Top 5 biggest speed traps in Denver

The National Motorists Association lists Denver and Colorado Springs among the ten worst cities in the U.S. and Canada for speed traps, based on reported motorist sightings. And Colorado is the fourth highest state on a per capita basis when it comes to the rate of reported new radar-gun locations, the NMA claims. In other words, we're maniacs behind the wheel and good at getting caught at it, especially at sites like those counted down below.

The group describes a speed trap as "characterized by arbitrarily low speed limits and heavy traffic enforcement." Denver has quite a few such operations under way at any given time -- although the situation isn't quite as reported in this 9News account of the study, which managed to screw up the NMA data and rank Denver as the fourth-worst city.

Actually, Denver comes in fifth in the report, behind Livonia, Michigan, a burg that apparently derives most of its revenue from clipping hotrodders; Windsor, Ontario; Orlando, Florida; and Las Vegas, Nevada. (Wherever they're handing out speeding tickets in Sin City, it can't be that bumper-to-bumper procession of rubberneckers they call the Strip.) Colorado Springs clocks in at eighth.

And where are all these dreaded speed traps? For that information, you need to head to the Denver area listings at Speedtrap.org, a gathering of random reports from locals about places they presumably got nailed. Some of the spots are classic revenue producers because of a sudden drop in speed; others offer a convenient place for a prowler to hide and ambush a steady stream of commuters going well, well above the posted limit.

Law enforcement types insist such measures help to save lives and keep things from getting all Mad Max out there. But if speed enforcement operations are so darned effective, why do they keep showing up in the same places?

Here are the top five speed traps listed on Speedtrap.org at this writing:

View Larger Map 5. I-25 southbound at 104th and 84th: "The speed limit goes from 65 to 55 at the bottom of the hill leading up to the 104th Street bridge. Cops sit on the overpass and radio any speed exceeding 60 to motorcycles below."
View Larger Map 4. SB Santa Fe just N of Jewell: "Although the speed limit is 45 (and is being changed to 55 imminently), a photo radar van will sit on the sidewalk on the West side of Santa Fe next to the golf course. Anything over 55 (fancy that, the new speed limit) can be charged $40."
View Larger Map 3. 470 at Morrison Road exit: "At 55 miles per hour on westbound Morrison, you have 30 feet to slow to 35 mph."
View Larger Map 2. Tamarac Dr. between Eastman and Dartmouth/Cornell: "There is a photo radar van that often sits in a little driveway dip on the right side of the road next to a black fence along the apartments. The posted speed limit is 30."
View Larger Map 1. Brighton Boulevard southbound: "Speed is 35 MPH right off of I-70 then dips to 30. Motorcycle DPD will be waiting for you as you approach the downtown area...$155.00 ticket for 10 [mph] over."

More from our News archive: "Speed trap near I-25/I-70 mousetrap tomorrow -- for your safety, says Denver Police Dept."