Category: Front Page

DENVER- Today, the Joint Budget Committee members and Chair Moreno approved a plan put forward by the Polis-Primavera administration and the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing that starting January 1, 2022, direct care workers funded with any state dollars working in-home and community-based settings are to receive a minimum wage of $15 per hour. 

 

This wage increase would target workers who currently receive the lowest rate of pay, yet provide the vast majority of hands-on care to older adults and individuals with disabilities within our state, including personal care workers, homemakers, direct support professionals, and others.

 

“Every Coloradan should be able to live and enjoy the Colorado we love and I’m proud that we’re taking care of those who take care of our loved ones. Colorado has one of the fastest-growing aging populations in the country so making sure we can hire and retain caregivers is important for today and for years to come. In Colorado, we value our workers so I fully support moving to a $15 minimum wage for caregivers,” said Governor Polis.

 

The Medicaid rate increase needed to achieve this will be initially funded through federal American Rescue Plan Act funds dedicated to Home and Community-Based Services. 

 

President Biden requested $400 billion over eight years for home and community-based services in the federal reconciliation package. That has been reduced to $190 billion in the current House draft language and there is a long history of bipartisan support for meeting the care needs of our aging and disability community.

 

“Direct care workers are the unsung heroes of Colorado’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their hands-on work with Coloradans who are aging, or have disabilities and need care has saved lives and sustained communities.  However, these workers are essential personnel even when our state is not responding to a pandemic. Raising wages is one way we can thank these workers, and attract more people to this rewarding, and critically important field,” said Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera.

 

“Our direct care workers play an integral role in providing critical support for our community, spending long hours each day to ensure that the most vulnerable Coloradans are safe, healthy, and properly cared for,” said Senator Dominick Moreno (D-Commerce City). “With this minimum wage increase, we can expand access to vital services for Coloradans in need and ensure top-notch care for seniors and individuals with disabilities. These workers deserve our thanks and appreciation, and this is just one way for us to show our immense gratitude for all that they do.” 

 

The Joint Budget Committee voted in favor of the plan this afternoon on a vote of 5-1. 

 

“Anyone who has cared for an elderly parent or loved one with disabilities has a special appreciation for our long-term care and home health workers. This wage adjustment supports the critical contribution these workers bring to the people they serve every day,” said Kim Bimestefer, Executive Director, Department of Health Care Policy & Financing.  

 

“We either value all Colorado residents or not.  People with disabilities of all ages rely on others to get through our day to a greater extent than non-disabled people.  The people that assist us do valuable and important work and deserve fair compensation including Paid Time Off and increases for both merit and Cost Of Living Adjustments,” said Julie Reiskin Executive Director of the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition. 

 

“Today’s announcement is a sign that the administration heard the call of care workers, who provide quality care to seniors and people with disabilities across our state and is committed to improving these essential jobs. A $15 an hour minimum wage for home care workers is a great step to making sure they can take care of themselves as they continue to take care of others. We applaud the Polis administration and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing for standing with care workers and using the federal relief funds as they were intended, to lift up Colorado workers and our communities,” said Stephanie Felix-Sowy, SEIU Local 105 Healthcare Organizing Director, and Director of Colorado Care Workers Unite (CCWU)

 

“Direct care workers have been on the frontlines throughout the pandemic and this step will help close the equity gap we see in this workforce, as these important workers are often women and/or people of color. As Colorado’s aging population continues to grow, this workforce will be critical to keeping Coloradans in their communities as long as they choose,” said Bob Murphy, AARP State Director.

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet led Colorado U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper and Colorado U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D), Joe Neguse (D), Jason Crow (D), and Ed Perlmutter (D) in a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to swiftly adopt strong protective methane standards for the oil and gas sector. 

 

Earlier this year, Congress restored protections that the Trump Administration rolled back to regulate methane from the oil and gas industry, which were modeled after the standard Colorado implemented under Hickenlooper’s administration. Now, Bennet and the lawmakers are urging the EPA to strengthen and expand those protections to older wells to achieve the greatest possible emission reductions.

