Colorado

GHSA maintains data on state laws surrounding a number of highway safety issues. Below is information regarding laws in the state of Colorado. For more information, consult the State Highway Safety Office.

  • Alcohol Impaired Driving

    Penalties

    Increased Penalty for High BAC Administrative License Suspension on First Offense Limited Driving Privileges During Suspension
    .15 3 months Yes

    Ignition Interlocks

    Mandatory for high BAC (0.15 and above) and repeat convictions, highly incentivized for first convictions

    Other

    Open Container Laws Repeat Offender Laws
    Yes No

     

  • Child Passenger Safety

    Child Restraint Required

    Under 2 yr and under 40 lbs in rear-facing child restraint

    More than 40 lbs may ride forward-facing; 2-3 years and at least 20 pounds may ride in either a rear or forward-facing child restraint

    4-8 years and at least 40 lbs in child restraint or booster (effective 01/01/25)

    8 and younger must be in the rear seat if available (effective 01/01/25)

    Adult Safety Belt Permissible

    9-17 yrs (effective 01/01/25)

  • Distracted Driving

    Hand-Held Ban?

    Yes (effective January 1, 2025)

    All Cell Phone Ban?

    School Bus Drivers

    No

    Novice Drivers

    Drivers under 18. Primary law.

    Text Messaging Ban?

    All drivers. Primary law.

  • Drug Impaired Driving

    DUID Zero Tolerance or Per se Laws for Some Drugs

    • Permissible inference law >0 for THC

    Marijuana-Specific Laws

    • Possession and Use: Decriminalized and legal for recreational and medical use
    • Impaired Driving: Permissible inference for THC (5 ng)
  • Mature Drivers

    Length of Regular Renewal Cycle

    10 years

    Provisions for Mature Drivers

    80 and older: electronic renewal requires passage of vision exam within the prior 6 months

     

  • Motorcyclists

    Helmets required for all riders and passengers under 18. Universal helmet law repealed 1977.

  • Seat Belts

    Type of Law

    Secondary

    Who Is Covered?

    16 and over (primary law for under 18)

    In What Seat?

    Front

  • Speed and Red Light Cameras

    Speed Cameras

    State Law

    Permitted by state law and city ordinance

    Where Permitted

    School zones, residential neighborhoods, construction zones (only when construction is occurring), and streets that border a municipal park; police officer or government employee must be present at time of violation

    Red Light Cameras

    State Law

    Permitted by state law

    Where Permitted

    Statewide

  • Speeding and Aggressive Driving

    Rural Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    75 75

    Urban Interstates

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65

    Other Limited Access Roads

    Cars (MPH) Trucks (MPH)
    65 65

     

  • Teen and Novice Drivers

    Full Privilege Minimum Age

    17 years

    Learner Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    Minimum Duration (Months)

    Required Supervised Driving Hours (Night Hours)

    15 with driver's ed

    15 / 6 with driver awareness program

    16 without driver's ed. or program

    		 12 50 (10)

    Intermediate Stage

    Minimum Age (Years/Months)

    		 Nighttime Driving Restriction

    Passenger Restriction (except family, unless noted)
    16 Midnight - 5 a.m. (secondary enforcement)

    First 6 months: no passengers

    Second 6 months: no more than one passenger (secondary enforcement)