can cost $75. Ignoring the fine could cost you additional court fees, so it’s important to know the rules for responding and your options for fighting a citation.

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

Are red light cameras legal in Colorado?

Yes. According to Colorado statute 42-4-110.5, Automated Vehicle Identification Systems (AVIS) like red light cameras are legal in Colorado. However, any municipalities that use these red light cameras must post signs at the intersection to notify the public of their use.

As of 2019, nine jurisdictions in Colorado use AVIS. The cities with the highest concentration of red light cameras include:

Contact your local government to see if there are any red light cameras operational in your area.

What should I do if I receive a red light camera ticket?

There are two options for dealing with a red light camera ticket: you can either pay the fine or fight the citation.

The maximum fine for a red light camera ticket in Colorado is $75. A red light camera ticket will not add any points to your record, but it’s essential to respond promptly to the citation to avoid additional fees.

Next, we’ll help you weigh up your options when choosing to either fight or pay your ticket.

MORE: Everything you need to know about texting and driving laws in Colorado

How to pay a red light camera ticket

If you get a red light camera ticket, the easiest route to take is to pay the $75 fine. You may pay the fine online, by phone, through the mail, via drop box, or in person.

Online payments and paying by phone are the easiest and most convenient ways to settle your ticket, but there are additional processing fees. If you want to avoid added costs, opt to pay by mail, in person, or via drop box. Just remember to include the accompanying penalty assessment notice along with your payment.

Keep in mind that the city is required by law to issue the penalty assessment notice or summons within 90 days of the alleged violation. Failure to do so will invalidate the ticket. However, if you are notified and fail to respond, you may be personally served and fined additional court fees.

Late payments are also subject to additional fines, and the court will not accept partial payments, so it’s important to pay your ticket on time and in full to avoid further penalties.

How to fight a red light camera ticket

If you were not behind the wheel at the time of the violation, you can fight the ticket. Since Colorado requires assessment and/or summons to be sent to the vehicle's registered owner, you could receive a citation in error if a friend or spouse was driving at the time.

In some cases, it may be easy to drop the charges in some cases if you have evidence that you were not driving the vehicle. If the photo of the person included with the citation is not you, you may only need to present your driver’s license as evidence.

Keep in mind that you do not have to implicate another person to contest the ticket. Instead, be prepared to swear under oath and present evidence that you were not driving at the time of the violation.

Fighting a red light camera ticket in Colorado is pretty straightforward if you know the rules. If your case isn’t clear-cut, however, you may want to hire a lawyer that can help you navigate the ins and outs of state traffic laws.

MORE:

Colorado minimum car insurance laws

How does a red light camera work?

Red light cameras automatically capture photo and video footage of vehicles entering an intersection after the light has turned red.

The cameras are connected to the traffic signal and sensors that track the flow of traffic before the marked stop line or crosswalk. A red light violation occurs when the driver enters the intersection after the signal has turned red.

The camera will capture two images of the violation: one from the front of the vehicle and one from the rear. The images will record the following information:

A close-up shot of the license plate

The date, time, and duration of the yellow and red lights

A video six seconds before and six seconds after the vehicle ran the red light

Many red light safety camera programs are contracted to third-party companies that route the camera data back to the local police force.

Colorado is the ninth-deadliest state for crashes caused by someone running a red light. Cities are combatting this epidemic with more active red light camera programs. Areas that implement red light cameras have 21% fewer fatal red light running collisions and 14% fewer deadly crashes of all types at intersections, according to a study by the

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

MORE: How red light cameras keep drivers safe

“I love how easy it was for me, as someone who has an older beat-up truck, to get insurance without going through a lot of trouble. I would recommend anyone try
Jerry
, since it’s free!” —Melissa I.

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

FAQs

How do I know if a red light camera ticket is real?

If your red light ticket does not have the full address and phone number of the court on it, or if it says not to contact the court, it’s most likely counterfeit. You may check the ticket's legitimacy in question by contacting the court.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry