This past weekend Yosemite was offering free park admittance for the public, which I’m certain sounded like a great deal, until visitors realized they were driving into a trap.
Yosemite valley, California, USA
Yosemite Valley, CA– The California Highway Patrol in partnership with the National Park Service, recently conducted a surprise bus inspection at Yosemite National Park.
The inspection last Friday and Saturday, was planned in support of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Brake Safety Week.
“Operation Airbrake” ran from September 11-17th and its goal was to ensure braking systems of commercial vehicles, including buses, are maintained properly and in good working order. As part of the week long campaign, the CHP’s Commercial Unit organized a bus inspection in Yosemite Valley.
The location was selected because nearly every tour bus that enters Yosemite Valley is required to drive on state highways or county roadways within the Central Valley.
Yes, I am glad to hear that CHP is working to make the roads safer for everyone. But I seem to recall that the last time they offered free entrance to the park, they were screening passengers for terrorism threats in unison with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The CHP says it plans to conduct more unannounced tour bus inspections in the future.
Yosemite offers free park admission from time to time, so if you plan to take advantage of the offer, just be aware, you could be driving into even longer delays and congestion on the valley floor.
