Traffic Enforcement and Safety

You have the right to be safe on streets and sidewalks no matter where you go or how you get there.

Traffic crashes occur every year in the City and County of Denver, involving vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, motorized scooters and pedestrians. Several have resulted in serious injuries and fatalities and, unfortunately, crashes may continue to result in the same outcomes due to risky behaviors such as speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, not wearing a helmet or not following crosswalk signals.

Vision Zero is a transportation safety philosophy that was developed in Sweden to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries in the transportation system. Denver adopted this philosophy in 2016, in coordination with dozens of city agencies and partners, to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

As a lead partner agency, the Denver Police Department is committed to supporting Vision Zero's, mission to eliminate traffic-related deaths through enhanced photo enforcement and citations, streamlined data collection efforts, and public awareness campaigns. As part of Vision Zero's Action Plan, DPD and Denver Public Works conduct "Rapid Response Meetings' after pedestrian, motorcyclist or bicyclist fatalities to identify risk factors that can be addressed citywide.

DPD Vision Zero Safety Brochure(PDF, 414KB)

Parking in Denver provides information about parking permit programs, accessible parking, public lots and garage maps, parking meters, bicycle parking and B-cycle program, street sweeping reminders and more.

Traffic Crashes

Report a Vehicle Crash

If you are involved in a crash or collision, whether that may be with another vehicle, pedestrian, building or bicyclist, Colorado State law requires all drivers involved to provide their name, address and vehicle registration to all other involved persons. This means that you must show your driver's license to anyone who asks to see it. In all cases, except when an Accident Alert has been declared, you must stop and report the crash by calling your local police station or 911.

Please Note: Vehicle crash reporting is for Colorado Department of Revenue records only. No law enforcement agency will be investigating these reports, and the Denver Police Department will not able to provide you with a copy of any submitted report.

Report a Vehicle Crash

Accident Alert

An Accident Alert is declared when conditions (such as inclement weather or other emergency) are so severe that police officers are unable to respond to the volume of motor vehicle crashes. If involved in a crash while an Accident Alert is declared, call 911 and waiting for a dispatcher to determine if a police officer will be sent to the scene. If the crash does not meet the criteria for a police response you must do the following:

  • All drivers involved must exchange their name, driver's license information, vehicle registration information and proof of insurance information.
  • File a report as soon as possible by reporting the crash to your local police station or calling 911. For crashes that occur outside of the Denver city limits, you must respond to that jurisdiction to complete the counter crash report.

Request an Accident Report

Visit our Records page to order an Accident Report. To obtain an accident report case number, please call the Denver Police Records Section at 720-913-6029 anytime from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday (holidays and City furlough days excluded).

Pay a Ticket

Parking Citation

You can pay your parking ticket online, over the phone, in person, or by mail.

To pay by phone using a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover, call 1-866-280-9988.

Mail-in payments may be made by check or cashiers check. Payment must be sent in US Dollars. Please write the ticket number(s) on the check. If you have received a notice concerning the ticket through the mail, please return the payment coupon from your notice along with your payment to:

Parking Violations Bureau
P.O. Box 46500
Denver, Colorado 80201-6500

Pay a Parking Citation

Traffic Citation

If there is a fine amount listed on the front of your ticket, you can pay the ticket online, by mail, or in person. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, cash, money order or personal check are acceptable forms of payment. The Court does not accept payments by phone. If you do not know your ticket number, you can do a Search by Name and find all your cases that can be paid online.

Pay a Traffic Citation

Photo Radar Ticket

Visit the Photo Radar Enforcement page for more information.

Towed/Booted Vehicles

Locating a Towed Vehicle

Denver, unlike many municipalities, doesn't automatically impound towed vehicles. Vehicles that are towed are often relocated to a nearby location and parked legally there. There is a $100 tow fee incurred for moving a vehicle.

If your vehicle has been towed, contact the Denver Police Non-Emergency line (720-913-2000) to locate it or search for your vehicle online if it has been impounded.

Visit the Denver Sheriff Vehicle Impound for more information.

Boot Removal

If there are 3 or more unpaid tickets (or other outstanding citations) on a vehicle, a seizure warning notice will be issued, and a boot may be placed on your car. The boot won't be removed until all outstanding fines (including the additional $100 boot fee) are paid. If a vehicle is booted for 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) without payment, it will be considered abandoned and towed to impound. If a vehicle is towed to impound, an additional $100 tow fee will be charged.

Payment by phone or online for booted vehicles can be made 24 hours a day. However, if fines, penalties and boot fees are paid after 5:00 pm using the Pay-by-Phone system or the Pay-by-Web service, the vehicle will be released during normal operating hours.

Walk-in payments for boots may be made with cash, money order, Visa or Mastercard; no checks accepted for boots. Payments should be presented at the Parking Cashier's Office on the first floor of the Wellington Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax Avenue. The Parking Cashier's Office is open Monday through Friday between 8:00am and 5:00 pm, excluding holidays.

Pay a Parking Citation

The Denver Police Department Special Events Unit plans, coordinates, and oversees traffic-related activities and permits associated with very specific types of special events in the City and County of Denver.  These include:

  • Parades
  • Sporting events
  • Special event that requires the closure of streets (such as running events or bicycle events)
  • VIP visits (such as the President of the United States)

Please contact us at DPDSpecialEvents@denvergov.org for more information.

For all other special event permit applications, please visit the Denver Office of Special Events.

Denver police officers stop motor vehicles for a variety of reasons including:

  • Traffic violations such as speeding, running a red light, or expired plates.
  • Occupants suspected of being involved in a crime or witnessing a crime.
  • The vehicle is suspected of being used to commit a crime.

What you should do:

  1. Red and blue lights and/or a siren mean pull over to the right where it is safe and where you will not block traffic.
  2. If it is dark the officer will use a bright spotlight or flashlight to illuminate you and your car.
  3. Upon request drivers are required to provide their license, registration, and proof of insurance.
  4. Depending on the circumstances, officers may request identification from passengers as well.
  5. Remain in your vehicle, keep your hands where the officer can see them and follow his/her instructions.
  6. Avoid sudden movements and do not reach for your license or other items until the officer requests them.
  7. It is reasonable and legal for an officer to require that you and your passengers get out of the vehicle, but do not get out until he or she asks.
  8. Ask any passengers in your car to remain calm and comply with the officer's instructions. 

Contact Traffic Operations

3381 Park Avenue West 
Denver, CO 80216

 

Traffic Operations Section
Phone: 720-337-1030

  • Motor vehicle crash investigations
  • Traffic safety and efficiency on city streets and highways
  • Enforcement of traffic-related city ordinances and state statutes

Photo Radar Enforcement

 

Traffic Investigations Unit
Phone: 720-337-1000

  • Fatal/serious bodily injuries
  • Hit and run incidents
  • Habitual traffic offenders
  • Criminal impersonation
  • City vehicle crashes
  • Hazardous materials

Speed Trailers

A speed trailer can be requested to help reduce speeding and motor vehicle crashed in your community. For more information, call the Neighborhood Enforcement Team at 720-337-1030.

 

Auto Body Alerts

Body shop owners can partner with the Denver Police Department to receive information about suspected vehicles involved in a hit and run incident and will then call Traffic Investigations prior to starting work on any vehicles matching the suspect description.


Sign up for Auto Body Alerts

Related Information

Back to top