90.1 Flashcards
(30 cards)
- PRESS IDENTIFICATION.
b. Forms of Identification.
(1) The Department no longer issues press identification cards. Any CHP press credentials still in circulation are no longer valid. California Highway Patrol press credentials shall not be recognized by CHP or law enforcement personnel.
(2) An acceptable form of identification will be a company identification card or other forms of press identification issued by a news organization.
(3) Press credentials issued by any other law enforcement agency shall be acceptable forms of press identification for any member of the press.
(4) Reporters who regularly cover the Governor can apply for a media credential authorized by the Governor’s Press Office. Once an application has been approved, the applicant’s photo is taken and the credentials are processed by the CHP Capitol Protection Section. All questions regarding the Capitol Press Corps Media Credentials should be directed to the Governor’s Press Office at (916) 445-4571.
e. Threshold Incidents.
(1) Threshold incidents are defined as incidents which have a high probability of resulting in the Department or the State of California being a defendant in a civil lawsuit. (Refer to GO 100.86, Risk Management Response Protocol.)
(2) Risk Management Administrators (RMA) shall review preliminary news releases including the___________, for use by the Division/Area Public Information Officers, as well as any Communications Network messages prior to their statewide release.
(3) Media relations specific to the threshold incident ________ be coordinated through the RMA. The RMA may designate a spokesperson to manage media relations. The RMA shall ensure that any information released to the public concerning the incident is done in a manner consistent with departmental policy.
CHP 288, Report of Collision – News Release,
Should,
(1) Traffic Bulletins. Traffic Bulletins fall into two categories:
Sigalert
Traffic Advisory
(a) Sigalert. These are restricted to unplanned actual or impending events or circumstances which may cause a delay of _______ or more to a large number of motorists. When any of these conditions exits, a Sigalert should be issued. Examples of a Sigalert include:
S T U F ; REAL-TIME UPDATE LANES
30 minutes,
1 Traffic collision.
2 Spilled load.
3 Flooding.
4 Unexpected traffic congestion resulting from unplanned events.
5 When a Sigalert has been issued, field units shall provide the
Communications Center with real-time updates as lanes are re- opened.
(b) Traffic Advisory. These are pre-planned events or situations of a continuing nature that may impact traffic for _______ . When any of these conditions exist, a traffic advisory message should be issued. Examples of a traffic advisory message include:
E H C
extended periods of times
1 High winds.
2 Construction.
3 Traffic congestion resulting from special events*.
(c) Media Notification Procedure.
1 Areas issuing Sigalerts or traffic advisories shall include:
a Exact location, direction, and lanes affected.
b Approximate duration.
c Cause of condition.
(1) Normal Release of Information. The normal release of crash and arrest information is routinely submitted on the _____ an/or ________.
CHP 288A, Report of Collision - News Release, and/or
the CHP 288B, Report of Arrest / Unusual Incident - News Release
- UNFAVORABLE OR NEGATIVE NEWS.
a. Unfavorable or negative news stories are going to happen from time to time. In such situations, the Office of Community Outreach and Media Relations (COMR) _____ be immediately notified of the situation.
should
- IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION.
a. Each media outlet works with deadline constraints, now more immediate than ever. Therefore, timeliness in notification of newsworthy items is of utmost importance. The PIO should become familiar with the deadlines of each media outlet within their Area.
b. Television news relies heavily on video, while newspapers rely extensively on photographs. Rapidnotificationisessentialifvideographersorphotographersare to reach the scene in time to obtain newsworthy footage.
c. Notify Press (_________). This radio code is used by the field to request media notification of a significant traffic incident or other newsworthy event(s). This provides for rapid notification to all media whenever a major or newsworthy event occurs.
5-5
Code 20
The ____________ was designed for the purpose of releasing information to the media.
CHP 288A, Report of Collision – News Release,
The _______, was designed for the release of arrest or unusual incidents to the media
CHP 288B, Report of Arrest/Unusual Incident – News Release
d. The broad exemptions provided by Penal Code Section 409.5(d) do have some limits. When any of the following conditions exist, it is appropriate to deny access to the media:
C E A
(1) If the incident has been declared a crime* scene, then the media may be restricted from those areas closed for investigation and evidence preservation.
(2) If police personnel at the scene reasonably determine that unrestricted access will interfere with emergency* operations. (Refer to Annex J, Leiserson v. San Diego.) In this case, media access may be restricted only for so long and to the extent necessary to prevent actual interference with emergency operations.
(3) When the incident involves the collision of a military aircraft*, the federal military authorities have declared the disaster site a National Defense Area (NDA) and they have requested CHP assistance. However, until the arrival of the appropriate military authority and designation as an NDA, properly credentialed members of the media cannot be excluded. (66 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 497 [1983].)
(1) When the media presents valid press identification, they ____ be permitted to cross law enforcement or fire lines (on foot or driving a vehicle), provided that public safety and order will not be jeopardized, and that the investigation or operation by law enforcement agencies or fire departments will not be hampered. Media vehicle restrictions may not necessarily apply to media foot pedestrian access.
should
g. Personnel ______ limit the media’s access based on concerns for the journalists’ safety. The decision to assume the risk of danger remains with the individual reporter. In the event that entering such a location would be hazardous to the safety of media representatives, they_____ be advised of that fact before they are allowed to proceed. To the extent it is reasonably possible under the circumstances, personnel _____ document the reporters’ express acknowledgement of the risk before they enter the location. Such documentation should take the form of a written document or recording, and it shall include the name of the reporter, the name of the publication, and the date of the acknowledgement.
shall not,
shall,
shall,
(2) To the extent reasonably possible under the circumstances, CHP personnel will make efforts to accommodate media reporting obligations. However, the CHP’s controlling obligation is to maintain public safety and order. Any decision-making regarding media access shall be reasonable, content-neutral, and uniformly applied.
