The Colorado State Patrol handed out more than 2,500 tickets in 2025 to drivers who lingered in the left passing lane on highways with speed limits of 65 mph or higher. The enforcement targeted roadways like I-70 and I-25, where slower traffic in the left lane creates bottlenecks and hazards. Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the patrol, emphasized that even driving at the speed limit does not justify occupying the passing lane.
On multi-lane roads with speed limits of 65 mph or greater, Colorado law designates the leftmost lane as the passing lane only. Slower vehicles must yield to the right after passing or merging. The patrol's release highlighted how left-lane loafing leads to unsafe behaviors like tailgating and improper passing among frustrated drivers, including motorcyclists navigating heavy traffic. Col. Matthew C. Packard stated, “Even if you are driving the maximum legal speed limit, the left lane is not intended to be a permanent travel lane on roadways 65 mph or greater in Colorado.” He added, “Drivers are not legally allowed to obstruct traffic lanes in Colorado, so even if you don’t like the speed of other drivers, interfering with traffic flow is also unsafe driving behavior.” The patrol also warned against vigilantism by speeders who obstruct faster traffic, calling it illegal and dangerous. Enforcement was heaviest on key routes: 962 tickets on I-70, 564 on I-25, 297 on Highway 50, 190 on Highway 160, and 149 on E-470. Citations peaked on Fridays from 1 to 7 p.m. and Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m., times of high commuter volume.
