Police report 300 percent increase in speeding tickets in Colorado Springs

A two-year renewed police focus on reducing speeding in Colorado Springs is producing significant results.

According to new Police Chief Vince Niski, officers have issued 11,500 speeding citations from January through April 2017 until the same period this year — a 300% increase over the 3,500 tickets written during the first four months of 2017.

Niski said last year’s increase was due to the traffic unit’s 18 motorcycle officers and two sergeants moving away from other duties to focus exclusively on speeding enforcement.

This year’s increase so far, the chief said, is because of more patrol officers issuing citations, and more overtime for areas of selected enforcement.

Academy and Powers boulevards are two areas of focus, Niski said, but the increase also reflects a crackdown on speeding in neighborhoods, often the greatest source of public complaints.

Patrol officers also are being asked to do paperwork at intersections instead of off-street areas, to be more visible to drivers and discourage speeding.

Niski said he’s considering adding two officers to the traffic unit to help provide better enforcement.

During the increase in citations, he said, traffic crashes overall have dropped but fatal crashes have risen.

Police also use message boards that display the speed of an oncoming vehicle, and record information about the number of speeders at certain locations.

Michael Pantoja owns a hot rod that he uses to advertise his tattoo business, and admits he loves to drive fast.

“I’ve had my share of tickets,” he said. “Between $100 and $200. I just pay them. But I’m starting to slow down.”

Friday wasn’t the day for it, as Pantoja burned rubber and fishtailed out of a parking lot.