Franktown, Colorado Speed Traps

Going south into Franktown, three unmarked cars take turns sitting at the 35 mph sign and aim their radar back to the 55mph zone, which is a relatively short distance. They gave me a $162 ticket and four points and claimed I was going 54 in a 35. I haven’t had a ticket in 33 years. They pulled over six other cars in about 15 minutes.

Unmarked county sheriff car sits in the entrance to the Conoco station on the east side of 83. Speed limit drops from 65 to 55 to 45 to 35 as you are heading north. Officer nails you as you pass the 35 mph sign. I was given a citation for going 1-5 mph over the limit.

Under local pressure (request) Douglas County Sheriffs office will run a morning speedtrap. They park on the east side of Grant with several cars, motorcycles or unmarked SUVs. Traffic northbound on Flintwood are coming down an undulating hill (just enough to not see the well positioned radar vehicle). Southbound traffic has along open road and generally don’t see the radar vehicle (both situations have an angle with just enough fences, weeds, and house to be difficult to see). Also, they will often place an unmarked suv in the driveway of the old ranch that is in the middle of the long flat stretch. It is marked either 40 or 45, but it is one of the very few north/south through roads in the area, so it is a designated snow route.

Douglas county operates these traps near the intersections of Highway 83 and Highway 86 which intersect in Franktown. In all direction into Franktown, the speed limits go from 55mph to 45 mph down to 35mph within a quarter of a mile. They work all directions and the state patrol is involved some of the time also.