Beginning this week, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) will use Jeeps as mobile speed cameras that can be moved around the city. For the past month, these mobile speed cameras have been issuing warnings to speeders. Now, they are projected to issue 12 speeding tickets per hour.

“CSPD is introducing new Automated Vehicle Identification System (AVIS) technology in the form of two mobile Speed Safety Camera (SSC) systems,” the police department wrote on Facebook. “While this is new to the City of Colorado Springs, this technology has a proven record of helping to improve roadway safety in cities across Colorado and around the world.”

The mobile speed cameras will “be deployed and strategically positioned in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable roadway users,” the CSPD said. Those areas include school zones, roads bordering municipal parks, neighborhoods, and construction zones.

CSPD says its deployment strategy for these mobile speed cameras “is centered on the safety of our children.”

“One of the top concerns from community members year after year is traffic safety. Improving traffic safety is an essential core function of the department,” CSPD added in their Facebook post. “We strive to improve traffic safety in the community by increasing voluntary compliance with laws and best driving practices.”

These mobile speed cameras were approved by the Colorado Springs City Council almost two years ago, according to a KRDO News report. In 2023, a student was hit and killed by a car. Following the council’s approval, CSPD Chief Adrian Vasquez said the system is projected to issue 12 tickets every hour.

Colorado Springs residents react to the new mobile speed cameras

Reactions to the Colorado Springs Police Department using these Jeeps being used as mobile speed cameras are mixed. Some see is necessary for safety, while others just feel it won’t make much difference.

“There’s red light cameras, speeding cameras at intersections, lights on the express lanes,” local resident Jon Maynell told KKTV News. “I think everyone is aware of the cameras everywhere, so to me it’s just more of the same. So then the question really is, does it make things safer?”

“I think people will at least maybe respond better to that, because they are clearly not responding to the new flashing lights on Barnes at Doherty High School. So maybe they’ll respond to a ticket,” said Melonie Tessier, another resident of the city.

On Facebook, the reactions were much less diplomatic.

“Construction zones… so the entire city then,” one person commented.

“It’s Colorado Springs, so every street is a school zone,” read a similar comment.

“1984 just keeps getting more relevant!” another resident wrote.

“Colorado is becoming a surveillance state in more ways than one,” someone else responded.