linda and St. Vincents Hill remote platform scales)
• Santa Rosa
• Napa
• Contra Costa (Including Walnut Creek platform scales)
• Solano

The Southern Region encompasses the following CHP Areas:

• Castro Valley
• Hayward
• San Francisco
• Redwood City
• Oakland
• Dublin
• San Jose

Enforcement
The COU is tasked with providing:

• Road Patrol
• On-highway Inspections
• Variance Load Escorts
• Level VI/Radiological Escorts
• Litter Enforcement Day
• Operation Air Brake Check
• PACT

Education:

• Internal Training
• Hazardous Materials Trainings
• External Training

Other Tasks:

• Participates in Strike Force Operations
• Allied Agency Task Forces
• MASFO
• PUC Strike Force
• ARB

Requests During On-duty Hours:
If the situation warrants, MRE officers may be requested by Area supervisors to assist at accidents or incidents that may or may not involve commercial vehicles. However, MRE officers should be used as a resource and requests for assistance should be limited to fatal or major injury accidents or hazardous materials incidents. Requests should be made through Golden Gate Communications Center (GGCC). GGCC should contact the on-duty regional supervisor. The regional supervisor will then contact the incident commander to determine if the situation requires a commercial officer response or an officer with expertise in a specialized area.

After-Hour Incident Requests:
If possible, the vehicle(s) in question should be impounded by the Host Area and held for inspection during regular business hours. However, if the situation warrants, the incident commander, or Area supervisor, may request the assistance of a commercial officer.
After-hour incident requests shall be made through GGCC to the on-call regional supervisor. The Lieutenant shall forward the name of the on-call supervisor for each month to GGCC.

Platform Scale Collisions: All non-injury or minor injury traffic collisions occurring on scale property shall be investigated and documented by scale personnel. All major injury and hit-and-run collisions shall be investigated and documented by Host Area personnel. Should Area personnel staffing or workload preclude a timely response, the investigation shall be initiated by scale personnel. All investigative paperwork shall be forwarded to the Area for completion and follow-up.

Associated Links:

• Federal Regulations ( http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ )
• California Code of Regulations ( http://www.oal.ca.gov/ )
• Air Resource Board ( http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm )
• DMV – Commercial Driver Handbook ( http://www.dmv.ca.gov/commercial/commercial.htm )