To join the CHP ride-along program, contact the California Highway Patrol Area Office nearest you and ask to ride as an observer. Every participant must clear a background check through the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) and sign CHP Form 428, the department’s Release and Waiver of Liability, before getting into a patrol vehicle or aircraft.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs You can locate your local office through the CHP’s office finder at chp.ca.gov/find-an-office.2California Highway Patrol. Find an Office
Who Can Ride
You should be 18 or older. Area commanders can approve younger riders who are involved in specific programs, including the CHP Explorer Program, Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), Scouts, or a school research project, but a parent or legal guardian has to sign the CHP 428 waiver alongside the minor.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs
General curiosity about police work is not enough. Requests without a specific need to observe field operations will not be approved, so be ready to explain your reason — career exploration, academic research, or participation in a CHP-affiliated youth program are the kinds of purposes that qualify.
A CLETS background check runs on every applicant. A felony conviction anywhere on your record is an automatic denial. Misdemeanor convictions don’t automatically disqualify you, but the Area commander or a designee has to personally approve your participation.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs The check is for security purposes only. If you’re also applying for a CHP job, the department cannot use this preliminary check in its hiring decision.
How to Sign Up
Find your local Area Office first. The CHP website lets you search by city, county, or zip code.2California Highway Patrol. Find an Office Call or visit and tell staff you’d like to participate in the ride-along program. They’ll walk you through the local process for submitting your request and completing the paperwork.
Every request goes to the Area commander or a designee for review, and no ride can take place until that approval comes through.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs The General Order sets no specific processing timeline, so turnaround depends on how busy the office is and how quickly your background check clears. A few weeks of lead time is reasonable.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID when you go to the office. You’ll need it again on the day of your ride, because the waiver has to be witnessed at the office or at the start of the shift, not signed at home.
The CHP 428 Waiver
CHP Form 428, “Release and Waiver of Liability,” is the document every non-CHP-employee rider must sign before the shift begins. Read it before you sign it.
The waiver is broad. By signing, you assume all risks of damage or loss to your person or property “from all and every cause, including negligence, violation of law, or willful misconduct” by CHP, its officers, employees, or agents. The state and its personnel take on no liability for anything that happens to you during the ride or in connection with it.3California Highway Patrol. Release and Waiver of Liability, CHP 428 In practical terms, if you are injured during a high-speed response or any other patrol activity, you have no claim against the state.
The form also records the date, shift, and duration of your ride. A shift supervisor or flight crew member must witness your signature. Completed CHP 428 forms are kept on file at the Area Office for one year.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs
Rules During the Ride
Your role is strictly observer. You may only get involved in a situation at the officer’s direction, and even then your participation is limited to actions essential to officer safety.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs Follow every instruction the officer gives you without hesitation. The General Order does not set a fixed shift length; duration, location, and the kinds of incidents you may be present for are up to the local command.
Dress
The General Order requires conservative attire and states that your appearance and conduct should reflect the standards of the department.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs Think business-casual: collared shirt, closed-toe shoes, slacks or khakis. Leave the jeans, shorts, and sneakers at home. If you show up dressed inappropriately, the officer can end the ride-along before it starts.
No Weapons, No Recording
You will not have access to any firearm, and the department will not train you on the Lektro-Lok, a vehicle-mounted arrest tool. These restrictions apply regardless of a concealed-carry permit or outside law enforcement experience.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs
Photographs and audio or video recordings are prohibited during the ride. The only exception is for credentialed members of the media, and even that requires advance approval from the Area commander.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs Carrying a cell phone is fine; pulling it out to film a traffic stop is grounds to have the ride terminated early. Notes are the safer way to remember details for a school paper or career journal.
You Could Be Called to Testify
Before your shift starts, the Area Office will tell you that if you witness an incident during the ride, such as an arrest, a citation, or a use-of-force event, you may be subpoenaed to testify in court as a witness.1California Highway Patrol. General Order 100.42 – Ride-Alongs That is not theoretical. A DUI arrest you observed could lead to a court summons months later if the case goes to trial. Factor that in before you sign up.