BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE BILL NO: acr 159
SENATOR ALAN LOWENTHAL, CHAIRMAN AUTHOR: Yamada
VERSION: 5/25/10
Analysis by: Art Bauer FISCAL: Yes
Hearing date: June 15, 2010
SUBJECT:
California Highway Patrol Officer Johnny R. Martinez Memorial
Highway
DESCRIPTION:
This resolution designates a short segment of Interstate 10 in
the City of Alhambra as the California High Patrol Officer (CHP)
Johnny R. Martinez Memorial Highway.
ANALYSIS:
The committee has adopted a policy regarding the naming of state
highways or structures. Under the policy, the committee will
consider only those resolutions that meet all of the following
criteria:
The person being honored must have provided
extraordinary public service or some exemplary contribution
to the public good and have a connection to the community
where the highway is located.
The person being honored must be deceased.
The naming must be done without cost to the state.
Costs for signs and plaques must be paid by local or
private sources.
The author or co-author of the resolution must represent
the district in which the facility is located and the
resolution must identify the specific highway segment or
structure being named.
ACR 159 (YAMADA) Page 2
The segment of highway being named must not exceed five
miles in length.
The proposed designation must reflect a community
consensus and be without local opposition.
The proposed designation may not supersede an existing
designation unless the sponsor can document that a good
faith effort has uncovered no opposition to rescinding the
prior designation.
This resolution designates a two-mile segment of Interstate 10
in the City of Alhambra in Los Angeles County as the CHP Officer
Johnny R. Martinez Memorial Highway. The resolution further
requests the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to erect
appropriate signs upon receiving donations from non-state
sources to cover the costs.
COMMENTS:
1) Purpose . This resolution is intended to honor CHP
Officer Johnny R. Martinez who was gunned down in line of
duty while clearing debris from Interstate 10 in October
1981.
2) Summary of Officer Martinez's life . Officer Martinez was
killed in the line of duty on October 2, 1981. While
clearing debris from the San Bernardino Freeway, he and his
partner were gunned down by two robbery suspects. Although
he was rushed to the hospital, Officer Martinez succumbed
to his injuries and died at Alhambra Community Hospital.
Johnny Martinez, a native Fayette, North Carolina, joined
the US Marine Corps shortly after graduation from high
school. He proudly served for four years, reaching the
rank of sergeant and serving in Vietnam. He later attended
and graduated from the CHP Academy and was assigned to the
East Los Angeles Area. Officer Martinez was married to his
best friend, Lydia Rivera, on November 7, 1970, and had two
wonderful children: Yvette Marie on March 8, 1976, and
Johnny Nicholas on October 16, 1980. There are now three
grandchildren: Christian James Shaw, born on March 14,
2006, and twins, Mia Grace and Leila Marie Shaw, born on
February 23, 2008. Officer Martinez enjoyed the simple
pleasures of life: his family and motorcycling.
ACR 159 (YAMADA) Page 3
3) Consistent with committee's policy . This resolution is
consistent with all of the provisions of the committee's
policy on highway designations, including requiring the
cost of signs designating the name of the highway being
paid for by non-state sources.
Assembly Votes:
Floor: 74-0
Appr: 14-0
Trans: 13-0
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the Committee before noon on
Wednesday,
June 9, 2010)
SUPPORT: California Association of Highway Patrolmen
(sponsor)
OPPOSED: None received.