Colorado Springs Traffic Violations Lawyer

Do I Need an Attorney for Traffic Violations in Colorado Springs?

Traffic violations are something of a fact of life. That’s especially true in Colorado. While an estimated 20-30% of all drivers on the road will receive a ticket of some sort during any given year, Colorado is one of the leading states in America for traffic violations. As of 2026, Colorado is ninth in America for traffic tickets, with an estimated 12% of all Colorado drivers having a recent ticket on their record. That number can reach nearly 20% in some Colorado cities, including Colorado Springs.

In 2025, El Paso County topped the list of Colorado counties that issued the most traffic tickets, marking its third consecutive year as the most-ticketed county in the state. This number does not necessarily reflect the state of Colorado drivers. Per the Colorado State Patrol, an increase in tickets over the last several years is part of a “tough on crime” measure to “crack down” on irresponsible motorists. While saving lives and protecting innocent drivers is admirable, aggressive policing efforts often become overzealous. This can lead to excessive arrests and citations in the name of “proving a point” or “acting as a deterrent.”

Police departments and their advocates like to tout studies that supposedly prove excessive ticketing prevents crashes and fatalities. However, independent studies conducted outside the United States have demonstrated that ticketing should only be one small component of larger, non-punitive deterrence efforts. This makes it very easy for average citizens to be caught up in overly aggressive policing efforts. Because driving is a necessity for the majority of Colorado citizens, it’s possible for anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car to find themselves on the receiving end of a traffic violation. While many drivers feel like they can “blow off” a fine or court appearance, the truth can be far more sobering.

Colorado’s point system means that violations can quickly add up and result in the loss of your license. Even one or two incidents involving overzealous law enforcement can result in the suspension of your license. The loss of a driver’s license in Colorado can lead to severe consequences, including the loss of your job, an inability to meet financial, professional, and social obligations, and isolation from your peers, family, and friend group. Additionally, Colorado’s “penalty assessment” system results in many people unknowingly pleading guilty to crimes in the belief they are simply paying a fine. These guilty pleas can have unintended consequences in the future. This is why it’s vital for anyone who receives a traffic violation in Colorado Springs to immediately contact one of the dedicated attorneys at The Lux Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys can cut through the confusing red tape of Colorado’s traffic violation system and help ensure your future and your driving record remain clear.

What are Traffic Violations in Colorado Springs?

Much like “gun crimes” or “sex crimes,” “traffic violation” itself is not a crime. Rather, the term “traffic violation” encompasses a broad category of illegal behavior related to the operation of automobiles. Examples of common traffic violations in Colorado Springs include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Speeding
• Reckless Driving
• Careless Driving
• Running a Red Light
• Running a Stop Sign
• Failure to Yield
• DUI
• Driving Without a License
• Driving on a Suspended License
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident

These are only some examples of traffic violations in Colorado Springs. Almost any crime involving a car may be considered a traffic violation. Note that manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and other crimes involving the death of a human being are treated differently from routine traffic violations.

What are the Penalties for Traffic Violations in Colorado Springs?

Penalties vary according to the specific violation for which you have been charged, the severity of the violation, and whether you have ever been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a traffic violation in the past. For example, the penalty for a speeding ticket or running a stop sign will generally be less severe than leaving the scene of an accident or a DUI.

Due to the way Colorado’s penalty assessment works, many people may have pleaded guilty to traffic violations without even realizing it. These unintended guilty pleas mean it may be easier than you realize to find yourself facing severe penalties following a traffic violation.

Minor offenses are classified as Class A or B infractions. These are the least serious penalties for traffic violations and generally result in fines. Common examples of offenses that result in Class A or B infractions include speeding, having an open container of alcohol in your car, or a first-time underage DUI. Class A and B fractions are considered civil, not criminal, violations. This means that regardless of what type of Class A or B infraction you are charged with, it does not carry potential jail time. However, even a Class A or B infraction can have a serious impact on your future due to Colorado’s points system. If you can maintain a clean driving record for a certain period following an infraction, it will eventually be removed from your driving record.

