Colorado Traffic Violation Records

Traffic records in Colorado are maintained by the Division of Motor Vehicles and the state's judicial system. These records include official documentation of information on traffic infractions, license points, driving history, and court proceedings.

Speeding violations are common traffic infractions in Colorado and therefore, make up a significant portion of traffic violation records. About 12.03% of Colorado drivers have a prior speeding violation on their driving record in the state. This figure is above the 10.54% national average.

Colorado uses a point-based system to monitor driving infractions. In this system, points are assigned to a driver's record upon conviction of a traffic violation. Accumulating excessive points within a specific timeframe may lead to license suspension.

Are Traffic Violations Records Public in Colorado?

Basic traffic records are considered public records in Colorado under the CORA (Colorado Open Records Act). CORA allows public access to records maintained by government agencies in Colorado, including traffic records. However, personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth is redacted before the records are released according to the provisions of the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). Also, records of traffic crimes, typically handled by the municipal or county courts, are open to the public, except where they may have been sealed by a court order.

How To Look Up Traffic Tickets in Colorado?

You may look up Colorado traffic ticket information via the website of the court with jurisdiction over the matter. Many court websites in the state provide a search tool for the public to find the information they need. If the citation was issued by a Colorado State Patrol, you may contact the Troop Office that issued the ticket. If you need to contact the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles, you may call the DMV office at (303) 205-5610.

Alternatively, since Colorado traffic records are generally public records, you may also find traffic ticket records using public record search services offered by reliable third-party websites such as publicrecords.us.

Where Do I Pay Traffic Violations?

Traffic fines may be paid online, in person, by mail, or over the phone, depending on the options offered by the court with jurisdiction over the matter. While many courts offer online payment options via their websites, you may also pay a traffic fine via the Colorado myDMV portal. To pay via this service, the citation number, date of birth, driver's license number, and state of license issuance information will be required.

For tickets handled by county or district courts, you may pay online through the Colorado Judicial Branch's Online Payment System. You will need your case or citation number and the county where the ticket was issued to complete a payment via this system.

If your traffic ticket was issued by a county sheriff's office, you may also be able to pay in person at the sheriff's office or a payment portal available on the county sheriff's website.

How Much Does It Cost To Request Your Driving Records Online?

You may obtain your Colorado driving record online via the Colorado DMV website, by mail, or at a driver's license office. To complete the application by mail or in person at a driver's license office, you will need a completed DR 2559 form (Permission for Release of Individual Records) and payment for the applicable fee. Cash, credit cards, checks, or money orders may be used to pay the fee for in-person applications. For mail applications, a check or money order is accepted.

A Colorado driving record costs $9 and an additional $1 for certification. You may opt to obtain a driving record containing a 7-year history or a lifetime history. A Colorado driving record includes details such as license information, traffic violations, accidents, DUI offenses, and administrative actions.

What Are Moving and Non-Moving Violations in Colorado?

Traffic violations may be categorized as moving or non-moving violations. A moving violation happens in Colorado when a state traffic law is violated while a vehicle is in motion. A moving violation typically results in points on your driving record, fines, and potentially higher insurance rates. However, moving violations may be punished with jail for serious cases. Examples of moving violations include:

• Speeding
• Reckless or careless driving
• Improper lane changes
• DUI
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Tailgating

Non-moving violations occur when the vehicle is stationary or not in motion. Examples include:

• Expired registration or tags
• Parking violations
• Broken or non-functional lights
• Seatbelt violations
• Obstructed license plates

Penalties for non-moving violations include fines, but no demerit points are added to the driving records of offenders.

How Long Does a DUI and DWAI Stay on Your Record in Colorado?

DUI or DWAI convictions remain indefinitely on your record in Colorado. Driving Under the Influence and Driving While Ability Impaired are drunk driving offenses in Colorado. DWAI is a less serious drunk driving offense compared to DUI. Charges for DWAI apply when your BAC is lower than 0.08% and you appear impaired. However, if you are charged with having a Blood Alcohol Content of over 0.08%, you will be charged with a DUI. While the state is not in the top ten for drunk-driving offenses in the United States, these offenses are still common. Colorado records about 360 drunk-driving arrests and 5.8 drunk-driving road fatalities per 100,000 drivers.

A first DUI conviction results in fines between $300 and $1,000, 5 days to 1 year in jail, and a 1-year license suspension. A second DUI offense increases penalties to $500 to $1,500 in fines, 90 days to 1 year in jail, and another 1-year suspension. Further DUI convictions bring significantly harsher penalties.

For a first DWAI, Colorado stipulates a fine of up to $500, up to 180 days in jail, up to 48 hours of community service, 8 points added to the offender's driving record, and a potential license suspension. A second DWAI carries the same penalties as a second DUI, including up to a year in jail, fines up to $1,500, and a one-year license suspension. Subsequent DWAI convictions lead to increasingly severe consequences.

