How to get police and traffic camera video of a crash in Colorado

The public records law that gets you the video

Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act (CCJRA), C.R.S. 24-72-301 to 24-72-309, for police records; Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), C.R.S. 24-72-200.1 to 24-72-206, for CDOT and other agencies

Police: no deadline; CORA 3 working days

Two laws apply, depending on who holds the video. Police video falls under the Criminal Justice Records Act: “criminal justice records” means all books, papers, cards, photographs, tapes, recordings or other documentary materials, regardless of form, made, maintained or kept by a criminal justice agency (C.R.S. 24-72-302 (4)), and CORA’s definition of public records excludes criminal justice records that are subject to the CCJRA (24-72-202 (6)(b)(I)). Under the CCJRA, records of official action (an arrest, charge, disposition and the like, 24-72-302 (7)) must be open, but all other criminal justice records, which includes crash video, “at the discretion of the official custodian, may be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times” (24-72-304 (1)). The Colorado State Patrol treats every records request, including one citing CORA or FOIA, as a CCJRA request. Deadline: the CCJRA sets no response deadline for these records. The Department of Public Safety’s guidance says the CCJRA does not impose CORA’s three-day deadline “but instead requires a response within a reasonable time,” and the Patrol’s older posted fee schedule (form CSP 402A, dated 1/13/2023) says it makes every effort to respond typically within three working days, but that investigative status, supervisory approval, research, redaction and the complexity of digital media may lengthen that. Every CCJRA requester must sign a statement that the records will not be used for the direct solicitation of business for pecuniary gain (24-72-305.5 (1)). CCJRA fees: reasonable fees not exceeding actual costs, including personnel and equipment, for search, retrieval and redaction; up to 25 cents per standard page; the actual cost of a copy in another format, such as video; fees may be waived, and for a county or city the governing body sets them (24-72-306 (1)). CORA governs agencies that are not criminal justice agencies, such as CDOT: records not readily available must be produced within a reasonable time, presumed to be three working days or less, which a custodian may extend by no more than seven working days for listed extenuating circumstances found in writing within the first three days, and never for a request for a single, specifically identified document (24-72-203 (3)(b), (c)). CORA fees: up to 25 cents per standard page or the actual cost of a non-paper copy, no per-page fee for digital records, no transmission fee for email, no charge for the first hour of research and retrieval, and after that an hourly fee capped at $41.37 since July 1, 2024 (24-72-205 (1)(b), (5)(a), (6); Legislative Council Staff memo). Example, Colorado State Patrol: body-worn camera, dash camera, rear seat camera and rear-view camera video is delivered free by portal link or for $10.00 on physical media, plus $30.00 an hour for search, review, production and redaction, plus $5.00 postage if mailed (fee schedule effective July 24, 2026), and the Patrol’s Central Records Unit page says availability and payment must be obtained for dash camera or body camera video before it processes the request. Example, Denver Police: audio and video recordings, including body camera footage, and photos cost $20 plus additional hourly fees if they apply, ordered online from its Civil Liability Section, which says production currently takes 6 to 8 weeks.

Police body camera and dashcam video

No crash-video statute; CCJRA governs

Colorado requires the cameras but has no statute that opens ordinary crash video. Since July 1, 2023, every local law enforcement agency and the Colorado State Patrol must provide body-worn cameras to each peace officer who interacts with the public, and an officer must wear and activate a body camera, or a dash camera if the vehicle has one, when responding to a call for service or during any officer-initiated interaction to enforce the law or investigate possible violations; the camera may be turned on shortly before the vehicle approaches the scene (C.R.S. 24-31-902 (1)(a)(I), (II)(A)). If an officer fails to activate the camera as required or tampers with footage, there is a permissive inference in any investigation or legal proceeding (other than a criminal case against the officer) that the missing footage would have shown misconduct (24-31-902 (1)(a)(III)). Release: the statute’s release rule applies only when there is a complaint of peace officer misconduct to the agency involved. For a complaint that does not involve a death caused by an officer’s use of force, the agency that employs the officer must release, on request of any person, all unedited video and audio of the incident, including body camera and dash camera recordings, to the requester within 21 days after receiving the request (24-31-902 (2)(a)(I), as amended by SB26-190, approved and effective June 3, 2026; before SB26-190 the rule said release “to the public” within 21 days), subject to blurring of listed private content such as a medical emergency, a minor, or personal information other than the name of anyone not arrested, cited, charged or given a written warning (24-31-902 (2)(b)(II)), and to a delay of up to 45 days from the allegation if release would substantially interfere with an active investigation, or as permitted by rule 8 of the Colorado Rules for Traffic Infractions where the only charges are traffic infractions (24-31-902 (2)(b)(III)). Where an officer’s use of force caused a death, SB26-190 sets a separate track: the agency must make reasonable efforts to identify the decedent’s immediate family and provide them the recordings depicting the death within 21 days after the incident, and releases the recordings to any requester after that 21-day period (24-31-902 (2)(a)(II), (2)(b)(I)). Without a misconduct complaint, crash video is a criminal justice record that the custodian may release at its discretion (24-72-304 (1)). Crime victims: a victim of a listed crime has the right, upon request, “to obtain any incident recording as described in section 24-31-902” (24-4.1-302.5 (1)(j.8)); the listed crimes include vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, careless driving resulting in serious bodily injury or death (as widened by SB25-281 in 2025), and failure to stop at the scene of a crash resulting in death or serious bodily injury (24-4.1-302 (1)(e), (i), (cc.5), (cc.6)). We found no court or official reading of whether that right reaches video not tied to a misconduct complaint, so ask the agency and the district attorney’s victim advocate. Colorado State Patrol practice: the Patrol says it may release dash cam video, photographs, drone video or other video unedited and free of redactions to the family, the family’s attorney, or an attorney representing another involved party, using its Authorization for Release of Information form attached to the portal request. Retention: each agency must follow a body camera retention schedule that complies with State Archives rules (24-31-902 (1)(b)). The State Archives’ guidance (adopted February 1, 2023), also written into the Colorado Municipal Records Retention Schedule No. 100 for police vehicle and officer-carried recordings, sets minimums: 2 years for citizen interactions with no summons or case report (including traffic incidents with no summons issued), 181 calendar days for uncategorized video, 3 years for video in a non-fatal traffic accident case, 10 years for a fatal one, and 3 years for misdemeanor and traffic offense cases; no recording may be destroyed while it pertains to a legal case, claim, action or audit. The Patrol says its dispatch audio is subject to a 365-day retention policy.

When police can hold video back

May deny investigatory files

On the ground that disclosure would be contrary to the public interest, and unless otherwise provided by law, the custodian may deny access to records of investigations conducted by any sheriff, district attorney or police department, or any criminal justice investigatory files compiled for any other law enforcement purpose (C.R.S. 24-72-305 (5)). The custodian also may not allow inspection where it would be contrary to a state statute or is prohibited by a Supreme Court rule or a court order (24-72-305 (1)). The statute does not say when the investigation ground stops applying, and we found no official guidance setting an end point, so ask again after charges are resolved. Agencies say so in practice: Denver Police says release of its investigation reports is decided case by case, that possible restrictions include whether the investigation is ongoing or part of an active criminal prosecution, and that a crash being actively investigated, or involving a fatality or serious bodily injury, must be requested through its Civil Liability Section; the State Patrol says investigative status and supervisory approval may lengthen its response. In a misconduct-complaint case, the 21-day release rule applies, but video that would substantially interfere with or jeopardize an active or ongoing investigation may be withheld from the public for no more than 45 days from the date of the allegation, with a written explanation from the prosecuting attorney (24-31-902 (2)(b)(III)). If you are charged in the crash, Denver says to seek records through a discovery motion in the criminal case; the CCJRA fee section does not apply to discovery materials an agency must provide under Colorado Rule of Criminal Procedure 16 (24-72-306 (3)).

Do traffic cameras in Colorado record?

No CDOT statement found; ask CDOT now

CDOT shows its highway camera images on COtrip.org, its traveler information site (CDOT described the network in a November 2014 release as live-view cameras with still shots viewable by the public). We found no current CDOT or COtrip statement on whether those cameras record or how long any image is kept (COtrip’s announcement and help content would not load when we checked). An archived 2011 copy of COtrip’s former FAQ answered “Can I get a recording of a specific camera on a certain date and time?” with “As per CDOT policy, no camera images are recorded”; that page is no longer online, and we could not confirm the policy is current. So do not assume video exists, but ask. Ask CDOT promptly: CDOT is covered by the Colorado Open Records Act, takes requests through its online CORA form, asks for the highway name, mile markers or intersecting roads, city and county, direction and time frame, and requires every request to state whether it relates to actual or potential litigation in which CDOT is or may become a defendant. CDOT says the law requires the records within three working days, or longer if extenuating circumstances exist (24-72-203 (3)(b)). CDOT’s fee table lists copies free up to 25 pages and 25 cents per page after, staff time beyond one hour at $41.37 per hour, flash drives or CDs included in that rate, and postage at actual cost, payable before production. The same FAQ’s text is inconsistent with its table: it also says there is “a charge of $30 an hour” for staff time over one hour and that case law provides for “a nominal fee of $30 per hour,” so ask CDOT which rate applies to your request. CDOT says it has information for interstates, U.S. and state highways; for a county road or city street, ask the city or county. City cameras: Denver Police says it monitors city streets in High Activity Location Observation (HALO) areas and that, unless previously preserved, video captured by HALO or recording traffic cameras is overwritten between 15 to 30 days; request it online for $20 initial research plus hourly fees for preservation or production. Other cities set their own rules, so send a request to the city that runs any camera near the crash on the first day.

