Fort Collins Dismisses 477 Defective Camera Radar Citations After Vendor Error
Fort Collins is dismissing 477 camera radar citations issued between September 4-17 after the vendor failed to print essential information on speeding tickets, creating confusion for residents and potential enforcement problems for the municipal court system.
The citations were mailed without printed information about the registered owner, vehicle details, or violation specifics, according to Fort Collins Police Services. The vendor, Verra Mobility, discovered the printing error after Fort Collins police contacted them September 22 about the defective notices.
All affected citations will be dismissed regardless of whether recipients already paid fines, city officials announced September 30. Residents who paid fines can contact Fort Collins Municipal Court at [email protected] for refund information.
The error occurred at a stationary camera radar unit in the 800 block of West Prospect Road, one of Fort Collins' newest speed enforcement locations. Verra Mobility mailed corrected versions of the citations after identifying the problem, but the City Attorney's Office decided to dismiss both the original defective citations and the follow-up copies.
Vendor Processes Citations for City
Verra Mobility handles all camera radar equipment maintenance, violation processing, and citation mailing for Fort Collins under a contract that costs the city $564,000 annually, according to Fort Collins budget documents. The company operates camera systems at multiple locations throughout the city and processes violations before sending them to registered vehicle owners.
The vendor's contract requires quality control measures including high-resolution image capture, automated review processes, and manual police verification of each citation before issuance, according to city traffic safety documents. The printing error represents a breakdown in these standard procedures.
Fort Collins expanded its camera radar program in 2024 following Colorado legislation that authorized local governments to use automated speed enforcement. The city pays Verra Mobility $2,500 per month for each camera approach and $8,500 monthly for each transportable speed unit.
Citations Must Meet Legal Standards
Colorado state law and Fort Collins municipal code require automated traffic citations to include specific information including the date, time, and location of violations, vehicle speed data, clear photographic evidence, and instructions for responding to citations.
When citations fail to meet these legal requirements, municipal courts typically deem them invalid or unenforceable. The missing information on the 477 citations would have made prosecution difficult and potentially violated due process requirements for traffic enforcement.
The city's camera radar program began with red-light cameras in 1997 and expanded to include speed enforcement following state legislative changes in 2023, according to Fort Collins traffic safety planning documents. Revenue from citations must be used only for traffic safety improvements under state law.
Fort Collins Police acknowledged the frustration residents experienced receiving official mail with missing information, particularly given concerns about scams targeting residents through fraudulent notices.
"FCPS appreciates the frustration our citizens may feel when receiving something official in the mail that is missing information or seems to be a duplication, especially when we are all on the lookout for scams," police stated in the announcement.
For questions about citation status related to this incident, residents can contact Fort Collins Municipal Court. General questions about the camera radar program can be directed to FCPS Camera Radar Coordinator Stephan Sparacio at 970-416-2236.
The dismissals affect only citations issued between September 4-17 that lacked required information. Other camera radar citations issued outside this timeframe remain valid and enforceable through the municipal court system.