Municipal & traffic defense
in Colorado Springs.
Experienced criminal counsel for clients in El Paso and Teller Counties and throughout Colorado.
Municipal cases and traffic matters.
Municipal cases generally involve alleged violations of a city or town’s ordinances and are handled in municipal court. Traffic matters may involve local ordinances or state law. Some traffic violations are civil infractions, while others are criminal offenses—including misdemeanors and, in certain circumstances, felonies. A traffic ticket is not automatically a criminal charge.
The exact charge, applicable law, and facts of your case matter. Bring your court paperwork and any upcoming court dates to your consultation.
Municipal Offenses.
City police departments may charge an alleged offense under a local municipal ordinance or state law, depending on the conduct and applicable jurisdiction. Municipal ordinance cases are generally heard in the city’s municipal court.
The penalties for municipal crimes are generally lower than those for comparable state criminal charges, but can still include fines, probation, or even jail time. A municipal charge deserves careful attention.
Each municipality’s laws are different. An experienced attorney must analyze the ordinance, the evidence, and the court’s procedures to determine the best course of action. James brings years of prosecution and defense experience to that review, helping clients understand their options before making decisions that can affect their future.
Traffic Offenses.
Some traffic offenses, including speeding, depend on technical evidence. An experienced attorney can analyze whether the police did their job and can prove the charge, rather than simply counting on you to pay the ticket without a challenge.
Depending on how speed was measured, that review may include radar or lidar records, equipment testing, officer training, identification of the vehicle, and the applicable speed limit. James examines the evidence and the legal requirements to identify the strongest defense available in your case.
A traffic case can affect more than your wallet. Points, insurance consequences, and loss of driving privileges make it important to understand the charge before resolving a ticket.
Colorado driver-license points for adults.
Colorado adds points to a driver’s record after a qualifying conviction. For ordinary drivers age 21 and older, a point suspension is triggered by either of these thresholds:
Adult point-suspension thresholds
12 or more points within any 12 consecutive months.
18 or more points within any 24 consecutive months.
The counting period uses the dates of the violations, rather than the dates of conviction. Drivers under 21 have stricter limits; certain professional drivers may qualify for different limits.
At a point-suspension hearing, the hearing officer generally starts with a 6-month suspension and considers aggravating and mitigating factors. The maximum point suspension is 1 year. A restricted probationary “red license” may be available for specific purposes such as work or school, but it is discretionary. James can help assess your driving record and prepare for the hearing.
Points for common traffic convictions.
The table below shows the standard point assessments under C.R.S. § 42-2-127(5).
| Offense | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding: 1–4 mph over | 0 |
| Speeding: 5–9 mph over | 1 |
| Speeding: 10–19 mph over | 4 |
| Speeding: 20–39 mph over | 6 |
| Speeding: 40 mph or more over | 12 |
| Failure to obey a traffic sign or signal | 4 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way (general rule) | 3 |
| Careless driving | 4 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
| Broken / defective headlight | 1 |
| Defective vehicle charged as operating an unsafe vehicle | 2 |
| Driving under the influence (DUI / DUI per se) | 12 |
| Driving while ability impaired (DWAI) | 8 |
Failing to obey a traffic control device is generally charged as failing to observe a traffic sign or signal; a general failure to yield right-of-way carries a different assessment. Special yielding offenses have different values. Careless driving resulting in death carries 12 points. Equipment violations depend on the actual charge: a defective headlight and an unsafe vehicle are treated differently.
These are standard values before any applicable statutory reduction or negotiated change to the charge. DUI and other alcohol-related cases can also involve separate license revocation proceedings, regardless of the point total.
Sources: C.R.S. § 42-2-127 and the Colorado Department of Revenue’s point-suspension guidance.
Experience that informs
your defense.
James represents clients in municipal and traffic matters, including cases involving speeding tickets. The court listed on your citation and the specific charge determine how your case proceeds and what consequences may apply.
A former deputy district attorney, James served in the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office from 2009 to 2013, prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases in El Paso and Teller Counties. He entered private practice in 2013 and has been specializing in criminal law since 2010.
James offers payment plans and financing. Schedule a consultation to discuss representation and the options for your case.
Talk with James about your caseLearn more about Colorado’s courts and the Colorado Springs municipal code. This overview is general information; the classification and consequences of a particular charge depend on the applicable law.
Request a
consultation.
Tell us how to reach you and the general nature of your matter. For an upcoming court appearance, call the office directly.
719-493-0282james@jamestcooklaw.com524 South Tejon StreetColorado Springs, CO 80903Get directions