Motorcycle Law: Ponch and Jon

When assessing the various branches of law enforcement, it is evident police motorcycles are an integral part of maintaining and enforcing traffic safety. Motorcycle patrols can be more common in some areas of the nation than in others. This fluctuation has a great deal to do with weather and road conditions in any given city or county. Where it's cold, you have less motorcycle patrols. Typically, motorcycle patrols frequent highways or busy thoroughfares as their nimbleness and speed are well-suited to navigating the gridlock.

Motorcycles have been used in law enforcement since the early 1900s. They were used to implement traffic laws and as escort vehicles for government dignitaries. Over the years, different police departments and state troopers exclusively used Harley-Davidson models. In recent history, however, police have chosen to use motorcycles from such companies as Kawasaki, Honda and BMW. Despite their rich history, motorcycle patrolmen would only be folded into the popular culture by means of a television show.

The television series, known as "ChiPs," was on-air from 1977 to 1983. The popular show followed the brave officers of the California Highway Patrol. This light action-drama starred Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox. Although most motorcycle patrolmen are rarely paired off, the series asserted Erik Estrada's character, Officer Francis (Ponch) Poncherello, was so unmanageable he needed the guidance of a more level-headed officer, Larry Wilcox's Officer Jon Baker, to keep him from getting into trouble.

A typical "ChiPs" episode used a winning combination of light comedy and melodrama. While on regular patrols, the dynamic duo would invariably get involved in a new crisis -- just another day for Ponch and Jon. One of the many themes of the series was Ponch's role as a Cassanova. Before he could court the love of his life, the typical episode would involve over-the-top stunts and crash scenes. With the debris cleaned up after a quick commercial break, the show always wrapped with a lighthearted sub-plot.

Though a far cry from the genuine danger motorcycle law enforcement officers encounter, the show was a tremendous public relations success. Accidents involving motorcycles are always more gruesome than accidents involving automobiles, a fact seldom portrayed on television. Life is seldom wrapped up with a still of laughing patrolmen and a catchy soundtrack. If you are unsure about a legal situation you may be involved in as a result of a motorcycle accident, seek out qualified representation.