 

“Methane is the main component of natural gas and a climate pollutant many times more potent than carbon dioxide, especially in the near-term,” wrote Bennet and the lawmakers. “Deploying all technically feasible measures now could cut methane pollution in half by 2030, slowing climate change and avoiding up to a quarter degree of warming by midcentury. To have a chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, we must seize every opportunity to reduce these emissions in the near term.”

 

In the letter, Bennet and the lawmakers highlighted Colorado’s leadership on this issue as the first state in the nation to adopt common-sense rules for methane pollution for new and existing oil and gas facilities. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission has adopted standards for frequent leak monitoring and the use of zero-bleed pneumatic controllers, including retrofits for older wells, with broad support. 

 

Bennet and his colleagues concluded: “As your agency moves to strengthen requirements for new oil and gas facilities and begins the process of addressing existing sources, we urge you to look to Colorado. We’re proud that our progress was the result of collaboration between environmental, health, and community groups, as well as industry. Our rules can serve as a blueprint for bold action that is cost effective while protecting the climate and the health of communities affected by oil and gas operations.”

 

Bennet and the lawmakers are urging EPA to:

·       Require frequent traditional and advanced monitoring, which can be implemented across large areas at low cost to capture major leaks and allow for timely repairs.  

·       Eliminate the previous administration’s low-production well exemption and avoid other carve-outs or exemptions to ensure all wells are subject to rigorous leak-detection and repair requirements. 

·       Require zero-emitting pneumatic controllers and pumps at all new sources and retrofits at existing sources. 

 

o   Colorado has adopted standards for zero-bleed pneumatics that many operators supported, which can serve as a model for the federal rules.  

·       Eliminate the practice of routine flaring, a large source of methane, carbon dioxide, and hazardous pollution, that also wastes domestic energy resources. 

o   Colorado and New Mexico have worked to eliminate the practice of routine flaring.

·       Prevent improperly abandoned wells and set closure standards to ensure the industry remains accountable for its operations.  

 

In the Senate, Bennet has worked to lower methane emissions and improve oil and gas standards. Bennet consistently pushed back on the Trump Administration’s efforts to repeal environmental protections, including the Bureau of Land Management’s Methane Rule. Earlier this year, Bennet spoke on the Senate floor, urging Congress to return to sensible methane policy following the previous administration’s rule limiting the EPA’s ability to regulate methane. 

 

In June, Bennet introduced legislation to clean up abandoned, or orphaned, oil and gas wells, ensuring that irresponsible operators — not taxpayers — pay for the cost of cleanup. The bill will help restore wildlife habitat, create good-paying jobs, and cut powerful methane emissions.

 

The text of the letter is available HERE and below.

 

Dear Administrator Regan: 

 

We write to request that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) swiftly adopt protective methane standards for the oil and gas sector. Though Congress recently restored protections that the Trump Administration rolled back, we must now strengthen and expand those protections to older wells to achieve the greatest possible emission reductions. EPA has a historic opportunity to cut climate-destabilizing and health-harming pollution from oil and gas. These methane standards, along with complimentary policies across all economic sectors, including market-based pollution reduction strategies, are essential for achieving the President’s climate targets and science-based emissions reduction goals.

 

Methane is the main component of natural gas and a climate pollutant many times more potent than carbon dioxide, especially in the near-term. Atmospheric methane concentrations are now higher than at any time in the last 800,000 years and have been increasing at an alarming rate since 2007, driven in significant part by emissions from fossil fuel development. Human-caused methane emissions are responsible for at least 25% of the warming we are experiencing today, with recent studies finding that methane alone contributes around half a degree to global warming. Deploying all technically feasible measures now could cut methane pollution in half by 2030, slowing climate change and avoiding up to a quarter degree of warming by midcentury. To have a chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, we must seize every opportunity to reduce these emissions in the near term.

 

Cutting methane pollution is also necessary to protect communities on the frontlines of oil and gas development. Methane leaks from oil and gas equipment alongside dangerous volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollution contribute to smog and lead to a wide range of harmful health impacts—triggering asthma attacks, heart attacks, and early death. These harms fall disproportionately on vulnerable populations including children, the elderly, communities of color, and low-income communities.

