Speed violation warnings on CO 119 begin July 21

Media kit to be finalized by 5 p.m. on Monday, July 14, can be requested by emailing to [email protected]

Statewide — Starting July 21, the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Colorado Speed Enforcement Program will issue warnings to drivers speeding in the CO 119 Safety, Mobility & Bikeway Project work zone in Boulder County. The program deploys camera technology along CDOT-owned corridors with active construction work zones, aiming to reduce speed-related crashes and fatalities on Colorado roads and improve safety for all roadway users, including drivers, road workers, vulnerable road users and law enforcement.

“Our state has recently seen an uptick in preventable roadway fatalities," said Sally Chafee, CDOT’s acting executive director. "The Colorado Speed Enforcement Program is an important step in reducing these incidents and keeping people safe. This program is not about writing tickets; it’s about changing behavior. It serves as a clear reminder that the speed limit isn’t a suggestion, it’s the law. The simplest way to save a life is to slow down.”

During the warning period, drivers will only receive one warning, regardless of the number of times they are in violation of the work zone speed limit. Once civil penalties are underway, drivers will have 45 days to pay or appeal the fine.

Drivers on CO 119 can expect to receive notice at least 30 days before civil penalties begin. Violations captured by the Automated Vehicle Identification System (AVIS) will not result in points on a driver’s license as a traffic stop would.

“Speeding causes more crashes in Colorado than anything else - that’s a fact,” said CDOT Chief Engineer Keith Stefanik. “The Colorado Speed Enforcement Program’s technology allows us to protect workers, drivers and vulnerable road users in work zones while reducing the number of hazards present in these areas.”

To address the rising number of work zone fatalities, Colorado law authorized the use of camera technology to enforce speeding in high-risk corridors like work zones, where narrow and shifting lanes can create hazardous conditions for roadside workers and travelers. CDOT’s Colorado Speed Enforcement Program implements AVIS to identify vehicles exceeding the posted speed limit by 10 mph or more. The warning period will be active for at least 30 days before civil penalties of $75 begin. Revenue collected from the penalties will be used primarily to fund the Speed Enforcement Program. Any excess funds will be allocated to the Vulnerable Road User Protection Enterprise, which provides infrastructure improvements that protect vulnerable road users.

“CDOT’s number one priority is roadway safety for all users," said CDOT Regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock. "This includes not only drivers, but work zone crews, bicyclists, law enforcement and pedestrians. CO 119 currently has an active work zone, and this program will help improve the safety of all who work in it and pass through it.”

A total of six cameras will be placed in the CO 119 work zone, the northernmost camera at Mile Point 47.62 and the southernmost camera at MP 46.55. In active enforcement zones, vehicles will be photographed and timestamped at two points. The system then calculates the average speed between each camera by dividing the distance by the travel time. A testing period for the program’s cameras began on June 22 and will conclude on July 21, the same day warnings begin.

Preliminary data from the cameras show more than 16% of drivers in the CO 119 corridor exceeded the posted speed limit by more than 10 MPH during the testing period. CDOT reminds drivers that exceeding the speed limit by 25 MPH or more remains a ticketable offense.

“High crash corridors and low-speed zones, like construction zones, will benefit from the increased technology to deter speeders," explains Capt. Scovel, Colorado State Patrol. "Reducing speed-involved crashes is one way to reduce risk for these vulnerable populations.”

Speeding contributed to 236 fatalities in Colorado in 2024, surpassing impaired driving and unbuckled crash fatalities. At the same time, work zone crashes and fatalities are on the rise. In the last decade (2015 to 2025), there have been 17,200 work zone-related crashes in Colorado, 121 of which resulted in fatalities. Last year, work zone crashes in Colorado resulted in 567 injuries and 31 fatalities — nearly double the number of deaths from the previous year. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the use of point-to-point speed cameras has been shown to reduce roadway injuries and fatalities by 20 to 37%.

Construction for the CO 119 Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project began in fall 2024 between mile points 44.5 to 54.5. The project is expected to conclude in spring 2027.

For more information about the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program, visit codot.gov/programs/speedenforcement.

About the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program

In 2024, speeding was the most common cause of fatal crashes in Colorado. The dangers of speeding are especially high in work zones, where challenging conditions and vulnerable roadside workers create hazardous circumstances. The Colorado Department of Transportation’s Colorado Speed Enforcement Program aims to reduce speed-related crashes and fatalities on Colorado roads and improve safety for drivers, road workers, vulnerable road users and law enforcement. Using Automated Vehicle Identification Systems (AVIS) in high-risk, CDOT-owned corridors, cameras identify vehicles traveling an average of 10 MPH or more over the posted speed limit and automatically issue $75 civil penalties to the registered owner of the vehicle. The program will start first on Colorado Highway 119 and is expected to expand into school zones and other high-risk corridors in the future. More information about the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program can be found at codot.gov/programs/speedenforcement.

Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone

The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.

• Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
• Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
• Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
• Don't change lanes unnecessarily.
• Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
• Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
• Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
• Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
• Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
• Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
• Be patient!

Download the COtrip App!

The new free COtrip Planner mobile app was designed to meet the growing trend of information on mobile and tablet devices for the traveling public. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download!