A report from 9NEWS by Steve Staeger uncovers a bureaucratic blunder that’s equal parts absurd and unsurprising. The Colorado Appeals Court overturned several fines doled out under the wrong statute: drivers crossed double white lines in express lanes and got slapped with toll evasion tickets—when no tolls were actually dodged. Congrats to CDOT and CTIO for managing to write fiction-level enforcement scripts.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Colorado drivers crossed double white lines—not to dodge tolls—but still got fined for toll evasion. Magic math!
- The courts slapped CDOT and CTIO on the wrist for lazy ticket-writing and legal overreach.
- Double white lines are there for safety, not fundraising through pretend toll violations.
- This kerfuffle proves our oh-so-efficient transportation bureaucracy couldn’t navigate a cul-de-sac with GPS help.
- Managed lanes are how we pay for roads now? Then maybe follow the law instead of inventing infractions.
My Take
Look—I’m the guy who won’t cross double white lines unless Jesus himself is waving me through holding a burning bush and a stop sign. They’re there for safety, folks. But here’s where even a highway hardliner like me throws the red flag: if you’re writing tickets under a made-up violation—like calling a line-crossing a toll dodge—you’re not enforcing the law; you’re playing Monopoly with people’s wallets.
If Colorado’s plan to fund state roads relies on confusing ‘line infraction’ with ‘toll evasion,’ then we’ve got bigger problems than potholes (though yeah—we still have those too). CDOT and CTIO need to clean house and learn a basic legal principle: charge what actually happened—not whatever gets the highest fine. Double white lines? Don’t cross them. Dumb government logic? Definitely cross-examine it.
