A Colorado driver received a photo-toll ticket for an alleged weaving violation two years [1] after the incident occurred.
The delay highlights a potential loophole in state traffic enforcement, where motorists may face penalties for long-forgotten driving behaviors. Because there is no set expiration for when a notice must be mailed, drivers have little recourse to challenge the validity of old citations.
Express Toll, the operator of the toll roads, issued the ticket based on recorded footage of the vehicle. The driver was notified of the violation via mail long after the event took place. This specific type of enforcement relies on automated photo systems to detect weaving, a maneuver where a driver moves frequently between lanes.
According to the operator, the ticket was issued because Colorado law does not specify a time limit for when a toll-violation notice must be mailed [1]. This absence of a statutory deadline allows operators to process and send citations regardless of how much time has elapsed since the alleged infraction.
The situation has raised questions about the fairness of automated enforcement. While traditional police officers typically issue citations immediately, photo-toll systems can store data indefinitely. This creates a scenario where a driver may be penalized for an action they no longer remember committing.
State officials have not indicated a plan to change the current regulations. Until a specific timeframe is codified into law, the operator can continue to send notices for violations that occurred years prior [1].
“Colorado law does not specify a time limit for when a toll-violation notice must be mailed”
This incident underscores a regulatory gap in Colorado's automated traffic enforcement. Without a statute of limitations on the issuance of toll-related citations, the burden of proof shifts heavily toward the driver, who must defend their actions from years prior. This could lead to increased legal challenges regarding the due process of automated ticketing systems in the U.S.
