More speed cameras are coming to Denver. The ordinance reaches the full Council Monday
A bill to align Denver's camera rules with a new state law is up for first reading Oct. 26. Here's what committee members asked about revenue, locations and data.
Denver is preparing to expand automated traffic enforcement, and the law that makes it possible goes before the full City Council on Monday.
New automated speed cameras will mean more traffic tickets in Denver, Denverite reported. The Department of Public Safety wants cameras on 38 city-maintained corridors, plus 10 more on state highways, which would need Colorado's permission. It plans to start with transportable cameras. Denverite also reported that Mayor Mike Johnston's 2027 budget assumes $3.1 million more from traffic enforcement, though the department said that figure isn't tied to the ordinance. Axios Denver first outlined the city's camera plans in March.
Why it matters: this decides where cameras can go, what tickets cost, how you appeal one and where the money goes.
What our records add
The bill. Council Bill 26-1435 amends Chapter 54 of the city code on the "Automated Vehicle Identification System" and takes effect on adoption (Legistar). It is listed under "Bills for Introduction" on the Oct. 26 agenda (agenda). That's its first reading. A final vote would come at a later meeting.
Two committee meetings. On Oct. 7, the Health and Safety Committee postponed a vote after a long presentation, on a motion by Council Member Kevin Flynn. On Oct. 14 it approved the bill for filing 7-0, on a motion by Council Member Amanda Sandoval.
According to our meeting summary of Oct. 7, staff described the bill as aligning Denver with state Senate Bill 152. It would designate 48 enforcement corridors, set civil penalties and address equity concerns. On Oct. 7 (watch the item):
- Flynn asked how the enforcement corridors were picked, citing crashes on Evans Avenue, and asked staff to share the corridor data (video).
- Council Member Shontel Lewis asked for a side-by-side comparison of Denver's fines with state law (video).
- Sandoval raised whether speed-camera fines should be lower for equity reasons (video).
On Oct. 14 (watch the item):
- Sandoval said members were getting an email campaign about camera revenue and asked staff to say on the record where the money would go (video).
- Council President Pro Tem Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez said the state law allows the city to align with it but doesn't require it (video).
- Flynn asked why this ordinance goes through a fuller Council process when Flock license-plate camera installations did not. He said he otherwise supported moving ahead (video).
- Council Member Jamie Torres asked about the program's three-year data retention period (video).
- A Finance Department staffer said the Transportation and Mobility fund has specific permitted uses (video).
What's next
- Oct. 26: First reading at the full Council (agenda). A member can call the bill out for a separate vote.
- A final vote would follow at a later meeting. Follow the bill on its matter page.
Search what was said for "speed camera" or "photo radar" across Denver's meeting transcripts.