 Frank "Ponch" Poncherello and Jon Baker were partners and officers with the California Highway Patrol. Together they cruised the highways and interstates in the Los Angeles area, stopping speeders and car thieves, helping stranded motorists, assisting paramedics at accident scenes and occasionally investigating crimes. They also became involved in many chases--this series could usually be counted on to provide at least one multi-vehicle interstate pile-up per episode.