Colorado Speed Cameras and Automated Enforcement

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Colorado, you may believe the other driver was speeding. Perhaps you saw the other vehicle racing past you moments before the collision. Perhaps witnesses told police the car seemed to appear out of nowhere. However, knowing a driver was speeding and proving it are very different matters.

Colorado speed cameras and other forms of automated enforcement can become critical. These systems do not merely issue tickets. They capture hard data about speed, location, and time that can be vital in proving fault in a car accident. Under photo radar laws in Denver and statewide, cameras can serve as silent witnesses, documenting the truth when a reckless driver causes harm.

Why Speeding Matters in Personal Injury Cases

Speeding is one of the most dangerous behaviors on Colorado’s roads. It increases the force of impact in an accident, reduces reaction time, and worsens injuries. For victims, the consequences often include overwhelming medical bills, loss of income, and long-term rehabilitation. Insurance companies know that speeding increases the seriousness of crashes, which is why they may push back aggressively against claims if liability is unclear. If you were injured, proving that the other driver was speeding can be the key to obtaining justice.

Evidence of speeding can:

• Strengthen liability by showing the driver acted unreasonably and dangerously.
• Enhance damages, as the at-fault driver’s recklessness supports claims for higher compensation.
• Provide leverage in settlement negotiations with insurers who cannot dispute objective proof.

This is why evidence obtained through automated enforcement is so important. It provides credibility to your claim and eliminates the defense’s ability to argue that it is just “he said, she said.”

Can You Get a Speeding Ticket from a Camera in Colorado?

Yes. Several municipalities in Colorado rely on speed cameras to issue citations when vehicles exceed the posted limit. They are enforceable and carry fines. Citations are mailed to the registered vehicle owner and typically include photographs, date and time stamps, and recorded speeds.

For victims of crashes, such evidence can confirm that the other driver had a history of speeding or was cited near the time of the collision.

Can Colorado Send Speeding Tickets in the Mail?

Yes. Colorado law allows photo radar citations to be mailed directly to the registered owner. This process provides clear documentation of the violation, often including photographs of the license plate and details about the driver’s speed.

For personal injury cases, mailed citations can establish a pattern of reckless behavior. If the same driver who caused your crash was cited days or weeks before for speeding in the same area, that evidence can strongly support your claim.

Are Colorado Speed Cameras Allowed on Highways?

A new law went into effect in 2025 that allows speed cameras on Colorado highways and interstates. In July, Colorado implemented cameras on Highway 119 between Boulder and Longmont. Notice of camera enforcement must be posted 300 feet in advance. Colorado has placed cameras in construction zones along highways, and there are plans to expand automated enforcement in similar areas along highways.

How Do Photo-Enforced Cameras Work?

Colorado speed cameras rely on radar or laser technology to measure a vehicle’s speed. When the system detects a violation, it records critical data, including:

• The vehicle’s license plate and identifying information.
• The measured speed compared with the legal limit.
• The date, time, and location of the violation.
• Photographic or video evidence of the incident.

This information is reviewed before a citation is issued. Because the process is automated, it removes subjectivity, providing consistent and reliable evidence. For an accident victim, this data can be invaluable in proving negligence.

Intersections and Red-Light Cameras

Speeding is not the only dangerous behavior monitored by cameras. Running red lights is another leading cause of catastrophic accidents. Colorado law allows the use of red-light cameras at certain intersections.

Like speed cameras, these systems capture violations and issue mailed citations. For victims of intersection crashes, this technology provides clear, time-stamped proof of violations that may otherwise be disputed by the other driver.

Does Denver Use Traffic Cameras?

Yes. Denver operates one of the most robust automated enforcement programs in the state. The city uses:

• Fixed photo radar units.
• Mobile radar vans placed in neighborhoods and school zones.
• Red-light cameras at selected intersections.

Enforcement is concentrated in school zones, residential neighborhoods, and high-crash corridors. City leaders stress that the goal is safety, not revenue generation, and that enforcement is focused on protecting vulnerable road users.

Are These Just “Speed Traps”?

Some drivers complain that photo radar amounts to a speed trap. However, under photo radar laws in Denver and throughout Colorado, clear signage must be posted in advance of enforcement areas, usually 300 feet in advance of where enforcement begins. This ensures that drivers are aware they are entering a photo-enforced zone, creating transparency and fairness.

Which Cities in Colorado Use Speed Cameras?

Currently, Colorado speed cameras are used in only a handful of municipalities, including:

• Denver
• Aurora
• Boulder
• Fort Collins

Each city is required to follow state law regarding placement restrictions, warning signage, and the mailing of citations. This limited use reflects Colorado’s cautious approach to automated enforcement but still provides valuable tools for improving safety.

Why Automated Enforcement Matters for Injury Victims

For victims of motor vehicle crashes, automated enforcement is more than traffic control. It is a tool for justice. Evidence from speed cameras and red-light cameras can strengthen your claim in several ways:

• Providing objective proof of the other driver’s speeding or red-light violation.
• Establishing liability by corroborating your account of the accident.
• Discovering indisputable automated evidence.
• Demonstrating a pattern of reckless driving if the at-fault driver has prior violations.

Even when a ticket itself is not admissible in court, the underlying data may still be used to support your claim. This can mean the difference between recovering minimal compensation and achieving a fair outcome that covers your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Contact our Colorado Car Accident Attorneys Today

Being injured by a speeding driver can turn your life upside down. Medical expenses accumulate, employment may be interrupted, and the path to recovery is long and uncertain. Proving that the other driver was speeding can feel like an impossible task, but Colorado speed cameras and other automated enforcement tools can provide the evidence you need.

Under photo radar laws in Denver and across the state, cameras are more than just ticket machines. They are instruments that protect communities and provide crucial documentation of reckless driving. For accident victims, this evidence can be the key to holding negligent drivers accountable and securing the compensation you deserve.

If you’ve been injured, we are fully committed to your justice and recovery and are ready to help. Call us at 720-863-6904 or send us a message to schedule a free case evaluation.