 

The oil and natural gas sector is the largest industrial emitter of methane and represents nearly half of all domestic methane emissions. The sector also has the greatest reduction potential. Solutions for stopping methane leaks during oil and gas production are cost-effective and can be deployed immediately, often at financial gain to the operator who can market the captured gas.

Colorado has led the nation in developing common-sense, highly cost-effective measures to limit methane from the oil and gas sector since 2014. Colorado’s standards apply to both new and existing sources and require frequent leak monitoring—up to monthly at certain sites—and the use of zero-bleed pneumatic controllers, including retrofits for older wells. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission has adopted these standards with broad stakeholder support.

 

As EPA moves forward on these standards, we urge you to include provisions to:

 

·       Require frequent traditional and advanced monitoring. Significant oil and gas emissions come from intermittent leaks and equipment failures, which can lead to very large “super-emitter” events. These emissions can be detected and stopped through a leak detection and repair program that applies across the sector to all sources. Frequent traditional monitoring, like that required in Colorado, is essential for detecting small but widespread leaks and identifying the best way to allocate capital regarding retrofits to reduce emissions. Advanced monitoring can be implemented across large areas at low cost to capture major leaks and allow for timely repairs.

 

·       Eliminate the low-production well exemption and avoid other carve-outs or exemptions. Marginal or low-production wells have been shown to leak at similar rates and represent a significant portion of total emissions. The last administration’s exemption for these wells was not based on scientific data. These wells represent a majority of the nation’s fleet, just a small percentage of oil and gas production, and about half of the methane emissions from the industry. We urge EPA to eliminate the low-production well exemption and ensure these wells are subject to rigorous leak-detection and repair requirements. Further, given the urgency of reducing methane emissions and the rapidly improving technology for cost-effective leak monitoring and detection, any kind of carve-outs or exemptions would be inappropriate and unnecessary.

·       Require zero-emitting pneumatic controllers and pumps at all new sources and retrofits at existing sources. Zero-bleed pneumatics are widely available and cost effective. Colorado has adopted standards for zero-bleed pneumatics that many operators supported and can serve as a model for the federal rules.

 

·       Eliminate the practice of routine flaring, which is another large source of methane, carbon dioxide, and hazardous pollution, that also wastes domestic energy resources. Capturing natural gas that would otherwise be vented or flared generates revenue for operators and reduces pollution. EPA should eliminate the practice of routine flaring, following the lead of states like Colorado and New Mexico.

·       Prevent improperly abandoned wells and set closure standards. Abandoned wells pose serious health and safety hazards, leak methane, and burden taxpayers with clean-up and plugging costs. EPA should take steps to prevent improperly abandoned or orphaned wells and set closure standards to ensure industry remains accountable for its operations.

 

We were pleased to learn of President Biden’s commitment to advance protective methane standards. As your agency moves to strengthen requirements for new oil and gas facilities and begins the process of addressing existing sources, we urge you to look to Colorado. We’re proud that our progress was the result of collaboration between environmental, health, and community groups, as well as industry. Our rules can serve as a blueprint for bold action that is cost effective while protecting the climate and the health of communities affected by oil and gas operations.

 

September 19, 2021 – CBI – Lakewood, CO –The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Forensic Services section is honoring the work of forensic scientists, technicians, and support staff assigned to CBI laboratories across Colorado during National Forensic Science Week, September 19-25, 2021.

CBI Forensic Services operates three full service laboratories in Denver, Grand Junction and Pueblo. The Denver location operates the state’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Database. The CBI also collaborates with the Northern Colorado Regional Forensic Laboratory in Greeley, a full service lab serving northern Colorado law enforcement. Forensic scientists conduct analysis in nine forensic disciplines: Serology, DNA, Latent Prints, Firearms and Toolmarks, Drug Chemistry, Toxicology, Trace Chemistry and Digital Media.

“The critical work performed by the CBI Forensic Services section plays a pivotal role for our law enforcement partners, and especially victims seeking justice in thousands of cases across the state every year,” said CBI Director John Camper. 

CBI Forensic Scientists plan to share information about forensic laboratory operations via the Bureau’s social media sites (Twitter and Facebook) throughout the National Forensic Science Week. Additionally, members of the public can email questions about the field of forensic science through the CBI’s general email address to be answered during the week. The CBI team also plans to answer Forensic-related questions during a Twitter event on Thursday, September 23, 1:00p.m.- 2:00p.m. 