More serious traffic violations are categorized as Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanors. Unlike infractions, misdemeanors are criminal violations that might result in jail time in addition to fines. Common examples of misdemeanor traffic violations include speeding in excess of 25 mph, reckless driving, drag racing, and leaving the scene of an accident. Because they are considered more “serious” and can result in bodily injury or death, misdemeanor traffic violations are taken more seriously by the State of Colorado. For example, even a first-time reckless driving offense may result in a jail sentence of up to 3 months, in addition to fines. Unlike infractions, misdemeanor traffic violations are crimes, and so will remain on your criminal record.

Class 2 misdemeanors are considered the less severe of the two types of misdemeanor traffic violations. Class 2 misdemeanor traffic violations include speeding by more than 25mph over the speed limit, careless driving, and driving without a license. Common penalties include three months in jail, a suspended license, and fines up to $300.

Class 1 misdemeanor traffic violations are more severe crimes, usually involving serious bodily injury and major property damage. Common Class 1 misdemeanor traffic violations include drag racing, reckless driving, reckless driving resulting in bodily injury, and more. Generally speaking, if property were damaged or destroyed or someone was hurt, a traffic violation will become a Class 1 misdemeanor rather than a Class 2. Class 1 misdemeanors are among the most serious of all traffic violations in Colorado. Common penalties include a year in jail, a suspended or revoked driver’s license, and a $1000 fine. The more severe the circumstances of the violation, the more serious the penalty. If you have ever been previously convicted of a traffic violation, it may result in even more serious consequences.

These are only a few potential penalties for traffic violations in Colorado Springs. What many people believe will result in a ticket or “slap on the wrist” can, in fact, have far more serious consequences. This is why if you or a loved one has been charged with a traffic violation in Colorado Springs, contact one of our dedicated and experienced attorneys.

What is a Penalty Assessment in Colorado Springs?

A penalty assessment is a type of traffic ticket issued as a citation for minor traffic violations. Penalty assessments may be easily paid without you needing to appear in court. Many people who receive penalty assessments simply “pay the fine” without a second thought. This can be a mistake. Most people do not realize that receiving a penalty assessment is the same as being charged with a minor crime. By paying the fine, you are actually entering a guilty plea. Although paying a penalty assessment can have advantages, such as reducing the number of points on your driving record, there could be consequences.

Many people who receive penalty assessments do not know they have the right to challenge them in court. Most people will simply make a payment without understanding they are actually pleading guilty to a crime. This is why it’s vital to consult an attorney for any traffic violations in Colorado Springs. Depending on the circumstances, it may be in your best interest not to pay a penalty assessment and rather challenge it in court with the assistance of one of our dedicated traffic violation attorneys.

What are License Points in Colorado?

Colorado’s driver’s licenses operate according to a points system. This allows the State of Colorado to track drivers who are considered potentially dangerous and revoke their licenses if necessary. Every driver begins with 0 points when they first receive their license. Every traffic violation, no matter how minor, can result in points being added to your license. The number of points necessary to lose your license depends on a variety of factors, including your age and the period of time over which you received the points. Points are cleared after 24 months of a clean driving record.

For example, a driver between the ages of 18 and 21 requires 9 or more points within a year to lose their license, or 12 points over the course of two years. Drivers over the age of 21 can lose their license if they accumulate more than 12 points in one year or 18 points over two years.

The more serious the violation, the greater the points. It can be very easy to quickly accumulate points and lose your license. For example, driving 20mph over the speed limit is worth 6 points. That means being pulled over twice in the same year for speeding can result in the loss of your license. Driving 40mph or more over the speed limit is worth 12 points, which means a guilty plea could result in an automatic license suspension.

