Speed and Red-Light Radar Cameras

Speed and Red Light Radar Cameras

NOTE: Tickets are being issued effective Friday, June 20, 2025, for automated speed camera and red light camera violations.

 

Speeding and running red lights are among the leading causes of traffic accidents. To decrease the number and severity of crashes, the city has implemented photo radar in certain neighborhoods, streets, and school zones and photo enforcement for running red lights at busy intersections.

 

On November 19, 2024, a municipal ordinance approved Longmont Public Safety’s implementation of an AVIS (automated vehicle identification system) with four cameras. The number of cameras installed may increase over the program’s life.

 

AVIS is a Colorado term for automated speed photo enforcement. An AVIS is, as defined by C.R.S. 42-4-110.5, is an automated vehicle identification (AVI) system; a machine used to automatically detect a violation of traffic regulations and simultaneously record a photograph of the vehicle and the license plate of the vehicle. This AVIS system is a temporary, mobile, and/or permanent system used to detect speeding violations.

 

You will know when you are entering a speed or red-light location as each intersection is marked clearly with signs to alert drivers that cameras are in use ahead.

 

Longmont can place automated speed photo enforcement cameras in residential, construction zones, school zones or in any of the following locations within the city limits:

 

• Main Street or Highway 287
• Pace Street
• Ken Pratt Boulevard or Highway 119
• Hover Road (N. 95^th Street)
• Airport Road (N. 87^th Street)
• 17th Avenue
• Mountain View Avenue
• 11th Avenue
• 9th Avenue
• 3rd Avenue
• Pike Road
• 21st Avenue
• 23rd Avenue

 

These cameras are subject to relocation within the Longmont city limits.

 

Required Community Notifications

The City of Longmont 30-day community announcement was first issued on February 13, 2025.

 

The system was installed on or after March 16, 2025. Only warnings for violations were issued for the first thirty days the system was in use. Fines for speed violations were issued beginning May 29, 2025 which was 31 days after the system is installed.

 

Regulations for Radar Cameras

Municipal Code numbers related to speed and radar cameras.

• 11.05.010 – 11.05.080 Automated Vehicle Identification System

 

How the Safety Cameras Work

Red Light Camera
A red-light running violation occurs when a motorist ENTERS an intersection .4 seconds after the traffic signal has turned red.

 

Speed Camera

The system will issue speed violations for 11 mph and over.

 

On the website you will be able to see a picture of your license plate, your vehicle, and video of the violation.   Red Light violations will also show a picture of the car behind the stop line of the intersection and include the speed of the vehicle as it is traveling through the intersection.

 

If you do receive a violation, the ticket will have contact information for questions and additional information. As well, contact information is posted on this webpage.

 

Camera Radar/Red Light citations are issued by SensysGatso, a Longmont contractor.

 

The City of Longmont Police Department processes these violations and the Municipal Court will receive any cases filed by local law enforcement after an informal review. The Longmont Municipal Court is unable to assist directly with these violations, as they are issued from SensysGatso. To view information about your violation, use your citation number and PIN (found on the paper you received in the mail) to log into viewcitation.com.

 

If you can not find your citation, and do not have the citation number, please use the phone automated system at 1-855-972-3320.

 