Contacting the CBI with general Forensic Services questions:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CBI_Colorado
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoBureauofInvestigation 
• Email:  

CBI Forensic Services by the Numbers…

• 24,111   Cases completed by CBI forensic scientists last year
• 300+      Forensic laboratory requirements/standards met to achieve international accreditation status
• 109    Members of CBI Forensic Services
• 67% Percentage of women in CBI Forensic Services staff
• 116 Number of TV shows related to Forensic Science according to IMDb

LOVELAND, Colo. – The Northern Colorado chapter of “Fishing’s Future” is offering a FREE fishing clinic at River’s Edge Natural Area for families and participants of all ages. If your family would like to learn how to fish with Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials there to guide you, this is the event for you. 

All needed equipment will be provided by Fishing’s Future and CPW. The clinic will run from 10 a.m. to noon.

The first hour of the clinic will consist of stations where participants will learn the basics of fishing. The second hour of the clinic will be open fishing in select areas of the stocked ponds at River’s Edge, with volunteer assistance as needed. Trained staff and volunteers will lead stations, teach skills and assist all participants during the two-hour clinic. Check in for the clinic at the picnic shelters by the main parking lot. 

Stations will include hands-on learning about these topics: 
– Water safety practices
– Fish identification and measurement
– Proper Catch and Release techniques
– Different types of Rods and Reels
– Fishing Knots
– Bait, Lures and artificial bobber fishing
– “Leave-No-Trace” philosophy
– Fishing rules and regulations

Registration is required for this FREE event, but space is limited. Click here to register.

Fishing licenses are not required during the clinic for adults and children registered for the event. However, if you’d like to fish outside of the two-hour time frame, a Colorado fishing license is required for those age 16 years or older and will be available for purchase at the clinic. 

Fishing’s Future is a nonprofit organization with chapters in 20 states. More information can be found on its website.

A buck mule deer with its antlers entangled in a hammock in Lakewood Wednesday morning.

LAKEWOOD, Colo. – A buck mule deer became entangled in a fabric hammock early Wednesday morning in a neighborhood near W. Florida Ave. and S. Kipling Pkwy. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers urge residents to take down volleyball nets, hammocks, swing sets and other items when not in use that deer, elk or moose can get tangled in.

Wildlife officers had to cut the buck’s antlers off to free it of the hammock in Lakewood Wednesday. This stressful and exhausting scenario plays out every year across Colorado. Another such incident also took place with a bull elk in Estes Park at the end of August.

Over the years, CPW has seen deer, elk and moose tangled with a variety of items, including: tricycles, tires, garden cages, clothes lines, plastic fencing, lawn chairs, playground equipment, soccer nets, Christmas lights and more.  

During the fall season, ungulates such as deer and elk will begin their migrations and will be looking for mates during the rut, which is the breeding season. Wildlife entering neighborhoods or visiting homes in rural areas are prone to getting tangled in summer gear left in backyards, or holiday decorations that get put up in the fall and winter.

As people begin to hang outdoor decorations, CPW recommends that lights and other decorations be placed above six feet or attached tightly to trees and buildings. Lights that hang low or that are draped insecurely over vegetation can get tangled easily in antlers.

Wildlife officers can often help tangled deer when promptly notified. But every year, CPW gets reports of deer and elk that have died after becoming stuck in fences or in items that prevent them from eating.

The buck in the hammock Wednesday morning in Lakewood was entangled for two hours. It had broken one of its antlers at the skull and had an injured eye from the incident, but despite the exhaustion from the ordeal, it has the opportunity now to recover thanks to the resident that reported it to CPW.

CPW recommends residents report any wildlife that become entangled in their yard immediately and do not try to intervene themselves. That could result in injury to the person, or make the situation worse for the animal that is entangled. 

Residents in the Front Range can call CPW’s Denver office at 303-291-7227 to report entangled wildlife, or if elsewhere in the state they can look up their local CPW office on our website. If it is after hours when offices are closed, residents are asked to call Colorado State Patrol at 303-239-4501 and ask for the on-call wildlife officer.

