Triple-digit speeding skyrockets during coronavirus pandemic

The number of motorists caught going faster than 100 mph was 87% more during the first month of California’s stay-at-home order than for the same period last year – even as overall traffic has plummeted, the California Highway Patrol said on Wednesday.

CHP officers, who patrol freeways, state highways and other roadways, issued 2,493 citations to motorists accused of traveling at triple-digit speeds from March 19 to April 19, the agency said. In 2019 during that same period, 1,335 such citations were handed out.

The major uptick comes while the roads are deserted, by California standards.

“It is alarming to see the number of citations officers are writing for excessive speeds on California roadways,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said in a statement.

“Higher speeds can lead to much-more-serious injuries and significantly increase the chance of death should a crash occur,” he added.

CHP Officer Tino Olivera, based in the Santa Ana station house, said eight of the 14 motorists he cited for speeding in just three hours Friday morning, April 17, were going more than 100 mph.

Most of the 14 were in their mid-20s, with 10 telling him they were headed to a party or other social gathering.

“One girl who was traveling either 102 or 104 mph said she was late for a party bus in Los Angeles County, and that’s why she was going so fast,” Olivera said.