Douglas County Traffic Lawyer: Castle Rock Traffic Court Defense

If you were ticketed on I-25 through Castle Rock, on C-470 or E-470, or anywhere in Highlands Ranch or Parker, your county court case will be heard at the Robert A. Christensen Justice Center in Castle Rock. Douglas County is now its own prosecutorial district, the 23rd Judicial District, and its District Attorney’s Office has made clear it takes these cases seriously.

I’m Monte Robbins. I defend traffic and criminal traffic cases in Douglas County Court, and I personally handle every case. This page explains which court your ticket is in, how the Castle Rock courtrooms work, and what to expect.

Douglas County Is Now the 23rd Judicial District

Until January 2025, Douglas County was part of the 18th Judicial District with Arapahoe County. It now has its own district, the 23rd, covering Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties, with its own District Attorney.

The new DA has publicly described a tough-on-crime approach, including that people who run from police should expect jail. The office’s County Court Unit handles misdemeanors and traffic misdemeanors, including DUI, reckless driving, hit and run, careless driving, driving without insurance, habitual traffic offenders, and “speeding significantly above the speed limit,” and it handles more than 11,000 cases a year across the district’s county courtrooms. In my experience, this office takes traffic cases seriously.

Which Court Is My Douglas County Ticket In?

Your summons will say which court, and it depends on who wrote the ticket and what the charge is.

• Douglas County Court in Castle Rock: most State Patrol and Sheriff’s Office tickets, including tickets in unincorporated areas like Highlands Ranch. Town police departments also file state charges here.
• Municipal courts: Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, and Larkspur each have their own court for routine traffic tickets. Castle Pines and Larkspur contract with the Sheriff’s Office for policing, so a deputy’s ticket there may go to the town’s court.

The main enforcement agencies are the Colorado State Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, along with the town police departments. Common trouble spots include I-25, C-470, E-470, Highway 85, and Highway 83.

Robert A. Christensen Justice Center: 4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock, CO 80109. (720) 437-6200.

How Douglas County Court Handles Traffic Cases

R or T? Check Your Case Number

Colorado court case numbers include a letter that tells you the kind of case: R means a traffic infraction, and T means a criminal traffic offense. In Douglas County, they go to different courtrooms.

Traffic Infractions (R Cases)

• First hearing: set in COC, as shown on your summons or court notice
• Final Hearing: if you contest the ticket, the Final Hearing is held in the First Appearance Center (FAC)

Criminal Traffic (T Cases)

• Arraignment: FACB
• Pretrial conferences: often stay in FACB, or the case is assigned to a county court trial division

Do I Have to Be There?

I can file a motion asking the court to waive your appearance, and a virtual appearance may also be an option. Both are up to the court, so they’re worth raising early, especially if you live out of state.

Common Charges in Douglas County

• Speeding, including 25 mph or more over, which is a criminal traffic offense
• Careless driving, including careless driving causing injury and serious bodily injury
• Speed contests and street racing, including speed exhibitions like burnouts and weaving through traffic
• Reckless driving
• Eluding
• Hit and run
• Driving without insurance
• Habitual traffic offender and driving under restraint

For DUI or DWAI, see my Douglas County DUI Lawyer page.

How Douglas County Traffic Cases Resolve

There’s no set discount on serious traffic charges here. How a case resolves depends on the evidence, including video, your driving record, the mitigation we can show, and what can realistically be accomplished with this office. That’s why I review the discovery and your record before recommending anything.

Points and Your License

Speeding points: 5–9 over is 1 point, 10–19 over is 4, 20–39 over is 6, and 40 or more over is 12. Since August 12, 2026, driving 100 mph or more adds 4 more points, and repeat violations at 20+ over add extra points. Careless driving is 4 points and reckless driving is 8. For an adult, 12 points in 12 months or 18 in 24 months can lead to a suspension. See my Colorado Speeding Ticket Lawyer guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Douglas County Traffic Tickets

Talk to a Douglas County Traffic Lawyer

Call me at 303-355-5148 or contact my office for a free consultation. You’ll speak with me, not a staff member.

Ticketed farther north? See my Arapahoe County Traffic Lawyer and Jefferson County Traffic Lawyer pages.