Heed the speed laws.
That’s the message from law enforcement officers for exotic car drivers enticed by the Central Coast’s seemingly open roads.
The California Highway Patrol’s Coastal Division will conduct a Maximum Enforcement Period on Wednesday, with all available CHP officers expected to patrol local highways to enforce safe driving.
Of course, the effort won’t only focus on those driving exotic cars as those in everyday vehicles speeding or otherwise driving unsafely also face a citation.
The rare mid-week Maximum Enforcement Period coincides with Monterey Car Week at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Monterey Car Week 2024 at Raceway Laguna Seca kicked off with a classic car show in downtown Monterey over the weekend.
The Monterey Motorsports Reunion, the largest event during the famed Monterey Car Week, starts on Wednesday and ends Saturday.
This event attracts thousands of spectators and car enthusiasts from across the state and nation.
Last year, CHP officers on the Central Coast nabbed several high-performance car drivers en route to Monterey traveling at high speeds.
“Speeding isn’t just breaking the law – it’s putting lives at risk. Every additional mile per hour reduces a driver’s reaction time and increases the severity of a crash,” said Chief LD Maples, commander of the Coastal Division.
By mid-afternoon Aug. 16, 2023, CHP officers based in Buellton had issued seven citations for excessive speed — reportedly topping 90 mph. Those receiving citations were driving assorted exotic cars such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche.
While most citations involved speeding, officers issued at least once reckless driving violation.
After Buellton CHP officers posted their triple-header traffic stop involving a trio of high-performance vehicles, Central Coast residents noted other exotic cars speeding or pulled over.
Last summer wasn’t the first encounter for local CHP officers with high-performance car drivers.
In early 2023, a man behind the wheel of a Lamborghini landed in trouble after he was stopped for driving 152 mph on Highway 154, a roadway which has been the focus of safety concerns.