These are only a few examples of the point value for different violations. Every violation has a different value, and it’s easier than many realize for the points to add up quickly. Because paying a penalty assessment is the same as a guilty plea, this means points will be added to your license. Although drivers are incentivized to pay penalty assessments by reducing the number of points they receive upon payment in full, those points remain on their license. Depending on whether you have any points already on your license, even the reduced amount from a paid penalty assessment can result in the loss of your license. That’s why if you or a loved one has been charged with a traffic violation, contact The Lux Law Firm. We may be all that stands between you and the loss of your license, heavy fines, and even jail time.

What are Defenses to Traffic Violations in Colorado Springs?

Drivers are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. For a variety of reasons, many drivers believe the best course of action if they have received a ticket is to simply pay it and “move on.” In some cases, this may be appropriate. However, under many circumstances, it may be more valuable to fight the charges. Many drivers are unaware that they have the option of going to court with an attorney and fighting the charges against them. Depending on the charges and your potential penalty, this is often the best course of action. One of our attorneys can review your case during a no-obligation free consultation and help determine the best path forward.

Challenging procedure is a common and effective strategy. Police officers are not used to people challenging traffic violations in court. Because of this expectation, many traffic cops may make slip-ups that are beneficial to you in the event you decide to go to court. For example, the police must have reasonable suspicion to pull you over. Police are not allowed to simply pull someone over and hope that they were breaking the law. Similarly, police must have probable cause to search your vehicle. This means that your behavior, a statement, or physical evidence suggests a crime has occurred or is occurring. If an attorney can demonstrate that an officer did not have reasonable suspicion or probable cause, it could lead to a dismissal of your case.

Challenging evidence is another key strategy. Police departments are supposed to regularly calibrate their radar guns and breathalyzers to ensure accurate results. Because police are often overworked and do not anticipate having to go to court, many departments fail to regularly or adequately calibrate their equipment. If an attorney can determine that you were pulled over or charged with a traffic violation based on faulty equipment, it could lead to a dismissal or acquittal.

Depending on the circumstances, an attorney may be able to ask the court for an exception due to an emergency. For example, if you were charged with a traffic violation for speeding or driving recklessly, but an attorney can demonstrate that you were en route to an emergency, such as a medical issue or a situation involving the welfare of a minor child, the court may drop the charges.

In some instances, simply showing up with an attorney present may be enough. Many police officers do not anticipate having to go to court to testify in traffic cases because of their ubiquity. Many traffic cops do not actually have the time or ability to appear in court. Arriving on time on the day of your court appearance with an attorney present may establish for the prosecution that you are confident about your chances of winning. Especially if the involved officer is unable to appear but you are present with an attorney, it could lead to a dismissal of your case or dropped charges before a trial even begins.

These are only a few, broad strategies which we might employ. Every case is unique, and we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to criminal defense. We’ll review the circumstances of your case during your free consultation and determine what we believe is the best defense strategy moving forward.

What Should I Do if I’m Charged with a Traffic Violation in Colorado?

Most drivers will probably get at least one ticket at some point in their lives. Many of those drivers will simply pay the ticket, accept any penalties, and move on with their lives. However, for many people, a single traffic violation could mean the start of a challenging period in their lives. Few people can afford to spend even a month in jail. Most employers will not be “understanding” or “flexible” if one of their employees has been sentenced to jail time. In a city as large as Colorado Springs, a vehicle is a major requirement. The inability to drive could seriously impact your ability to function in society and maintain friendships and family ties. That’s why if you or a loved one has been charged with a traffic violation in Colorado Springs, contact one of the experienced attorneys at Lux Law Firm, PLLC.

The legal team at the Lux Law Film, PLLC can help you navigate the complex and often confusing Colorado traffic violation system, including understanding points, infractions, misdemeanors, and more. During your no-obligation, free consultation, we’ll review your case and begin to strategize an effective path forward. We can help ensure an unpleasant traffic stop remains just that, but you have to contact us first. Don’t hesitate. If you or a loved one is facing charges of a traffic violation in Colorado Springs, call us immediately at 719-451-7469 to schedule a free consultation.