Colorado Springs, CO – The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) announced that a recent software update by its speed‑safety camera vendor, Verra Mobility, unintentionally doubled the civil penalty on thousands of citations issued between July 21 and September 1. The error listed an $80 fine instead of the intended $40 for drivers caught traveling 11 miles per hour over the posted speed limit in neighborhood and park zones.
How the mistake was discovered
In September, CSPD staff reviewing recent citations noticed a summons that showed an $80 fine for a vehicle traveling in a residential area. A deeper audit revealed that the problem stemmed from a July software update that altered internal location codes used by the department’s two mobile speed‑safety camera (SSC) units. The update affected 34 of the 1,212 coded locations in the system, resulting in 2,764 citations being issued with the inflated amount.
Response and refunds
City officials say every citation issued under the glitch had probable cause – the vehicles were indeed traveling 11 mph over the limit – but the monetary penalty was incorrectly calculated. CSPD has already begun processing refunds for the overcharged amount. Affected drivers who have already paid the $80 fine will receive a $40 check within four to six weeks. For those who have not yet paid, court records have been updated to show the correct $40 fine, and the online payment portal will reflect the reduced amount.
Vendor communication
Verra Mobility, the contractor that operates the Automated Photo Safety Enforcement Program for Colorado Springs, is mailing letters to all impacted motorists. The letters explain the programming error, confirm the corrected fine, and outline the refund process. A sample of the notice is included below:
City of Colorado Springs Police Department
C/O Automated Photo Safety Enforcement Program
PO Box 22000
Tempe, AZ 85285‑2091
Dear Community Member,
As the contractor for the City of Colorado Springs’ Automated Photo Safety Enforcement Program, we wish to inform you that your Notice of Violation was issued with an incorrect civil penalty amount of $80. The correct penalty is $40. If you have already paid, a refund of $40 will be mailed to you within 4‑6 weeks. If payment has not been made, the court record now reflects the correct amount.
Impact on the community
Approximately 700 of the over‑charged citations have already been paid through the department’s online portal. The remaining drivers will see the corrected amount when they log in to pay or when they appear in court. CSPD emphasized that the swift correction demonstrates the department’s commitment to transparency and fairness for Colorado Springs residents.
Looking ahead
City officials are working with Verra Mobility to ensure that future software updates undergo additional testing to prevent similar issues. The department also plans to provide regular updates to the public as the refund process continues.
Residents with questions about their citation or the refund process are encouraged to contact CSPD’s Automated Photo Safety Enforcement Program directly.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
