Colorado has deployed a new system of speed enforcement on Interstate 25 that is notably harder to evade than traditional radar-based cameras. Unlike systems that measure speed at a single point, these cameras calculate average speed over a six-mile stretch of highway, effectively eliminating the ability to brake before a camera and then accelerate again.
How the New System Works
The system uses eight cameras along I-25 between Mead and Berthoud in the North Express Lanes construction zone. The cameras photograph vehicles at multiple points and calculate the average speed between them. If a driver exceeds 75 mph (10 mph over the 65 mph limit) for the entire monitored zone, a $75 civil penalty is issued by mail.
This means that slowing down briefly near each camera won’t work. Drivers must maintain legal speeds throughout the entire work zone to avoid a ticket. Early results from a warning period in March showed a 90% reduction in excessive speeding after over 4,100 warning notices were sent.
Why This Matters
The new system represents a shift in traffic enforcement. Previously, drivers could exploit the limitations of point-based speed detection by using radar detectors or simply braking before cameras. Average speed enforcement makes this tactic useless.
This also matters because Colorado’s I-25 construction project is extensive and scheduled to continue through 2028. The state is widening shoulders, rebuilding bridges, and straightening sections of the highway, making the cameras a long-term fixture in the area.
Penalties and Enforcement
The fines are civil penalties, meaning they won’t add points to a driver’s license and may not affect insurance rates. However, whether Colorado will aggressively pursue unpaid tickets remains to be seen, as some states have relied on high compliance rates rather than strict enforcement.
CDOT Chief Engineer Keith Stefanik stated the goal is not punishment but crash prevention, noting that speeding remains a major factor in Colorado’s traffic fatalities. The cameras are clearly marked with warning signs posted at least 300 feet before the monitored areas.
In conclusion, Colorado’s new speed cameras are designed to deter speeding through continuous monitoring, not just spot checks. The long-term nature of the I-25 construction project suggests this enforcement method is here to stay, requiring drivers to maintain safe speeds for extended stretches of highway.
