In support of the "20 is Plenty" initiative, the City of Golden has obtained the ability to conduct Photo RADAR speed enforcement. The city strives to improve conditions for drivers and pedestrians to ensure that everybody can move about the city in a free and safe manner. Photo RADAR Enforcement is one tool that can help lead to safer transportation in our city. Photo RADAR Enforcement combines RADAR, for detecting violations, and cameras, for identifying violators, into one system. This system is mounted inside a vehicle to become a mobile package that can be deployed where needed. The City of Golden does not have permanently mounted Photo RADAR systems installed on its roadways, such as red-light cameras. All Photo RADAR speed enforcement in the city is conducted from a manned, vehicle-based system.
A "PHOTO RADAR AHEAD" sign will be displayed along the side of the road at least 300 feet in advance of the RADAR vehicle.
The Photo RADAR Vehicle will be parked parallel to the road and facing in the same direction of traffic for the side it is on.
An Enforcement Officer is ALWAYS in the vehicle during enforcement operations.
When a violation is detected, lights mounted to the top of the Photo RADAR Vehicle will flash several times as photos of a speeding vehicle are taken.
Lights will not always flash for a violation if lighting conditions necessitate the lights being turned off.
The Photo RADAR equipment is required to be tested before each deployment. This means that lights may flash as you drive by even if you are not speeding. This is simply because the system is being tested and configured for use.
RADAR equipment is certified annually, and the calibration is tested before and after each enforcement period.
When school is in session, enforcement at school zones is the priority.
Where will the Photo RADAR Enforcement Vehicle be operated?
Photo RADAR Enforcement will only be conducted on city controlled roadways with speeds of 35 MPH or less in the following areas:
| Residential Neighborhoods |
| Construction/Maintenance Zones |
| School Zones |
These locations are also limited by Colorado law. The City of Golden will not conduct Photo RADAR speed enforcement on the highways that pass through Golden city limits. However, speed enforcement on these highways will still be conducted by Police Officers in patrol cars with the use of LIDAR equipment.
School Zones are defined as the roadways marked by street signage surrounding and near schools. School Zones will be enforced by Photo RADAR during the hour before school begins and the hour after school ends. Additionally, School Zones will be enforced during Golden High School lunch times of 12:00-12:30 on Mon/Tue/Fri and 11:45-12:15 on Wed/Thur. When active, all school zone speed limits are 20 MPH. Golden school times are as follows:
| School | Hours |
|---|---|
| Connections Learning Center | 9:00am - 4:00pm |
| Mitchell Elementary | 8:45am - 3:35pm |
| Bell Middle School | 8:20am - 3:20pm |
| Golden High School | 8:15am - 3:30pm |
| Shelton Elementary | 7:45am - 2:35pm |
| Golden View Classical Academy | 7:35am - 3:00pm |
Colorado Statute: C.R.S. 42-4-110.5, "Automated Vehicle Identification Systems"
Golden Municipal Code: Chapter 10.95 (Ordinance No. 2215) "Automated Vehicle Identification System"
First offense violations of up to 10 MPH over the posted speed limit are subject to a written warning. For all second and/or subsequent violations, the registered owner is subject to a notice of violation. For all speeding violations of 11 MPH or greater over the posted speed limit, the registered owner is subject to receiving a notice of violation.
Photo RADAR enforced speeding citations are issued a $40 fine, which is the limit set by Colorado law. If the violation occurs in an active school zone, then the fine is doubled to $80. No points will be associated to your license status, and violations are not reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Unpaid citations that require process service are issued an additional fine of $40.
After a violation has been captured, and the data has been vetted for accuracy, a citation will be delivered in the mail to the vehicle's registered owner. This citation will include details of the violation such as: Name and address of vehicle's registered owner, the license plate of the involved vehicle, date/time/location of the violation, the amount of the civil penalty prescribed for the violation, the deadline for either payment of penalty or disputing the violation, information on how to pay and how to dispute the violation, and photos of cited vehicle and driver. On the back of the citation is a form that can be mailed to request an appearance at the next regularly scheduled municipal court Photo RADAR hearing.
Once you have received a citation in the mail, it can be paid by one of the following ways:
You will need both the "NOTICE #" and "PIN" on hand to look up your violation. These numbers can be found inside the red box on the citation received in the mail.
There are two options for contesting a citation:
You can submit an Affidavit of Non-Responsibility to declare that you are not the driver pictured in the notice. You do not have to identify who was the driver of the vehicle at the time of violation but you may be required to submit evidence that it was not you.
If mailed notices are not actioned by the due date printed on them, a process server will personally serve a Final Order of Liability to the registered owner of the involved vehicle and an additional $40 is added to the base value of the violation. Failure to act on the Final Order of Liability may result in the penalty assessment being handed over to a collections agency.
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