Drivers will soon face civil penalties for speeding in certain construction zones thanks to a new Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) program.

Starting on July 21, 2025, speed enforcement camera technology will be activated in the CO 119 construction zone in Boulder County to issue warnings and eventually civil penalties to speeders as part of the larger Colorado Speed Enforcement Program, which is expected to expand to other CDOT-owned traffic corridors in the future.

As part of the program’s “Automated Vehicle Identification System (AVIS),” CDOT has placed six cameras in the CO 119 work zone, with the northernmost camera at mile marker 47.62 and the southernmost camera at mile marker 46.55.

“In active enforcement zones, vehicles will be photographed and timestamped at two points. The system then calculates the average speed between each camera by dividing the distance by the travel time,” CDOT said in a July 14 release.

A warning period will begin on July 21. During this time, speeders will receive a single warning from the automated enforcement system, no matter how many times they are in violation of the work zone speed limit.

CDOT says that drivers will be given 30 days notice before civil penalties begin on CO 119. Drivers clocked at 10 m.p.h. or more over the speed limit will receive an automatic $75 fine.

Speed violations captured by AVIS will not count toward points on a driver’s license, officials say.

“CDOT’s number one priority is roadway safety for all users,” said CDOT Regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock. “This includes not only drivers, but work zone crews, bicyclists, law enforcement and pedestrians. CO 119 currently has an active work zone, and this program will help improve the safety of all who work in it and pass through it.”

After implementation on CO 119, the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program is expected to expand into school zones and other high-risk corridors in the future. 

The purpose of the Colorado Speed Enforcement Program is to reduce speed-related crashes and fatalities on Colorado roads and improve safety for drivers, road workers, vulnerable road users, and law enforcement, CDOT says.

“High crash corridors and low-speed zones, like construction zones, will benefit from the increased technology to deter speeders,” said Capt. Scovel of the Colorado State Patrol. “Reducing speed-involved crashes is one way to reduce risk for these vulnerable populations.”