Skip to main content
First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For CRASHES INVOLVING FATALITIES PANEL PRESENTATIONS

INTERIM COMMITTEE  TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION REVIEW COMMITTEE
Date Oct 21, 2025       Location Old Supreme Court

Crashes Involving Fatalities Panel Presentations - Committee Discussion Only
09:07:55 AM  
Benedict Wright, Education Manager at Bicycle Colorado, began his presentation on supporting active transportation safety. He discussed what active transportation is, who uses it, why it should be supported, barriers, traffic violence, and what the state legislature can do to help.
09:07:56 AM  
All presentations are available online: https://content.leg.colorado.gov/content/committee-schedule-meeting-materials
09:22:53 AM  
Michael Dougherty, 20th Judicial District Attorney, gave a presentation on vehicular crashes. DA Dougherty discussed reducing vehicular crashes, how difficult it is to prosecute vehicular crashes, different levels of charges and culpability, and possible changes.
09:36:32 AM  
Maureen Cain, Office of the State Public Defender, presented on the work her office has done on studying the issue of careless driving. She explained that there were several bills during the 2025 session that focused on carelss driving, but that they were largely about punishment instead of prevention and that none of them became law. The District Attorney, the Public Defenders, and Law Enforcement came together to form a group to discuss careless driving and homicide and how to prosecute it in an evidence-based manner. The group focused on: criminal culpability, current case law, law in other states, and data from Colorado cases. Ms Cain shared that there have been 446 cases of careless driving resulting in death over past 2 years. 189 of those cases were from Denver County, with El Paso County as the next highest with 40.  Most of the people with that charge are sentenced to probation or community service. For felony vehicular homicide most people go to prison. The group will continue to study this and bring their findings back to the legislature and stakeholders.  
09:42:57 AM  
Captain Brandon Nathlich, Colorado State Patrol, presented on fatal crash updates, careless driving, hands-free driving citations, and data on citations.
09:56:09 AM  
The prior speakers responded to questions from the committee.
10:15:39 AM  
Rebecca Green, Colorado State Executive Directorfor Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), introduced herself and introduced Polli Small. Ms. Small introduced herself and told the story of her son Ethan. Ms. Green continued her presentation on impaired driving. Fran Lanzer, Lanzer Strategies, discussed possible legislative solutions.
10:33:47 AM  
The prior speakers responded to questions from the committee.