FAQs

• Who is the city contracting with for this program? The city has contracted with SensysGatso, who will provide administrative oversight for the program.
• How far over the speed limit or into a red light intersection will the system generate a ticket?  Longmont will issue speed violations 11 mph and over and red-light violation .4 seconds behind the stop line.
• Are city employees (including police) exempt from speed and red-light violations? No. City employees would receive a ticket for speeding or running a red light without legal justification (ie running emergency in an authorized vehicle).
• What is the cost of a ticket? $40 for speeding, $80 for speeding a construction zone of school zone, $75 for red light violation.  If you receive a “Notice of Violation” your violation will include a link to the website that will allow the registered owner to pull up their violation and review the violation. On the website you will be able to see a picture of your license plate, your vehicle, and video of the violation.   Red Light violations will show a picture of the car behind the stop line of the intersection and include the speed of the vehicle as it is traveling through the intersection.
• How are these camera’s calibrated?  We realize the importance of the accuracy of speed readings in speed enforcement systems.  To ensure our radars are accurate, a calibration (or verification) on is done on an annual basis for systems that are configured for speed enforcement.  Our vendor uses a 3rd party company to perform this verification using highly specialized radio frequency equipment.  They perform the necessary tests and provide certification that the radar signals and speed readings are accurate within a +/-1 mph threshold.   By default, the camera system has a self-test feature built into every system.  Every day, and when the system goes into and out of enforcement, the camera performs a self test.  It tests whether the computer, camera, radar, and other internal components are compromised in any way.  If the self-test is successful an image will be taken and the camera will remain in (or start) enforcement.  If the self-test fails, the camera system will go into “offline” mode which stops (or prevents starting) enforcement.  No vehicles will be recorded when the camera is in “offline” mode.  The camera will remain in “offline” mode until the issue is resolved and a new self-test can be completed successfully.
• Are any points assessed against your license? Tickets are sent to the registered vehicle owner. Based on the current state law, there are no points assessed on your driver’s license for a camera radar/red light citation. If your alleged speed is 25 miles or more over the speed limit the driver could be personally cited by an officer with a 6-point speeding citation and given an arraignment date to appear in court. A court appearance is mandatory for six-point or more speeding citations in Colorado.
• How much money does this program cost the taxpayers? The road safety camera program is set up to be fully funded through fines paid by speeders and red-light runners. Taxpayers are not being asked to pay for this system. According to the Federal Highway Administration, by reducing crashes, red-light safety cameras annually save communities $39,000 to $50,000 in collision-related expenses per location.
• How long will a portable speed camera remain in a specific neighborhood? Portable red light and speed trailers are positioned on public streets. Since the city oversees these streets, city employees are not required to obtain permission to place the trailers in these locations. Speed trailers are deployed in areas with a high number of speeding complaints, in high-traffic zones, in locations that have experienced previous crashes, or in other areas identified for specific objectives. The cameras are installed for a period of time during which we observe a reduction in driver speeds. There is no predetermined time frame for how long the trailers will stay in one location.
• How are red-light camera intersections determined? Intersections throughout the city are carefully reviewed to determine which intersections would enhance safety the most with red light cameras. Intersections are not selected simply on highest volume or highest crash data, they are selected based on a combination of factors that not only included the number of crashes, but the severity of crashes.  There are many strategies for addressing traffic complaints in Longmont. You can submit a traffic complaint online for areas within the Longmont city limits.
• If the camera flashes, am I getting a ticket? Cameras can flash for a number of reasons. All-flash incidents do not equal a citation.
• Can I make payments towards a ticket? Yes, you can make partial payments towards a ticket as long as it is paid in full before the deadline date or you have contacted the vendor for other arrangements. Tickets not paid in full can be submitted to a collection agency.
• Can I appeal a red light or speeding ticket? Yes.
  • To view your citation.
  • There are two options to contest your automated violation.
    • Option 1: Request an informal review. This must be requested within 21 days of citation date. How to request: You must submit the request in person at Longmont Police Department – Court Liaison Informal Review, 225 Kimbark St in Longmont, and must include the Notice of Violation number, full name and contact information, brief explanation of defense, and any supporting documentation. An informal review is conducted without a judicial oversight.
    • Option 2: Request for formal hearing. This occurs in front of a municipal judge. You must request a formal hearing by filing the request for hearing before the Longmont Municipal Court within 46 days of the citation date. The formal hearing would occur any time after the informal review.
    • For more information.
  • The Court will schedule a date, time, and location for your formal hearing.
  • Valid defenses for dismissal of a citation with supporting documentation might include:
    • Stolen vehicle or plates. If your vehicle or plates were stolen at the time of the violation, you will need to provide the police report and case number documenting the theft in person to Longmont Police Department, 225 Kimbark, Longmont.
    • Vehicle sold or transferred before violation
    • Registered to a rental/lease agency
  • If you do not agree with the decision of the Informal Review Officer you can complete and submit a request for a formal review. This form can be found on the Self-Help forms page for the Municipal Court.

 

Statistics for Speed Cameras

Should you have further questions regarding AVIS, please email or call (303) 651-8424. We would be happy to connect you with those best suited to answer your questions about this system.

(Community notice posted 2/13/25)