City Council May Be Poised to Take First Step to Try to Bring CHP Back to Malibu

• Contacting State Officials Is on Agenda of May 24 Meeting

BY ANNE SOBLE

The Malibu City Council is expected to begin the process of exploring the feasibility of working with the California Highway Patrol to resume traffic law enforcement on Pacific Coast Highway and other state roads.

Newly-elected Councilmember Lou La Monte, whose campaign platform called for the CHP’s return, has asked city staff to prepare an agenda item for the May 24 council meeting asking “the council [to] direct staff to begin the process of bringing the CHP back.”

Since Malibu incorporated 19 years ago, the city has contracted with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for both traffic and criminal law enforcement.

Recent PCH fatalities and concerns about handling of road closures and signal malfunctions have generated local criticism of LASD on traffic-related issues.

La Monte told the Malibu Surfside News, “The CHP agenda item will be the first step in bringing the Highway Patrol back to Malibu to provide additional traffic enforcement on PCH, one of the most dangerous highways in the state.”