Castle Rock — The Castle Rock Town Council voted 6-0 on Oct. 21 to adopt the 2024 Model Traffic Code, updating local traffic rules to align with state law and add new enforcement tools and vehicle definitions.

The ordinance replaces the town's 2010 traffic code with the November 2024 revision of the Model Traffic Code, giving the town expanded authority to regulate certain uses of state highways within town limits, setting new rules for electric scooters and three-wheel auto-cycles, and creating offenses such as failure to yield in roundabouts and illegal parking in electric-vehicle charging stalls.

Town Attorney Michael outlined the purpose of the change in a council presentation, saying the model code "provides a level of uniformity and consensus state regarding local traffic regulations" and that the 2024 edition adds provisions for steep downhill grade zones, vulnerable road users and enforcement authority for municipal court. He also told council the code incorporates new limits protecting snowplow operators, tow trucks and utility vehicles and allows municipal enforcement of registration and insurance violations in municipal court.

The most contested provision was traffic filtering for motorcycles, permitted by recent state law. Mayor Pro Tem Kavey said she opposed allowing motorcycles to carve between lanes and asked for the provision to be removed, calling it "extremely dangerous" and saying she had personal near-miss experiences. Michael and staff said the state authorizes regulated filtering and that the town cannot unilaterally remove the allowance because it is part of the state code adopted in this edition; the town can revisit the matter if state law changes or data show a safety problem.

Council and staff also discussed how the code treats various electric vehicles. The ordinance lowers the permitted operating speed for certain low-speed electric vehicles from 35 mph to 30 mph within town limits, excludes golf carts from the "low-speed electric vehicle" definition, and clarifies that non-street-legal off-highway motorcycles and some high-powered class 3 e-bikes are not allowed on town streets. Staff said the new language will help the Police Department charge offenders in municipal court when necessary.

Councilmember Dietz moved to approve the item on first reading; Councilmember Davis seconded. Roll call was: Hollingshead — yes; Bracken — yes; Davis — yes; Dietz — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Kavey — yes; Mayor Gray — aye. Motion passed 6-0.

Council members and staff said they expect to monitor the law as it is implemented and asked police to track incidents related to the new provisions so the council can consider future changes if safety data support it.