Vail, Colorado Speed Traps

Every morning between Empire High School and Cienega High School there is a patrol car stationed busting speeders. I am not sure at what speed they are stopping people because people are speeding while they pass the stopped patrol car. Anyway, it is not unusual for me to see a vehicle pulled over on the way to Cienega and five minutes later see a different vehicle pulled over on my way back. The posted speed limit is 45 and can be easily 50 or 55 between the high schools.

From Vail Pass to Wolcott there can be speed traps.

Dowd Junction is one of the most coomon places to see speed traps, especially just after mile marker 171 heading westbound.

There is a spot in the median of the Highway where the patrol car sits and tags vehicles coming down the hill. The speed limit at this point is 65mph but changes to 75mph west of Vail.

CSP is working I-70 fairly heavily on the west side of Vail Pass from the top of the pass (MM 190) down to the east exit to Vail itself. Speed limit is 65, and much of the traffic is traveling 80 or so. Especially bad, CSP sits near the top of the pass to catch drivers who have their cars floored all the way up the pass. That top stretch is fairly straight, but drops off fast enough to accelerate cars fairly well.

On weekends I’ve seen as many as 5 State Patrol vehicles on less than 20 miles of I-70. Speed traps are Patrol cars in the median only, sneaking up on you, or travelling 10-15 mph below the speed limit and daring you to pass them on the 2-lane interstate. During the week speedtraps are rare because it’s the tourists they are looking for.