Don’t Hit the Gas Here: Denver’s Top 10 Speed Trap Zones Revealed
Denver is ramping up photo radar enforcement as part of a broader push tied to traffic safety and city finances. Mayor Mike Johnston first announced the plan last fall during his proposed budget presentation, saying expanded speed enforcement would help reduce dangerous driving while also generating modest additional revenue. As reported by KUSA 9 News, the city estimates the expansion could bring in roughly $610,000. Standard photo radar tickets cost $40, and fines double to $80 in school zones.
The Denver Police Department says it is now training civilian employees to operate photo radar vans in 2026 after staffing reductions in recent years led to fewer enforcement deployments. While citations declined from 2023 through 2025, officer-initiated traffic stops have increased. Police say the goal is behavior change and safer streets, not revenue generation.
Photo radar vans are typically deployed on residential streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less, near parks, and in school and construction zones.
Here are the 10 locations where drivers have been most likely to receive a photo radar citation in recent years:
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3000–3800 E 17th Ave. E/B
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1300–2200 E 1st Ave. E/B
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5800–5900 Central Park Blvd. N/B
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15300–16200 GVR Blvd. W/B
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4400–4500 Pecos St. N/B
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2600–3000 Quebec St. S/B
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300–700 S Sheridan Blvd. N/B
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1800–2000 Speer Blvd. S/B
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3100 S Tamarac Dr. N/B
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2500–2600 S University Blvd. S/B
Officials say these corridors were identified due to persistently high speeding violations and will continue to see enforcement as part of the city’s traffic safety strategy.
