by Colorado Tightens Control: New Speed Camera Law
The state of Colorado is rapidly becoming one of the most active enforcers of speed limits using technology. In recent years, they have expanded automated enforcement on highways, implemented license plate reading systems, and even launched average speed cameras that track vehicles over long distances. This makes the old trick of simply braking before a camera impossible. Now, authorities are taking the next step.
New Fine Threshold: 6 mph Instead of 10
Senate Bill 26-152, currently under review, changes the rules for using automated vehicle identification systems — simply put, speed cameras. The new threshold for receiving a fine is lowered from a speeding of 10 mph to just 6 mph. Interestingly, the document attempts to find a balance between strictness and fairness.
Cameras as a Source of Revenue
According to Westword, on one single highway over three months, cameras generated nearly 10,000 tickets, bringing in over $700,000. This raises doubts about the true purpose of such systems — whether they genuinely improve safety or simply fill the budget.
It clearly makes the cameras look more like a money-making machine than a safety-enhancing technology.
Removing Incentives for Tickets
Lawmakers are aware of the problem. One of the key provisions of the bill requires the government to pay camera vendors a fixed monthly fee. In other words, payment will no longer be tied to the number of tickets issued. This is a direct attempt to remove the incentive to “churn out” violations.
Increased transparency is also included. Departments will be required to publicly announce the installation of new cameras, place warning signs in advance, and publish annual reports on the number of tickets and the amounts collected. This is good, but it still doesn’t address the main issue — safety.
Safety or Revenue?
The bill contains not a single line mandating the government to prove that cameras actually improve road safety. This is important, as some studies show they don’t impact the situation as expected.
So, Colorado is tightening the rules for using speed cameras. Drivers will have to slow down to avoid tickets, and authorities will become more transparent about how these tickets are issued. However, no one will be required to prove whether this system actually works or simply fills the treasury.
It is worth noting that similar initiatives are sparking debate in many states. On one hand, lowering the speed threshold to 6 mph could promote safety, especially in high-traffic areas or near schools. On the other hand, the lack of a requirement to prove effectiveness leaves room for abuse. Critics emphasize that true safety should be measured by a decrease in accidents and injuries, not just the number of tickets issued. For now, the bill looks more like an attempt to regulate an existing system than a radical solution to the problem of road safety.
