The Speed Camera That Waits
For the longest time, apps like Waze available on Apple CarPlay have been used not only for navigation, but also to warn drivers about speed cameras – essentially prompting them to slow down or risk a ticket. That, however, may no longer be effective in certain parts of Colorado, as the state’s new automated vehicle identification systems (AVIS) base enforcement on a driver’s average speed.
This type of enforcement under the Colorado Speed Enforcement program uses cameras at different points and calculates how long a vehicle takes to travel between them. It’s similar to the equation learned in school: speed equals distance over time. That became possible after lawmakers passed a 2023 state law allowing AVIS to be used for enforcement.
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Where the System Is Live
The latest section to come under surveillance is a stretch of I-25 just north of Denver, along with CO 119. Drivers who average 10 mph or more above the speed limit will receive a $75 ticket, though no penalty points will be added to their license.
It is also worth noting that the ticket is issued to the vehicle’s registered owner, not necessarily to the person driving at the time of the violation. That raises a broader concern seen in other camera-enforcement cases: whether the burden should instead fall on the government to identify the driver, rather than defaulting liability to the registered owner, as seen in a recent red-light case in Florida.
For now, though, Colorado owners who may be affected by this type of average-speed enforcement should make sure anyone borrowing their vehicle is aware of it. Using cruise control could also be a stress-free way to navigate these monitored roads.
The Push for Safer Roads
The Colorado Department of Transportation maintained that the program is intended to protect lives, not punish drivers. The agency said speeding contributed to more than 36 percent of roadway fatalities over the past five years, and that 70 percent of Colorado drivers admitted to speeding on highways. It also cited the Federal Highway Administration, which says automated speed enforcement can reduce fatalities and injuries by 20 to 37 percent.
Numbers may vary by state, as speed limits and road conditions differ. As such, approaches to enforcing speeding violations can also vary. Some proposals, however, are more aggressive – for example, in Illinois, where lawmakers have considered measures that would effectively limit how fast certain repeat offenders can drive.
