(EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — More than 30 tickets were issued within just a few hours during a recent targeted traffic surge in a construction zone near the intersection of Marksheffel Road and North Carefree Circle in El Paso County.
“Everybody and their mother is in a little bit of danger if you’re speeding or going even five or 10 over,” said Kurt Odermatt, a driver in the area.
According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO), two of its traffic deputies issued the tickets, and the majority were given to drivers going 15 to 25 mph over the posted 35 mph speed limit in the area.
“In Colorado, about 3% of licensed drivers are motorcyclists. So consider this here. In 2025, we’ve had 46 fatalities. 21 of those, almost half have been motorcyclists. And again, speed has been a major factor in almost every single one of those fatalities,” said Ira Cronin, Public Infromation Officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD).
Drivers who use the road daily think there are several factors causing the ticketing.
“I think there could be a lack of signage…even this morning when I left my house at 4:30, it had changed from the previous week,” said Odermatt.
“While deputies were conducting the operation, several construction workers approached them to say thank you — sharing how much safer they felt seeing a visible law enforcement presence in the area,” according to a post by the sheriff’s office.
Of the excuses deputies heard from drivers, EPSO listed the following examples:
- “You guys pulled me over last week for the same thing!”
- “My car’s GPS says the speed limit is 50 mph — and it tends to be more accurate than the signs!”
“Construction zones are very similar to school zones in that we have people who are right there in the roadway, it’s people who are working and doing their job, and if you’re not paying attention and slowing down, you’re definitely putting lives more at risk,” said Cronin.
EPSO ended its post with this message to drivers: “Remember: construction zones are high-risk areas for both workers and drivers. Please slow down, pay attention to signage, and help keep everyone safe. If you are cited for driving 25mph in a construction zone, you’ll receive a mandatory court date, and ALL fines are doubled, regardless of your speed!”