Colorado drivers who cross a solid yellow line to pass in a no-passing zone now face a much steeper penalty than they did just a few months ago. As of August 2026, an improper passing conviction adds six points to a driver’s license, up from the previous four, and the change comes alongside tougher rules for repeat speeders.
At Shazam Kianpour & Associates, we have spent 22 years watching Colorado lawmakers tighten traffic penalties, and this latest update deserves your attention if you drive on rural highways, mountain roads, or any stretch where passing zones are common. Understanding how the points add up, and how quickly they can put your license at risk, may be able to help you make smarter decisions behind the wheel and know when to call for help.
What Changed Under Senate Bill 26-035
Senate Bill 26-035 increases the point penalty for improper passing in a no-passing zone from four points to six points. Lawmakers also clarified that a no-passing zone is defined by a solid yellow line or line pavement markings, not just posted signs, which closes a gap that previously left some drivers arguing over what actually counted as a no-passing zone.
The bill further directs the Colorado Department of Transportation to prioritize new warning and regulatory signage on roads with rising numbers of illegal passing incidents. Lawmakers pointed to a troubling rise in fatal collisions on Colorado roadways, including head-on crashes tied to illegal passing, as the driving force behind the changes.
Why This Points Increase Matters for Your Driving Record
A quick accumulation of points from more than one traffic conviction can carry consequences that go well beyond a single ticket. Improper passing in a no-passing zone now falls among the offenses that count as a habitual traffic strike, which covers any violation carrying eight points or more. If a driver picks up three of these strikes within seven years, whether from improper passing, reckless driving, or other high-point offenses, Colorado law classifies them as a habitual traffic offender and imposes a five-year license suspension.
That timeline matters more than most drivers realize. A driver who already has a reckless driving conviction on record, then adds an improper passing citation and one more qualifying violation within that same seven-year window, can lose driving privileges for half a decade rather than a few months. A suspension of that length can affect a person’s ability to get to work, care for family, or handle basic daily responsibilities, which is exactly why understanding how these strikes stack up matters before a case ever reaches court.
New Rules for Repeat Speeders Too
The same bill also raises the stakes for drivers who rack up multiple speeding violations. A second violation for driving 20 miles per hour or more over the posted limit within a twelve-month period now adds extra points on top of the standard penalty, a third or subsequent violation within twenty-four months adds even more, and a fifth or later violation within five years adds the steepest penalty of all. Drivers who hit these repeat thresholds also lose the option to resolve the ticket by mail and must instead appear in court.
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, speeding remains one of the most significant contributing factors in the state’s traffic deaths, which helps explain why the legislature chose to escalate penalties specifically for drivers who reoffend rather than treating every ticket the same way.
What This Means If You Are Facing a Citation
If you were cited for improper passing or a repeat speeding violation, the points on your license are not the only thing at stake. Depending on your driving history, you could be facing a class A traffic infraction, a habitual traffic offender designation, or a summons requiring a court appearance instead of a simple mailed fine. Fighting the charge may involve challenging whether the no-passing zone was clearly marked, questioning the officer’s account of the pass, or negotiating the charge down where the facts support it.
Habitual traffic strikes are exactly the kind of case where an early, informed decision matters, since a five-year suspension is a far different outcome than a fine. Waiting to see what happens rarely improves the outcome, especially now that a single conviction can carry more weight than it used to.
Talk to Shazam Kianpour & Associates About Your Traffic Case
Shazam Kianpour has spent 22 years building a criminal and traffic defense practice across Denver, Aurora, Highlands Ranch, and the Front Range, and our attorneys have watched Colorado’s point system evolve firsthand. We understand how a six-point passing violation can interact with an existing driving record, and we know how to push back when a no-passing zone was not clearly marked or when the facts do not support the citation as written.
You do not have to sort through a habitual traffic offender designation or a new court appearance requirement on your own. If you were cited for improper passing or a repeat speeding violation under Colorado’s updated law, reach out through our contact form so we can talk through your options and help you protect your driving record.
Written by
Shazam KianpourDenver Criminal Defense Attorney & Founder, Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C.