If you see deer, elk, moose or bighorn sheep at this time of year don’t try to get closer to them in order to take a better picture. They are wary and will burn energy to move away, or could become irritated by your presence and charge at you or your dogs. Observe them from a safe distance and let wildlife be wild.

For more on living with wildlife, please visit us online.

Photo below showing how the bucks antlers were entangled in the hammock (courtesy of Jason Clay/CPW). A video is available on Twitter at @CPW_NE.

(COLO) – From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, the Colorado State Patrol, along with state transportation and law enforcement agencies from Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah came together with a united message for the State2State. Buckle Up. Campaign.

Over the summer Colorado State Troopers issued 4,248 seatbelt citations with the majority of motorists coming from Colorado (85%). However, forty-five other states were represented with motorists choosing not to buckle up. The top three states were Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by 50%.

Unfortunately, some motorists still made the choice to travel without this protection. From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend Colorado troopers responded to hundreds of crashes that seriously injured or killed 261 people that were not using a seatbelt or improperly wearing one. These individuals came from 15 different states in addition to Colorado residents.  

“To help make Colorado roads a safer place, drivers and passengers need to do their part and buckle up no matter what state they call home,” stated Matthew C. Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “It doesn’t matter how long or short the trip, we see lives lost over ‘excuses’ like discomfort or forgetting. There is no excuse good enough for your loved ones or our troopers – buckle up.” 

STATE2STATE. BUCKLE UP. 

State2State. Buckle up. is a multi-state seat belt safety campaign led by local transportation and law enforcement agencies from Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming. The summer-long seat belt awareness campaign launches alongside the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) and the Colorado Click It or Ticket May seat belt enforcement period. 

COLORADO’S SEAT BELT LAWS

• Adults — Colorado has a secondary enforcement law for adult drivers and front-seat passengers. Drivers can be ticketed for violating the seat belt law if they are stopped for another traffic violation.
• Teens— Colorado’s Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) law requires all drivers under 18 and their passengers, regardless of their age, to wear seat belts. This is a primary enforcement, meaning teens can be pulled over simply for not wearing a seat belt or having passengers without seat belts.
• Children— Colorado’s Child Passenger Safety law is a primary enforcement, meaning the driver can be stopped and ticketed if an officer sees an unrestrained or improperly restrained child under age 16 in the vehicle. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages people searching for autumn gold to peep responsibly. 

DENVER – As the aspen trees start to change colors, Colorado’s “leaf-peeping” season is kicking into high gear. While the stunning display of fall foliage is worthy of the annual crowds drawn to the state’s most scenic trails and parks, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds people searching for autumn gold to peep responsibly and balance recreation with mindful conservation. 

“As we head into peak leaf-peeping season, it’s one of the busiest times of the year at our park,” said Todd Farrow, Park Manager at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. “We ask that people plan ahead, watch out for people and wildlife crossing slowly on roads and park in designated parking areas to avoid damaging vegetation.”

When heading out to the vast outdoors to find the perfect view this fall, it’s important to practice the following Care for Colorado – Leave No Trace principles to keep our landscapes colorful and clean.  

Know Before You Go – To help prepare for a more enjoyable outdoor experience, check the weather and foliage conditions for where you plan to visit.

• If the parking area is full, move on to the next designated parking area. 
• Use the CPW Park Finder to explore Colorado’s 42 state parks and visit the park’s individual web page to learn about any possible park or trail closures. 
• Have a backup plan! With the recent wildfires and mudslides, some roads and trails may be closed for safety reasons. Download the free Colorado Trail Explorer app (COTREX) to find outdoor opportunities in the surrounding areas if your desired trailhead, park or location is crowded or closed.

Stick To Trails – While it’s tempting to find a new and unique spot to photograph, or to move to areas with fewer people, it’s important for our plants, trails and visitors that you stay on the trail.

• Help natural areas stay natural by sticking to designated trails. 
• Avoid trails closed for maintenance, vegetation projects or wildlife reasons. We all love our flora and fauna, so let’s keep them healthy for future generations. 

Leave It As You Find It – In this busy season, it’s especially important to park in designated areas – undesignated parking destroys vegetation and encourages those coming up behind you to continue the trend. With over 40,000 miles of trails in Colorado, you can find the right spot by planning ahead.

