A 75TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY CHP SHOWS VINTAGE CARS, BOMB-SNIFFING DOGS AT EVENT.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - It wasn't a typical birthday party, considering the weapons display, bomb-sniffing dog and vintage patrol cars, yet hundreds of people showed up Saturday for the California Highway Patrol's 75th anniversary celebration.

Many of the children who attended the open house at the CHP Newhall station were drawn to the CHP motorcycles, which they eagerly climbed atop and pretended to drive.

But the more than 200 people who came to learn about the history and legacy of the CHP were exposed to more than historic photos and the technological advances in weapons. They also learned about safety, demonstrated in ways that frightened some.

Norma Bianchi brought her three young children to the event and winced as she stood at the rollover simulator display. At the pull of a lever, a cab of a pickup truck was flipped and both the driver and a baby - both were dummies, neither wearing seat belts - were ejected.

``They both just came flying out,'' said Bianchi, who lives in the Antelope Valley. ``It's scary to think how easy it is to be ejected without a seat belt.''

Sgt. Andy Hernandez operated the rollover simulator and urged onlookers to buckle up, even if they are only driving to the end of the block.

``Parents don't think this can happen. But it can, in a matter of minutes,'' Hernandez said. ``I've seen accidents where everyone in the car was ejected. A lot of times when that happens, the car comes back down on top of (those ejected).

``There's no reason for people to be ejected from a vehicle when there are seat belts. People should be buckled up before they're even in gear,'' he said.

A series of tents provided a detailed look at the CHP, from its inception in 1929 to a tragic night in 1970 when four CHP officers stationed in Newhall were killed in a gunbattle with two ex-convicts.

The deaths of the four officers - all under 26, all fathers of young children - marked the deadliest day in the history of the CHP. Four cypress trees and a plaque outside the Newhall station stand as a memorial to the slain officers.

Some of the displays were designed to be fun while educating the public. The fatal vision goggles, for example, allowed the wearer to experience what it's like to try and walk a straight line while intoxicated.

``That was one of my favorite things,'' said Vincent Bianchi, 12. ``When you put on the goggles everything gets all blurry. I couldn't keep in a straight line.''

Officer Wendy Hahn, who helped coordinate the event, said she was pleased with the turnout and hoped everyone left with a better understanding of what the CHP is about. ``People seemed to enjoy the displays and learn about safety at the same time,'' Hahn said. ``This lets people know that we're not just here to give out tickets. We want to keep people safe.''

Amy Raisin Darvish, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Tabitha Doebler, 2 1/2, and her brother, Connor, get acquainted with Mikey, a CHP bomb-sniffing dog assigned to Officer Brian Lottermoser. The dog was one of the stars of the CHP open house at the Newhall station. Hundreds of visitors attended the CHP's 75th anniversary event.

(2) At Saturday's open house, California Highway Patrol Officer Paul Peterson shows the Rivas family of Newhall a display of weapons and explains how dangerous guns can be.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer