It’s been nine months since Colorado’s Hands-Free Law took effect, and state troopers report a sharp increase in citations.
The law, which went into effect Jan. 1, is an extension of the texting ban and prohibits holding a phone while driving or using it, unless it’s hands-free.
“Basically, you cannot have a phone in your hand while driving,” said Colorado State Patrol Trooper Sherri Mendez. “There are exceptions – one of them is if you’re calling for an emergency – but overall, drivers should have hands-free devices or Bluetooth to make sure they’re not touching their phone.”
According to Mendez, troopers have issued 701 citations statewide through the end of September, compared with 299 in 2024, showing a rise in enforcement since the texting-while-driving ban expanded. Colorado is among 29 other states with similar hand-held phone laws.
“The enforcement of the new law has been going pretty well,” she said. “It sounds successful to me.”
CSP, at the same time, reported a drop in the number of crashes linked to distracted driving, a decrease of about 11% over the year. Mendez, though, said she cautioned against assuming one directly caused the other.
“I can’t speculate as to why inattentive driving is decreasing,” she said, “but if we see somebody not abiding by the hands-free law, we will cite them.”
Male drivers have made up the majority of citations issued this year, with 474 citations for men and 255 for women, Mendez said. In 2024, male drivers received 193 citations compared with 106 for female drivers.
While troopers continue to issue tickets, Mendez believes awareness of the law is spreading. “I do see people with hands-free devices a lot more,” she said. “A lot of people should know it’s a law.”
Drivers who receive a first-time $75 citation can have it dismissed if they purchase a hands-free device and show proof in court.
Among the top causes of crashes in Colorado last year, Mendez said, lane violations ranked first, followed by inattentive driving.
“It is dangerous, and it could cause issues depending on how fast you’re going and what’s around you,” she said. “People think sending a quick text like ‘On my way’ is harmless, but we’ve seen fender benders happen just because someone looked down and then backed up.”
In Montezuma County, troopers have written just two citations so far this year – the same number recorded in 2024, according to the CSP. Neighboring Dolores County recorded one violation last year and none in 2025.
The data suggests local offenses are low and steady even as urban counties see a surge in citations. El Paso County, for instance, rose from 41 hands-free violations in 2024 to 91 in 2025, while Jefferson County climbed from 19 to 99.
