CHP Inspection Found High Out-Of-Service Rate In Riverside

California Highway Patrol (CHP), in partnership with the Riverside Police Department (RPD) 

California Checkpoint Sees High Out-of-Service Rate for Commercial Vehicles

A recent checkpoint in Riverside led by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), in partnership with the Riverside Police Department (RPD), resulted in a high out-of-service rate for commercial vehicles. The operation took place along La Sierra Avenue, where officers checked trucks for safety issues, equipment problems, and license compliance. Local police also helped with the enforcement effort.

Nearly Half of Commercial Vehicles Placed Out-Of-Service

According to the CHP, officers inspected 20 commercial vehicles during the checkpoint. Nine of those vehicles were taken out of service, which is a 45% out-of-service rate. This number is much higher than what is normally seen during larger statewide or national inspection campaigns.

The agency did not list every violation but said the out-of-service decisions were tied to equipment problems, mechanical issues, and licensing errors.

CHP Notes Several Driver Licensing Violations

During the operation, officers also found multiple issues with driver licensing. They cited seven drivers for operating with improper or out-of-class licenses. These types of violations can remove a driver from service until documentation is corrected.

The checkpoint also uncovered other safety issues, including worn tires, lighting defects, and brake concerns. These violations are common problems that often show up during targeted inspections.

CHP Works With Local Police in Safety Operation

The CHP Riverside Area Office led the checkpoint with support from the Inland Division Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility and the RPD Traffic Bureau. The agencies described the effort as a team approach to improve road safety along a busy commercial corridor.

La Sierra Avenue sees regular commercial traffic, which is one reason officers selected the area for focused enforcement.

Why CHP Emphasizes These Inspections

The CHP uses roadside inspections as a way to find unsafe trucks and remove them from travel until they are repaired. When a vehicle is taken out of service, it cannot continue operating until the safety issue is fixed.

These inspections play an important role in crash prevention. Many out-of-service violations involve brakes, steering, or tires—components that can create major hazards if they fail while the truck is moving. Licensing issues can also pose risks if a driver is not trained for the vehicle type they are operating.

How the Results Compare to Wider Trends

While the CHP recorded a 45% out-of-service rate at this checkpoint, national campaigns show much lower averages. For example, during CVSA’s most recent brake safety enforcement effort, the out-of-service rate was under 10% across thousands of inspections.

Local checkpoints often produce higher rates because officers focus on specific problem areas. The results in Riverside suggest that some carriers in the region may have ongoing problems with equipment upkeep or driver training.

More Enforcement Efforts May Follow

The CHP has not announced future checkpoint dates, but the agency regularly conducts operations aimed at unsafe driving and high-risk commercial vehicles. These checks may increase during seasonal travel periods or in areas with a history of safety concerns.

Officials noted that removing unsafe vehicles from the road helps protect both commercial drivers and the wider public. The agency plans to continue working with local police on similar enforcement actions when needed.

Ongoing Focus on CHP Enforcement and Safety

The high out-of-service rate found at this checkpoint highlights the continuing work the CHP is doing to identify safety problems in commercial trucking. Equipment maintenance and proper driver licensing remain top priorities for both state and local enforcement teams.

As more checkpoints take place across California, the results from Riverside offer a clear look at the safety challenges that officers continue to find on the road.