• Leave plants, acorns, leaves, rocks and historical items as you find them so others can experience the same joy of discovery.
• Carving or hacking plants and trees may kill or disfigure them, and also impacts the experiences of your fellow hikers for years to come.

Trash the Trash – If you’ll be spending time wandering through Colorado’s colors, you’re likely to need a drink, a snack or to tend to your pet’s needs. 

• Put litter, dog waste, and even crumbs, peels and cores in the nearest waste/recycling bin – or pack it out in your car or backpack until you can find one.
• Bring an extra bag or two to help leave the area better than you found it. 

Keep Wildlife Wild – While you hope to spot the perfect cascade of yellow aspens, part of your experience may include seeing wildlife on roads and trails. 

• To keep wildlife — and you — safe, don’t feed or approach wildlife. 
• Wildlife is on the move so be aware, drive with caution and slow down to help prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions.
• Be bear-aware on trails to avoid encounters with bears. As bears start to prepare for hibernation and hunt for food, Coloradans may see more bear activity in urban areas.
• Dangerous conflicts between people and moose are increasing. Keep a safe distance and enjoy moose from afar. 
• Keep dogs leashed when enjoying dog-friendly trails, and pack out waste all the way to a trash can. Do not hang waste on trees. 

Share Our Trails and Parks – This is one of the busiest times of the year on our trails, so please be courteous and patient with other visitors. 

• Be considerate when passing others on the trail and yield to the uphill hiker and biker – they need the momentum and good etiquette is always in season.
• Nature belongs to all of us. Together, we can live life outside and give back to the outdoor spaces we love.

“We want everyone to have a great time experiencing the vibrant colors and the natural wonders our beautiful state has to offer,” said Farrow. “No matter where you plan to peep- be respectful of our natural resources, park staff and your fellow recreationists out searching for Colorado gold.” 
 
To learn more about outdoor activities at Colorado state parks, visit cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo. For information on The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace, visit https://lnt.org/.

LATEST MEETING AGENDA AVAILABLE

Board of County Commissioners Study Session on 09-21-2021

Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 12:00 AM MDT

Administration Building West Hearing Room

VIEW AGENDA

(COLO) – From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, the Colorado State Patrol, along with state transportation and law enforcement agencies from Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah came together with a united message for the State2State. Buckle Up. Campaign.

Over the summer Colorado State Troopers issued 4,248 seatbelt citations with the majority of motorists coming from Colorado (85%). However, forty-five other states were represented with motorists choosing not to buckle up. The top three states were Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts reduce the risk of injury or death in a crash by 50%.

Unfortunately, some motorists still made the choice to travel without this protection. From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend Colorado troopers responded to hundreds of crashes that seriously injured or killed 261 people that were not using a seatbelt or improperly wearing one. These individuals came from 15 different states in addition to Colorado residents.  

“To help make Colorado roads a safer place, drivers and passengers need to do their part and buckle up no matter what state they call home,” stated Matthew C. Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “It doesn’t matter how long or short the trip, we see lives lost over ‘excuses’ like discomfort or forgetting. There is no excuse good enough for your loved ones or our troopers – buckle up.” 

STATE2STATE. BUCKLE UP. 

State2State. Buckle up. is a multi-state seat belt safety campaign led by local transportation and law enforcement agencies from Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming. The summer-long seat belt awareness campaign launches alongside the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) and the Colorado Click It or Ticket May seat belt enforcement period. 

COLORADO’S SEAT BELT LAWS

• Adults — Colorado has a secondary enforcement law for adult drivers and front-seat passengers. Drivers can be ticketed for violating the seat belt law if they are stopped for another traffic violation.
• Teens— Colorado’s Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) law requires all drivers under 18 and their passengers, regardless of their age, to wear seat belts. This is a primary enforcement, meaning teens can be pulled over simply for not wearing a seat belt or having passengers without seat belts.
• Children— Colorado’s Child Passenger Safety law is a primary enforcement, meaning the driver can be stopped and ticketed if an officer sees an unrestrained or improperly restrained child under age 16 in the vehicle.