The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced the launch of the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program on June 17, which will deploy automated cameras at construction worksites on CDOT-owned corridors. Vehicles will be photographed and timestamped at two points to determine speed. Motorists who are driving an average of 10 miles per hour or more over the speed limit will receive a $75 citation when the warning period ends this fall.
The warning period will begin on June 21, but motorists will receive only one warning and the second offense will be met with a $75 citation. The new program will be in effect state-wide, including the Highway 119 construction zone between Longmont and Boulder.
“Work zones are high-risk areas with narrow and shifting lanes, closures and sudden stops, making speeding especially dangerous,” said CDOT Chief Engineer Keith Stefanik. “This program is about protecting lives, not punishing drivers. Enforcing compliance with posted speed limits means safer roads statewide for all.”
The CDOT statement said work zone crashes in Colorado nearly doubled in 2024, resulting in 547 injuries and 31 fatalities. The Colorado Speed Enforcement Program will deploy the same Automated Vehicle Identification Systems (AVIS) technology that the City of Longmont began installing in March. On May 29, Longmont started issuing citations. Police Chief Jeff Satur told the Longmont Leader that the cameras will help the city reach the “Vision Zero” goal of reducing traffic fatalities to zero by 2040.
CDOT said the program will start with construction zones, but will later expand to include school zones and high-risk corridors.
“The rising number of work zone fatalities is unacceptable. Automated speed cameras take enforcement to the next level and can help prevent needless deaths with or without law enforcement presence,” said Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Speeding remains a leading cause of crashes. Motorists must be reminded that slow is safe.”
