Why That Speeding Ticket Could Cost You Double, Or Worse
You’re driving through a construction zone in Colorado. Maybe traffic is light. Maybe workers aren’t even visible. You ease up on the gas, but not quite enough. Minutes later, flashing lights hit your rearview mirror, and now you’re holding a ticket that might carry double the fines and serious consequences for your license.
If this happened to you, you’re not alone. Construction zone violations are some of the most common and most costly citations issued in Colorado. But just because you got cited doesn’t mean you’re guilty, and it definitely doesn’t mean you should just pay the fine and move on.
At Shazam Kianpour & Associates, we help drivers across Colorado fight construction zone tickets, protect their records, and keep their insurance rates from skyrocketing. Here’s what you need to know, and how we can help.
Why Are Construction Zone Tickets More Serious?
Colorado has strict laws to protect roadside construction workers. That means the penalties for violating traffic laws in active construction zones are often far higher than normal.
Key points to know:
- Fines for speeding and other infractions in construction zones are automatically doubled when workers are present.
- You do not need to cause an accident or injury to face enhanced penalties.
- These charges can lead to points on your license, license suspension, and higher insurance premiums.
Construction zone enforcement is not just about safety, it’s a major source of revenue for cities and counties. That means prosecutors are often unwilling to negotiate unless you have a strategic legal defense.
What Counts as a Construction Zone?
In Colorado, a construction zone is any portion of the roadway where work is being performed and where signs are posted to alert drivers. It can include:
- Highway maintenance
- Road repair or resurfacing
- Bridge construction
- Utility or drainage work
- Temporary lane closures or re-striping
What matters legally is whether:
- There were warning signs or posted reduced speed limits
- Workers were present at the time of the violation
- The area was marked with cones, barriers, or flaggers
If all three are true, you are likely in a designated construction zone, and the enhanced penalties apply.
Common Construction Zone Violations
Drivers can be cited for many types of offenses in construction zones. Some of the most common include:
- Speeding
- Failure to obey flaggers or posted signs
- Illegal lane changes
- Following too closely
- Using a handheld phone or being distracted
- Disregarding cones, barrels, or barriers
- Driving aggressively or recklessly near workers
Many of these charges result in 8 to 12 points on your license. Combine that with double fines, and you are looking at real consequences.
What Are the Penalties?
Construction zone violations in Colorado come with steep penalties, especially if workers are on site. Here is what you could be facing:
For Speeding in a Construction Zone (with workers present):
- Fines are doubled (example: a $150 fine becomes $300)
- 3 to 6 points on your license depending on speed
- Up to 90 days in jail for excessive speeding or reckless driving
- Insurance rate increases
- Mandatory court appearances for higher-tier offenses
For Reckless Driving or Careless Driving in Construction Zones:
- Misdemeanor charges
- Up to 6 months in jail
- Fines up to $1000 or more
- 8 to 12 points on your license
- Possible suspension if your point total reaches the limit
For Violating a Flag Person’s Direction:
- Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense
- Up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $1000
- 4 to 6 points on your license
- Potential reckless driving enhancement if danger is involved
In the worst cases, when a driver hits a worker, the penalties can escalate into felonies, even if the injury was unintentional.
What About When No Workers Are Present?
This is a common question, and a critical one.
In most cases, the double penalty provisions only apply when workers are present in the zone. If you were ticketed late at night or in a clearly empty zone, you may be able to challenge the citation or reduce the penalties.
However, Colorado law can still penalize drivers based on posted signage and reduced limits alone. Officers may argue that you had a duty to slow down regardless of whether anyone was visibly working.
This is why fighting the ticket with a lawyer can make all the difference.
Can You Fight a Construction Zone Ticket?
Yes, and in many cases, you should. Just paying the fine means:
- You accept guilt
- Points go on your license
- Insurance companies may raise your premiums
- Future violations could push you into a license suspension
Our team at Shazam Law has successfully fought construction zone citations across Colorado using defenses such as:
- No workers were present, making double penalties improper
- Speed limit signage was unclear, missing, or not in compliance
- The officer’s radar or speed measuring device was inaccurate or misused
- You were forced to speed up or maneuver due to unsafe conditions or other vehicles
- You were not in a properly designated construction zone at the time
Even if you were technically speeding, we may be able to get the charge reduced to a non-moving violation that carries no points and less impact on your driving record.
What Happens If I Just Ignore the Ticket?
Bad idea. Failing to respond to a traffic citation in Colorado can lead to:
- A bench warrant for your arrest
- A default guilty finding
- Suspension of your driver’s license
- Additional fees and collection costs
- A damaged driving record that follows you for years
It is far better to address the citation head-on. And with our help, you don’t have to do it alone.
Why Shazam Kianpour & Associates?
Because we don’t just “do traffic tickets.” We do strategic defense.
At Shazam Law, we’ve helped thousands of drivers fight and win against construction zone violations, reckless driving charges, and license suspensions. We know how the system works, and how to beat it.
- Decades of combined experience with traffic and criminal cases
- Local knowledge of courts, prosecutors, and judges
- Fast action and personal attention from your legal team
- Transparent fees and no-pressure consultations
- A reputation for results that speaks for itself
Our goal is simple: protect your license, keep your insurance low, and help you walk away from court without regrets.
One Ticket Can Cost You a Lot More Than You Think
A construction zone citation is not just a fine, it is a legal mark that can lead to higher premiums, points on your record, and even jail time in the right circumstances. But you are not powerless.
Let us review your case, explain your options, and build a defense that works.
Call Shazam Kianpour & Associates today. Don’t pay the price without a fight.