Legislation
The legislation to create a Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies
(SAFE) in California was enacted January 1, 1986 with Senate Bill 1199. This legislation required the
California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to collect revenue, and the
California Highway Patrol (CHP) and California Department of
Transportation (CALTRANS) to provide program oversight and operations support. The revenue collected by the DMV is a $1 fee for all vehicles
registered within a county. The program oversight provided by CHP and CALTRANS are guidelines, procedures, and approval for certain aspects of the call box system. The primary goal of a SAFE is to provide call box services, then other motorist aid services with excess funds.
It is important to note that the legislation is not just for call box services. Los Angeles County had call boxes before the legislation for SAFE was enacted. The legislation enabled a source of funding and consistency throughout the state for a county to provide motorist aid services,
primarily comprised of call boxes. Prior to the legislation, counties had no consistent method to provide motorist aid services.
Guidelines were written by CalSAFE, CHP, and CALTRANS to provide consistent policies for a county to follow if it chooses to start a SAFE.
CalSAFE is a voluntary association
of all SAFE agencies within California. Los Angeles County SAFE uses the guidelines to provide a framework for motorist aid services.