COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Message boards have been posted along two busy intersections in Commerce City warning drivers to slow down or pay a pricey ticket.
The new high traffic hazard zones have been designated to Colorado 2 and Tower Road.
Police in Commerce City have noticed speed has been an issue, so they will be enforcing these areas:
- Zone 1: Colorado Highway 2 from 72nd Avenue to 79th Avenue.
- Zone 2: Tower Road from 81st Avenue to 87th Avenue.
- Zone 3: Colorado Highway 2 from 88th Avenue to 95th Avenue.
- Zone 4: Tower Road from 96th Avenue to 103rd Avenue.
"We've had plenty of crashes, speeders and pretty large traffic issues in those areas that make it overall unsafe for the general public," said Commerce City Police Traffic Sgt. Nicholas Arias.
In a body cam released by the police department, a driver was stopped not once, but twice on the same day for going over the speed limit along Tower Road.
“Last year, along one of the portions of Highway 2, there were over 400 tickets issued," Arias said. "For example, on Sunday one of my officers alone wrote 39 tickets and majority of them were in these zones that need to be enforced."
Another driver was caught by police going 121 mph in an area where the speed limit is 45 mph.
"I hope the word gets out and people start realizing that we are taking this seriously. We are going to enforce this. This isn’t made for petty offense, such as not using a turn signal or anything like that but when the offenses rack up to speeding and reckless driving – we will be using this double fine.”
The exact amount of the fine would be up to a judge.
2022 tickets issued
- East 72nd Avenue to 79th Avenue - 288 tickets issued
- East 81st Avenue to 87th Avenue - 161 tickets issued
- East 88th Avenue to 95th Avenue - 215 tickets issued
- East 96th Avenue to 103rd Avenue - 269 tickets issued
These tickets do not include warnings
From Jan 1 to Sep 30 2023
- East 72nd Avenue to 79th Avenue - 418 tickets issued
- East 81st Avenue to 87th Avenue - 161 tickets issued
- East 88th Avenue to 95th Avenue - 257 tickets issued
- East 96th Avenue to 103rd Avenue - 268 tickets issued
These tickets do not include warnings
For now, police in Commerce City will be looking at those two intersections once enforcement starts, and if the program is working, they will consider expanding to other intersections where speed is a problem.
“My biggest message for drivers is slow down, drive safe, don’t tailgate people, don’t weave in and out of traffic and make sure you’re being cautious of other drivers, so it’s a safer road for everybody," Arias said.
Enforcement is expected to start March 18. Fines will be doubled if you get caught speeding or reckless driving.
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