Colorado § 42-4-615 - School zones - increase in penalties for moving traffic violations.

§ 42-4-615. School zones - increase in penalties for moving traffic violations.

(1) Any person who commits a moving traffic violation in a school zone is subject to the increased penalties and surcharges imposed by section 42-4-1701 (4)(d).

(2) (a) As used in this section, "school zone" means all roadways within at least one thousand feet of a school property boundary; except that:

(I) State highways, as defined in section 42-4-110.5, are not included in a school zone unless designated as part of a school zone by the Colorado department of transportation or by a county, city and county, or municipality with the written approval of the Colorado department of transportation;

(II) A school zone that exists on August 12, 2026, that extends more than two hundred feet from a school property boundary is the school zone for that school property; and

(III) If a county, city and county, or municipality that has jurisdiction over a school zone reduces the size of the school zone pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, then only the reduced school zone is the school zone for that school property.

(b) If a school zone existing pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(II) of this section is less than two hundred feet from a school property, the county, city and county, or municipality that has jurisdiction over the school zone must increase the school zone to a minimum of two hundred feet.

(c) A school zone must have appropriate signs posted indicating a school zone and indicating that the penalties and surcharges within a school zone will be doubled. The state or local government having jurisdiction over the placement of traffic signs and traffic control devices in a school zone area shall designate the area deemed to be a school zone for the purposes of this section, which, except if reduced as permitted in subsection (4) of this section, must include all roadways within one thousand feet of the school property boundary and shall post the signs required by this section. For school zones existing pursuant to subsection (2)(a)(II) of this section, signage that exists on August 12, 2026, meets the signage requirements for this subsection.

(d) A county, city and county, or municipality shall compile a list of schools for which it must determine school zones for the purposes of this section. A county, a city and county, or a municipality has the authority to determine which schools to include on the list.

(3) This section does not apply if the penalty and surcharge for a violation has been doubled pursuant to section 42-4-614 because such violation also occurred within a highway maintenance, repair, or construction zone.

(4) A county, city and county, or municipality that has jurisdiction over a school zone may reduce the size of the school zone to extend to less than one thousand feet from a school property boundary but shall not reduce the size of the school zone to less than two hundred feet from a school property boundary. A county, city and county, or municipality shall not reduce the size of a school zone without first holding a public hearing.

(5) Nothing in this section prohibits a county, city and county, or municipality from increasing the size of a school zone to larger than one thousand feet from a school property boundary or, in collaboration with a local school board, from raising revenue through bonding to finance increased school zone signage.

Source: L. 98: Entire section added, p. 588, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2026: (2) amended and (4) and (5) added, (HB 26-1318), ch. 234, p. 1350, § 2, effective August 12.

Cross references: For the short title ("Liam Stewart School Zone Act") in HB 26-1318, see section 1 of chapter 234, Session Laws of Colorado 2026.