What Are the Penalties for Breaking the Speed Limit in Colorado?

While Colorado allows local authorities to change the speed limit for any road in their jurisdictions, the following general speed limits apply in the state:

• Narrow, winding mounting highways, or blind curves: 20 mph
• Business districts: 25 mph
• Residential districts: 30 mph
• Open mountain highways: 40 mph
• Open highways not part of the Colorado interstate system and not a four-lane expressway or freeway: 55 mph
• Surfaces, four-lane highway that is part of the Colorado interstate system or expressways: 65 mph

Colorado stipulates fines and the addition of demerit points on driving records for speed limit violators. Typically, the following penalties apply:

• 1-4 mph over the limit: $30 fine and a $6 surcharge.
• 5-9 mph over the limit: $70 fine, $10 surcharge, and 1 point on your driving record.
• 10-19 mph over the limit: $135 fine, $16 surcharge, and 4 points.
• 20-24 mph over the limit: $200 fine, $32 surcharge, and 6 points.
• 25+ mph over the limit: Classified as a misdemeanor traffic offense, with fines ranging from $150 to $300, 6-12 points, and possible jail time (10-90 days).

Note that fines are usually doubled for speed limit violations in construction and school zones. Also, reckless driving charges may apply if you are driving at dangerously high speeds (usually 25 mph or more over the limit). In such instances, the fines are heavier, while a driver's license may be suspended in addition to a jail sentence. Furthermore, accumulating 12 points within 12 months may lead to a license suspension.

How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record in Colorado?

Although points from a speeding ticket stay active on your record for two years, a speeding ticket typically stays on your driving record for seven years.

How To Appeal A Traffic Ticket?

If you have been issued a speeding ticket in Colorado, you may choose to contest it by representing yourself in court. The following are defenses you may use in contesting the ticket:

• Faulty Speed Measurement: Argue that the radar or speed detection device used by the officer was improperly calibrated or malfunctioning.
• Mistaken Identity: Claim that the officer misidentified your vehicle as the one speeding, especially in heavy traffic.
• Emergency Situation: Explain that you were speeding due to an emergency, such as rushing someone to the hospital.
• Signage Issues: Point out that the speed limit sign was missing, obscured, or incorrect, leading to confusion.
• Officer's Observation Error: Argue that the officer's visual estimation of your speed was inaccurate or unreliable.

While representing yourself is an option, hiring an attorney may be necessary in certain situations:

• If the speeding ticket involves serious consequences, such as a misdemeanor or felony charge.
• If you face a license suspension due to accumulated points.
• If you are unfamiliar with court procedures and need professional guidance.

How To Resolve an Out-of-State Traffic Ticket?

Under the Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC), if you receive a traffic ticket in a state other than your home state and fail to pay the fine, the issuing state will inform your home state. Consequently, your home state may suspend your driver's license until the fine is settled. In addition, the Driver License Compact (DLC) is an agreement among most U.S. states, including Colorado, to share information about traffic violations committed by out-of-state drivers. Therefore, if you commit a traffic offense in Colorado but hold a driver's license from another state, Colorado will report the violation to your home state.

You may use the following defenses when fighting an out-of-state traffic ticket:

• Incorrect Information on the Ticket: Check for errors in the ticket, such as wrong dates, times, or vehicle descriptions. Significant inaccuracies can invalidate the citation.
• Faulty Equipment: You may argue that the radar or speed detection device used by the officer was improperly calibrated or malfunctioning.
• Signage Issues: Point out that the speed limit or traffic sign was missing, obscured, or incorrect, leading to confusion.
• Mistaken Identity: You may claim that the officer misidentified your vehicle, especially in heavy traffic or poor visibility.
• Emergency Situation: Explain that you were speeding or violating traffic rules due to an emergency, such as rushing someone to the hospital.

How Do Colorado Traffic Laws Differ From Other States?

Many jurisdictions in the United States share similar traffic laws. However, each state has some unique laws or modifications to common shared traffic laws. Some of these laws in Colorado include the following:

• Colorado enforces a strict left-lane law, which prohibits drivers from staying in the left lane on highways with a speed limit of 65 mph or more unless they are actively passing, turning left, or merging.
• Unlike some states, Colorado does not allow drivers to wear headphones or earbuds in both ears while operating a vehicle
• As marijuana is legal in Colorado, the state has specific laws addressing driving under the influence of marijuana. Drivers may be charged with a DUI if their blood contains 5 nanograms or more of THC per milliliter.
• Colorado has unique winter driving laws, such as the Traction Law and Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, which require vehicles to have proper tires or chains during severe weather conditions on certain roads, like I-70.