Red-light and speed cameras

Allowed; images confidential by law

Colorado authorizes automated enforcement. A county, city and county or municipality may adopt an ordinance authorizing an automated vehicle identification system, and the state (acting through the State Patrol or CDOT), a county or a municipality may use one to detect traffic violations under state law, subject to signage, notice and location limits (C.R.S. 42-4-110.5 (1.1)(b), (2)). The systems include speed cameras, red-light and traffic sign cameras, bus lane and bicycle lane cameras, since HB25-1230 (approved May 24, 2025) school bus stop-arm cameras that a school district’s board approves, and, since HB26-1318 (effective August 12, 2026), systems that detect a moving traffic violation in a school zone or along a designated safe route to school (42-4-110.5 (1.1)(a)(II), (4.6)); SB26-152, effective August 12, 2026, made clear that automated license plate readers are not automated vehicle identification systems. CDOT runs the state’s Colorado Speed Enforcement Program in work zones, school zones and designated corridors under this section. Access to the images is restricted by statute: the operator and any vendor must program the system to retain data only when a violation occurs; must treat all photographs and video it collects as confidential and exempt from disclosure under CORA; may not use, disclose, sell or permit access to them except as needed to operate the program (including processing violations), for other law enforcement purposes, to transfer data to a new vendor, or, pursuant to a court order, for use in unrelated legal proceedings; and must destroy violation photographs and video within three years after final disposition of the violation unless they are kept in a separate system for other purposes allowed by law (42-4-110.5 (7)). CDOT says the same of its program: cameras in active work zones capture and retain images only when a speeding violation is detected, the photos and video are confidential and not public records, and footage is destroyed within three years after a violation is resolved. A notice of violation goes to the registered owner (42-4-110.5 (2)(a)(II)), and CDOT’s sample notice includes photo evidence. So unless the camera recorded a violation, there is probably no image, and if there is one, the statute leaves a court order in a legal proceeding as the route for anyone other than the program and law enforcement.

If your request is denied

District court; CORA needs 14-day notice

Neither law has an administrative appeal or a state ombudsman in the sections we read; both send disputes to district court. First, ask for a written statement of the grounds for denial: under the CCJRA it must be provided within 72 hours and cite the law or regulation or the general nature of the public interest protected (C.R.S. 24-72-305 (6)); under CORA it must cite the law or regulation and be furnished forthwith (24-72-204 (4)). Police records (CCJRA): any person denied access may apply to the district court of the district where the record is found for an order directing the custodian to show cause why it should not permit inspection; the hearing is held at the earliest practical time; unless the court finds the denial proper it orders inspection, and if the denial was arbitrary or capricious it may order the custodian to pay your court costs and attorney fees; the $25-a-day personal penalty applies only to records of official action (24-72-305 (7)). CDOT and other CORA records: at least 14 days before filing in district court you must give the custodian written notice that you intend to file, and during those 14 days the custodian must meet or talk with you by telephone to try to resolve the dispute; if you need the record on an expedited basis, give notice with the factual basis at least three business days before filing, and no meeting is required (24-72-204 (5)(a)). If the court finds the denial improper it orders inspection and must award court costs and reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing applicant; if the denial was proper and the suit frivolous, vexatious or groundless, fees go to the custodian (24-72-204 (5)(b)). Neither statute sets a filing deadline that we found. Because video may be overwritten while you argue, ask the agency in writing to preserve it; you may want to ask a lawyer about a litigation hold or a subpoena if you have a claim.

What to do now

1. 1

   Send a CCJRA request today

   Through the agency’s records portal, ask for all body camera, dash camera and other video of the crash by date, time, location and case number, and sign the no-solicitation statement.

2. 2

   Say who you are and ask for preservation

   State that you were involved (or represent someone who was) and ask the agency to preserve the video while it decides. The State Patrol says it may release some video unedited to families and attorneys.

3. 3

   Ask CDOT and the city about cameras now

   File CDOT’s online CORA form with the highway and mile marker. Denver overwrites traffic camera video in 15 to 30 days. Post the crash on the bounty board for nearby dashcam footage.

4. 4

   If denied, get the reasons in writing

   Ask for the written grounds (72 hours under the CCJRA). Then you can apply to district court; for CORA records, give the custodian 14 days’ written notice first.

Frequently asked questions