(a) Personnel may accommodate reporters’ and photographers’ coverage obligations by allowing them to pass through a line formation ___ time. This includes after an order to disperse has been given at an unlawful assembly.
(b) For officer and public safety reasons, reporters and photographers____ be allowed to pass through the line multiple times.
(c) An officer ____ be assigned to accompany all media allowed behind a line formation.
(d) Personnel should consider the advantages of providing the media with law enforcement’s perspective before denying access behind the line.
5-13 HPM 90.1
one,
should not,
shall,
(3) After an assembly has been declared unlawful and an order to disperse has been given, media not dispersing to designated media areas are considered part of the general public. All operational plans ____ designate a media assembly area outside of the anticipated, impacted area, but within reasonable viewing distance and audible range of the event.
shall
(3) Generally, information released to the news media should be limited to what is indicated on CHP 288A, Report of Collision - News Release, and an indication as to how the collision happened. Particular care shall be taken to see that news agencies receive prompt, courteous attention since they perform a public service. If there was an arrest in connection with the collision, details as shown on the CHP 288B, Report of Arrest / Unusual Incident – News Release, can be disclosed. In addition:
F I B P
(a) Fatal victim information is only releasable through the coroner.
(b) Injuries should be classified as minor, moderate, major and fatal. Do not list specific injuries (especially information obtained post-transportation to the hospital or other medical facility).
(c) Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) results are not releasable.
(d) Traffic collision photographs are not releasable to the media.
(1) When a juvenile has been in a traffic collision, the _____, _____, and _____ are releasable.
If the youth has or might be arrested (for example, driving under the influence or auto theft), the juvenile’s ____ is not releasable. (Refer to HPM 11.1, Chapter 13, for policies and procedures of release of juvenile arrest information.)
the name, age and hometown
name
(3) Name, description, and alleged violent felony [as defined by Penal Code Section 667.5(c)] of a minor may be released if _______ or _________. (W&I Code Section 827.6.)
6-5 HPM 90.1
an arrest warrant* has been issued or
if the information would assist in the minor’s apprehension* or protect the public
f. Arrests or Incidents Involving a High Profile Individual. Areas _____ consider drafting a CHP 288B, – News Release, or press release whenever an arrest is made or there is an incident involving a high-profile individual (e.g., an actor, professional or local athlete, politician, or other celebrity of any kind).
Should
- NON-RELEASABLE INFORMATION. The following guidelines are based on the standards for the release of information by the CHP as set forth by the Government Code. It is the intent of the CHP to promote cooperation with the news media by releasing newsworthy information without impairing the suspect’s ability to receive a fair trial. The following is not releasable information:
a. Name of a victim of any crime as defined by Penal Code Sections 220, 236.1, 261, 261.5, 262, 264, 264.1, 265, 266, 266a, 266b, 266c, 266e, 266f, 266j, 267, 269, 273a, 273d, 273.5, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.2, 288.3 (as added by Chapter 337 of the Statutes of 2006), 288.3 (as added by Section 6 of Proposition 83 of the November 7, 2006, statewide general election), 288.5, 288.7, 289, 422.6, 422.7, 422.75, 646.9, or 647.6.
b. Identity of suspect prior to arrest, except in cases where this information will:
(1) Aid an arrest or investigation.
(2) Warn the public of danger.
c. Investigative reports.
d. Investigations of officer-involved shootings or other personnel actions.
e. Confession or existence of a confession.
f. Officer’s opinion of a possible plea bargain.
g. Any photographs or mug shots, except those which:
(1) Aid an arrest or investigation.
(2) Warn the public of danger.
(3) Booking photographs and mug shots are not CHP property. Mug shots are only released by the agency that possesses them.
h. Identity, credibility, or testimony of prospective witnesses.
i. Officer’s personal opinion as to strength of the case or suspect’s guilt or
innocence.
j. Blood Alcohol Concentration test results (e.g., breathalyzer or blood test results) are not considered public information and are therefore not releasable in response to requests received pursuant to the California Public Records Act (PRA) (Government Code Sections 6250, et seq.). Therefore, while BAC test results will be released only to allied agencies and prosecutorial offices, such results shall not be released in response to a Public Records Act or other informal request from any source. Unlike BAC test results, Preliminary Alcohol Screening results are considered public information and can be released in response to a PRA or other informal request from any other source.
(2) For officer safety reasons, when discussing an officer-involved shooting incident with the media, information regarding whether or not the officer was wearing soft body armor _____ be provided.
shall not
(a) All Areas and Divisions shall have and utilize ____, _____, and _____ platforms.
1 Where possible, each social media page shall include an introductory statement that clearly specifies the purpose and scope of the Department’s presence on the respective Web page.
2 Where possible, the page(s) should link to the Department’s official Web site.
3 Social media page(s) should be designed for the target audience(s), such as students, parents, drivers, affected individuals, or community stakeholders.
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
(2) Out-of-Service Orders. Authorized employees of the Department referred to in Section 2800 CVC and Title 13 CCR, Section 1230, placing operators and/or commercial motor vehicles (CMV) OOS shall be limited to:
(a) Currently assigned commercial enforcement officers and Motor Carrier Specialists, who have successfully completed the North American Standard Level I Commercial Enforcement Training Course.
(b) Any uniformed supervisor (pursuant to Section 24002 CVC for CMVs).
