The City of Fort Collins will soon begin issuing citations for people caught speeding through intersections with traffic cameras. The city will be turning on the speed detection function on their intersection cameras, which before only monitored drivers for running red lights.
The change comes after Colorado lawmakers changed state law to allow automated systems to issue citations to drivers for speeding.
Prior to the new law many cities, including Fort Collins, owned and operated speed enforcement cameras. However, they had to be monitored by a human while in operation.
The new law now allows cities to modify their current cameras to issue citations for speeding without human supervision.
“Our traffic unit is small, there are only six assigned officers. So, we can’t cover the entire city alone,” said Michael Avrech, a lieutenant for Fort Collins Police Services.
Avrech said the department has often had to rely on patrol officers to also help enforce speed laws due to their traffic unit’s size. Now, with the assistance of the cameras, officers will be able to focus more of their time on other traffic infractions or crimes.