Pueblo police present plan for automated speed cameras under state law, propose 15 cameras and civilian staffing

Pueblo Police Traffic Division officials presented a proposal to the City Council to use automated vehicle identification (speed cameras) under state law, saying the technology can reduce speeds and traffic fatalities.

The presenter, a sergeant who identifies himself in the record and is later addressed as "Mike," described a two-tier corridor approach that prioritizes state highways and other high-speed roadways for permanent cameras and reserves mobile/pedestal cameras for residential areas, school and construction zones. He cited data showing 99 fatal crashes in the city between 2019 and 2024 and said 40% of those fatalities involved speed.

Under the presenter’s proposal — which he tied to "Senate Bill 23200" and recent statutory updates — the department would designate traffic-safety corridors under state guidance and then deploy automated enforcement through CDOT coordination. The presenter proposed 15 cameras: 11 permanent mounts and four pedestal (mobile) cameras, with a stated cost of $7,000 per camera per month based on a vendor model used as an example. He said the municipality would be responsible for program costs and that CDOT staff indicated willingness to help coordinate but not to fund the program.

The presenter described staffing the program with limited-authority civilian employees (similar to other jurisdictions), estimating three civilian staff could operate the program, including serving summons and testifying in municipal court. He said fines are set by statute (the presenter summarized $40 for a base speeding citation and $80 where fines double in construction or school zones) and that violations would be confirmed by the police department before citations are mailed to registered owners. The presenter also described disputed-citation and municipal-court processes.

Councilmembers asked about the ordinance or formal adoption process required to establish a traffic-safety corridor and traffic-safety fund (the presenter said an ordinance is likely required), potential costs to the city and specific vendor procurement steps (RFP required), and whether the cameras are separate from existing red-light camera equipment (the presenter explained speed cameras calculate speed and generate citations when a vehicle exceeds the limit by a set threshold).

Deputy Chief Kenny Ryder voiced support for the concept in the meeting record. No ordinance, formal vote, or final funding decision on the camera program was recorded in the transcript.