The purpose of the nationwide toll-free telephone number is to provide the public with an easily recognizable telephone number that can be used to contact the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The 1-800-TELL-CHP telephone number was originally established for the reporting of vehicle and cargo theft and later expanded for the Farm Labor Vehicle Program. Because of its success, the CHP has designated 1-800-TELL-CHP as the number that shall serve as the point of contact for the public to access the CHP for non-emergency purposes (e.g., accident reports, tow questions, CHP office locations, vehicle theft tips, community outreach programs).
Additionally, by providing the public with an easily recognizable telephone number for contacting the Department, the use of the cellular 9-1-1 system for non-emergency calls should decrease. CHP has personnel that answers the 1-800-TELL-CHP telephone number 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
