If you drive fast in Colorado more than once, the state just made sure you feel it on your license and in court. A new law adds extra points on top of what you already lose for speeding, and it applies the second time you get caught, not just the fifth. That change catches a lot of drivers off guard, especially anyone who thought a second or third ticket was still a minor inconvenience.
At Shazam Kianpour & Associates, we have spent more than 22 years helping Colorado drivers understand exactly what a citation means for their license, their record, and their ability to keep driving. This law changes the math for repeat offenders, and knowing where you stand before you go to court can make a real difference in how your case is handled.
What Senate Bill 26-035 Actually Changes
Colorado lawmakers passed Senate Bill 26-035 after data from the Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado State Patrol showed speeding was a leading cause of the state’s rising traffic fatalities. According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, more than 1,200 lives were lost to speeding between 2021 and 2025, and 232 people were killed in speed-related crashes in 2025 alone. Lawmakers designed the new point penalties to target drivers who speed again and again, not people who make a one-time mistake.
The law adds extra points on top of the standard penalty for driving 20 miles per hour or more over a reasonable speed, or above the 75-mile-per-hour maximum. A second violation within twelve months adds two extra points. A third or later violation within 24 months adds four extra points. Five or more violations within five years adds eight extra points. The law also adds four extra points for anyone caught driving 100 miles per hour or faster, no matter how many prior violations they have.
Why Extra Points Matter More Than You Might Think
Colorado already suspends a license once a driver reaches a certain number of points within a set time period, and repeat high-speed offenses were already treated seriously under our habitual traffic offender laws. These new penalties push repeat speeders toward that threshold much faster. A driver who might have absorbed one or two tickets without much consequence in the past could now be looking at a suspended license after the same pattern of behavior.
The law also changes how these cases move through the system. Drivers facing these added point penalties will now receive a summons and complaint rather than simply mailing in a fine, which means:
- You are required to appear in court instead of resolving the ticket by mail
- A court appearance gives you the chance to have your case reviewed rather than accepting an automatic penalty
- Skipping that appearance can lead to additional consequences beyond the original ticket
Because a court date is now involved, having someone who understands how these points stack up and how to present your case matters more than it did before this law took effect.
What This Means If You Have Multiple Speeding Tickets
We know the temptation is to look at a stack of numbers and try to calculate exactly where you land, but Colorado’s point system has enough moving parts that doing that math on your own can lead to the wrong conclusion. What matters most is getting an accurate read on your specific record and your specific charges, not estimating based on general rules. Our traffic violations team looks at the full picture, including prior convictions, the exact speed you were cited for, and whether any additional charges are attached to the citation.
We have also seen how these cases affect people who rely on driving for their jobs, their families, or daily life in Denver and across the Front Range. A license suspension is not just an inconvenience. It can cost you income, mobility, and time you cannot get back. Understanding your options before your court date, rather than after a decision has already been made against you, gives you a real chance to protect your driving privileges.
Talk to Shazam Kianpour & Associates About Your Speeding Charges
Colorado is treating repeat speeding violations with more weight than ever, and the new point penalties mean a second or third ticket can carry consequences that used to be reserved for far more serious offenses. Our team has spent more than 22 years defending drivers across Denver, Aurora, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, and the surrounding Front Range, and we have built a reputation, including recognition from the National Trial Lawyers and Super Lawyers, for knowing how to fight for people who need a fearless advocate in their corner.
If you are facing a speeding citation, especially if it is not your first, do not wait until your court date to figure out what it means for your license. We can review your record, explain exactly how these new penalties apply to your situation, and build a plan to protect your ability to drive. Reach out through our contact form today to talk with our team about your case.
Written by
Shazam KianpourDenver Criminal Defense Attorney & Founder, Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C.