Updated September 2026. This post was first published in 2014.
In 2014, this article asked whether a proposal would end photo-enforcement tickets in Colorado. That was a question about legislation at the time, not a description of current law. Automated traffic enforcement was not eliminated statewide. Later Colorado laws changed how these systems and notices work.
What changed after 2014?
Colorado Senate Bill 23-200, enacted in 2023, expanded permitted ways to deliver automated-enforcement notices, including first-class mail, and changed certain notice and contest procedures. A later law, Senate Bill 26-152, effective August 12, 2026, changed several rules concerning automated vehicle identification systems, including notice requirements, owner responsibility, penalties, and vendor compensation. The details can depend on when and where an alleged violation occurred.
Should a mailed photo-ticket notice be ignored?
No general rule says that a mailed notice can simply be disregarded. The original version of this article discussed an old “lack of personal service” argument; that is not a reliable description of current Colorado procedures. Review the notice itself for the issuing jurisdiction, alleged violation, response deadline, and official contest or payment instructions. If you are uncertain whether a notice is real, contact the issuing jurisdiction using contact information from its official website, not an unexpected text-message link. Our separate traffic-court text scam guide explains verification steps.
This page cannot determine whether a particular citation is valid or what response is appropriate in an individual case. For the applicable rules, consult the cited Colorado legislation and the issuing jurisdiction’s current instructions. To discuss a traffic matter with the office, request an appointment. Consultations are by appointment only.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Reading it or contacting the office does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not send confidential information before representation is established.
