Senate committee advances bill to stiffen penalties for illegal passing, repeat speeding

Senate Bill 35, a proposal by Senator Roberts aimed at reducing fatal crashes caused by illegal passing and repeated speeding, advanced out of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee on a 7–1 roll call.

The sponsor opened the hearing by citing a recent head‑on crash near Kremmling that killed two parents and three children and noted a statewide rise in traffic fatalities. "This bill is about one thing above all else. Saving lives on Colorado's roads," Senator Roberts said, summarizing the measure as a package of enforcement and statutory changes to discourage high‑risk driving.

Under the version reported out of committee, the bill tightens the definition of marked no‑passing zones, doubles the driver's license points for illegal overtaking from four to eight and requires a $100 penalty that courts cannot waive. It also directs the Colorado Department of Transportation to prioritize additional signage in locations with elevated illegal‑overtaking crash rates. The measure escalates points for repeat speeding offenses within defined timeframes and converts certain repeat civil infractions into cases requiring a court appearance, rather than a mailed penalty notice.

Supporters—ranging from AAA to the Colorado State Patrol and several mountain counties—framed SB35 as a targeted effort to deter the most dangerous driving behaviors. "The core problem that this bill addresses is not just that people speed, it's that the system, as currently structured, doesn't take speeding seriously," said Schuyler McKinley of AAA. Captain Brandon Athletic of the Colorado State Patrol said the Patrol "fully supports this measure" and proposed adding four points for drivers going 100 mph or more and doubling fines for commercial vehicles on non‑approved hazmat routes; the committee adopted that change as amendment L001.

Several rural officials described repeated high‑speed and illegal‑passing behavior on two‑lane mountain highways where visibility is limited. Grand County EMS Chief Austin Wingate urged the committee to act, saying responders see the lifelong injuries and trauma produced by these crashes. "Accountability is prevention," Wingate said.

Opponents and civil‑justice advocates urged caution on the bill's court‑appearance language. Charles Testa of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar and Dana Steiner of the Colorado Freedom Fund said mandatory summonses for repeat low‑level speeding could expose people to arrest and jail for failing to appear on what remains a civil traffic charge, and asked the committee to strike those provisions. Senator Cutter offered an amendment (L004) to remove the mandatory court‑appearance provision; the amendment failed on a roll call vote.

After debate and votes on amendments, Senator Roberts moved the bill—now including the adopted L001 changes—to the Committee on Appropriations with a favorable recommendation. Ms. Forbes polled the committee and the motion carried on a 7–1 vote.

The committee recorded its roll call on the referral; the bill now moves to Appropriations for fiscal review and further consideration.

Vote at a glance: the committee moved SB35, as amended, to Appropriations (motion passed 7–1).