- Colorado lawmakers are considering allowing speed cameras on interstate highways.
- Wheat Ridge wants to install photo radar on a busy stretch of I-70.
- Supporters cite safety gains, while critics warn of increased ticket revenue.
Driving in Colorado is an awe-inspiring experience. Sure, the mountains are gorgeous, but the speed some folks get up to on the highway is almost as wild. Now, lawmakers might allow cities to put up speed cameras on those same roads.
House Bill 26-1071, introduced this week by Rep. Tisha Mauro, would amend current state law that bans municipalities from using photo radar on interstates. If passed, cities, counties, and towns would be allowed to install automated speed cameras on interstate segments that run through their jurisdictions.
More: New Colorado Law Mandates Snow Chains For These Cars
The bill comes after the City of Wheat Ridge tried last summer to place a speed camera along Interstate 70, between the Wadsworth Boulevard exit and the 32nd Avenue exit. Wheat Ridge police say the stretch of I-70 in question sees a disproportionate number of crashes and drains department resources.
Why the State Said No
The state denied the request at the time, citing the existing prohibition on interstate photo radar enforcement. “When we deal with a crash out there, we’re handling the whole investigation and everything, and it’s really a resource drain on our department,” said Alex Rose, spokesman for the Wheat Ridge Police Department, to 9 News.
Supporters argue the cameras are less about punishment and more about changing driver behavior. Rose pointed to two speed cameras already operating on city streets, including one near a high school, where Wheat Ridge reported a significant drop in citations after installation.
Since June of last year, Wheat Ridge’s two existing cameras have generated roughly $208,000 in revenue. Expanding enforcement to an interstate corridor could multiply that figure dramatically. I-70 is an incredibly busy highway in that area.
Having driven it hundreds of times personally, I can attest to the fact that drivers do tend to move quickly through the area. Of course, that includes on I-25 and other various highways and interstates throughout the area. If lawmakers get their way, drivers will have no choice but to slow down or pay up.
Credit: 9News
