Colorado § 42-4-614 - Designation of highway maintenance, repair, or construction zones - signs - increase in penalties for speeding violations.

§ 42-4-614. Designation of highway maintenance, repair, or construction zones - signs - increase in penalties for speeding violations.

(1) (a) If maintenance or repair activities are occurring on a portion of a state highway, the department of transportation may designate the portion of the highway as a highway maintenance or repair zone. If construction activities are occurring on a portion of a state highway, the department of transportation shall designate the portion of the highway as a highway construction zone. Any person who commits certain violations listed in section 42-4-1701 (4) in a maintenance, repair, or construction zone that is designated pursuant to this section is subject to the increased penalties and surcharges imposed by section 42-4-1701 (4)(c).

(b) If maintenance, repair, or construction activities are occurring or will occur within four hours on a portion of a roadway that is not a state highway, the public entity conducting the activities may designate such portion of the roadway as a maintenance, repair, or construction zone. A person who commits certain violations listed in section 42-4-1701 (4) in a maintenance, repair, or construction zone that is designated pursuant to this section is subject to the increased penalties and surcharges imposed by section 42-4-1701 (4)(c).

(2) The department of transportation or other public entity must designate a maintenance, repair, or construction zone by erecting or placing an appropriate sign in a conspicuous place before the area where the maintenance, repair, or construction activity is taking place or, if the zone is not on a state highway, will be taking place within four hours. The sign must notify the public that increased penalties for certain traffic violations are in effect in the zone. The department of transportation or other public entity must erect or place a second sign after the zone indicating that the increased penalties for certain traffic violations are no longer in effect. A maintenance, repair, or construction zone begins at the location of the sign indicating that increased penalties are in effect and ends at the location of the sign indicating that the increased penalties are no longer in effect.

(3) Signs used for designating the beginning and end of a maintenance, construction, or repair zone shall conform to department of transportation requirements. The department of transportation or other public entity may display such signs on any fixed, variable, or movable stand. The department of transportation or other public entity may place such a sign on a moving vehicle if required for certain activities, including, but not limited to, highway painting work.

Source: L. 97: Entire section added, p. 1385, § 5, effective July 1. L. 2005: (1) and (2) amended, p. 1222, § 4, effective August 8. L. 2008: Entire section amended, p. 2078, § 2, effective June 3. L. 2024: (1)(a) and (2) amended, (HB 24-1464), ch. 358, p. 2437, § 1, effective August 7.

Editor's note: This section was originally numbered as § 42-4-613 in House Bill 97-1003 but has been renumbered on revision for ease of location.

Cross references: (1) In 2005, subsections (1) and (2) were amended by the "Lopez-Forrester act". For the short title and legislative declaration, see sections 1 and 2 of chapter 276, Session Laws of Colorado 2005.

(2) Section 1 of chapter 412, Session Laws of Colorado 2008, provides that the act amending this section shall be known and may be cited as the "Charles Mather Highway Safety Act".