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PSA: Heavy CHP/Sheriff Crackdown on Hwy 9 & Skyline Ride Smart Out There

PaulR

PaulR

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2025
Moto(s)
96 VRF - Zuma 50 - 92 DR 350 S - 2004 SV 650 - Honda CH 80 - Aprila 1000 - Honda Elite 125
Been hearing a lot from locals and riders in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and it sounds like things have hit a breaking point on Highway 9 and Skyline (35) this summer.

Multiple crashes, medevacs, and road closures have pushed CHP and the Sheriff into full “enough is enough” mode. Word is they wrote 40+ tickets in one sweep mostly for cars with no front plates literally walking down the line and tagging windshields. Bikes and cars are both getting attention now.

Locals are frustrated, and enforcement is way more aggressive than in past years. Zero‑tolerance seems to be the new normal.

I’m planning to head down that way next month for the MotoAmerica round at Laguna Seca, and it’s definitely going to be a different type of ride this time. I’ll be taking it easy through the mountains and treating the whole area like an active enforcement zone.

Posting this as a heads‑up for anyone riding 9/35 or passing through on the way to Monterey. Add any updates if you’ve seen the same.
PaulR
 
It has been a tough year. I am not shocked.
The no Front license plate thing is the only… really??
 
budman said:
It has been a tough year. I am not shocked.
The no Front license plate thing is the only… really??
Click to expand...
I'm with you...sort of. At this point I'm OK with using any legal methods to cause these types of drivers / riders to go away.

Two weeks ago I was the 4th car in a line, and pulled over for a Camry(!) that was tailgating me. In about half a mile that Camry passed the 3 cars ahead of us, in a fully blind turn, in the middle of the day. And the BMW followed by passing me too. Any oncoming vehicle would have not had a chance. I was on the brakes trying to separate myself from the potential carnage.
 
Late spring is always when CHP presence on the hill increases. Add that CHP head count for officer is higher than its been in 10 years. License plate tickets don't sound like heavy enforcement to me, one officer could have written every one of those tickets.

Heavy enforcement looks like this;
1782415942213.jpeg

Or this (a decade ago in Marin);
1782416050388.jpeg
 
budman said:
The no Front license plate thing is the only… really??
Click to expand...
I was tagged by Mr. CHP last week on Hwy 5 in the middle of seemingly GD nowhere

We are going the speed limit in the RH lane and Mr. CHP is sitting on the RH shoulder, after I pass him then Mr. CHP pulls out and its like the 4th of July with the lights.
Ok, thinking WTF could I have done? - Well he immediately says I stopped you for not having a front plate but don't worry it is just a fix it ticket
 
I got CHP bagged and tagged (or teabagged?) on highway 20 coming back from a great day of dirt biking at chalk bluff a few weeks back.
Windows too tinted.
JFC

I bought the truck in Nevada, that is how they roll off the dealer lots, mandatory window tint.
 
NorCalBusa said:
Late spring is always when CHP presence on the hill increases. Add that CHP head count for officer is higher than its been in 10 years. License plate tickets don't sound like heavy enforcement to me, one officer could have written every one of those tickets.

Heavy enforcement looks like this;
View attachment 596722

Or this (a decade ago in Marin);
View attachment 596723
Click to expand...
I remember this one.
 
i have been lazy and not installed the california front license plate, still rocking the temporary nevada plate in the front and california in the back. am i confusing flock? or am i generating lots of juicy alerts for one of those fancy fix it tickets?
 
5200(b) — when only one plate is issued, it goes on the rear.

Every bike I received a plate for, DMV issued one plate.

Fight any of those tickets and if used as the original stop..... even better. If they dared to do it.
 
I think the front plate tickets in this thread are in cages. It's a legal reason to be pulled over, but I think it's more CHP fishing than a real concern.
 
^^so much all of this^^
You don't get pulled over at 2:00PM for a brake lamp out.
You get pulled over for that at 2:00AM.
And it ain't about the brake lamp.
 
jbawden said:
I think the front plate tickets in this thread are in cages. It's a legal reason to be pulled over, but I think it's more CHP fishing than a real concern.
Click to expand...
Thats why I ended with 'If they dared to do it.'

Would be a stupid move on the officer to claim it on a Bike. I'm sure one has tried. Haha
 
PaulR said:
Been hearing a lot from locals and riders in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and it sounds like things have hit a breaking point on Highway 9 and Skyline (35) this summer.

Multiple crashes, medevacs, and road closures have pushed CHP and the Sheriff into full “enough is enough” mode. Word is they wrote 40+ tickets in one sweep mostly for cars with no front plates literally walking down the line and tagging windshields. Bikes and cars are both getting attention now.

Locals are frustrated, and enforcement is way more aggressive than in past years. Zero‑tolerance seems to be the new normal.

I’m planning to head down that way next month for the MotoAmerica round at Laguna Seca, and it’s definitely going to be a different type of ride this time. I’ll be taking it easy through the mountains and treating the whole area like an active enforcement zone.

Posting this as a heads‑up for anyone riding 9/35 or passing through on the way to Monterey. Add any updates if you’ve seen the same.
PaulR
Click to expand...
There are some some choice backroads I’d take as alternatives. :) thanks for the PSA. It’s been a rough summer already.
 
ctwo said:
It's kinda hard to track you if they can't read your ID.
Click to expand...
True.

I have had cars that are not really suited for a front license plate. A Corvette.. my CTSV currently.
I think The design of the cars are compromised by adding a plate. I guarantee none of the original design concept drawings had a fucking plate.

Artistic…Blasphemy :rant

I am down for an upper windshield fucking bar code. FCS. Leave the beauty of my car alone. :x

I need that Weiner dude to do a bill thing for the barcode. You could probably charge more for it you sticks :twofinger
 
Credit where credit is due....
I'm not a huge fan of the Team Soy Sauce tuner crowd but they did come up with a slick work around.
Whoever thought to make a front plate bracket that screws into the tow hook receptacle was a genius. No permanent install, easily removed and replaced.
 
I have a John Cooper Works Mini with an aero kit. It does not have a provision for a front plate. I’ve never installed one. I do have the plate, though. It’s in the trunk.
 
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