Kit Carson County Traffic Lawyer: I-70 Speeding Tickets in Burlington

The stretch of I-70 through Kit Carson County is long, straight, and wide open. Between Limon and the Kansas line, there is not much out there, and it is easy to look down and see a number on the speedometer you did not expect. Troopers know that too, and high-speed stops are common, especially near Burlington.

Many of the drivers stopped here do not live in Colorado. They are heading east to Kansas, the Midwest, or the East Coast, and now they have a ticket, or a criminal charge, in a small county court hundreds of miles from home.

Do not mistake the quiet, rural setting for a court that takes these cases lightly. Kit Carson County treats high-speed driving as a real risk to the community, and a ticket that looks routine can carry criminal penalties, a pile of points, and a license suspension that follows you home. This page explains what you may be facing and how I can help, often without you having to come back to Colorado.

High-Speed Tickets on I-70

When Speeding Becomes a Crime

In Colorado, most speeding tickets are traffic infractions. But driving 25 mph or more over the limit is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, a criminal charge that can carry jail time, fines, and a permanent criminal record. On the 75 mph stretch of I-70 through Kit Carson County, that line is crossed at 100 mph.

Points and Your License

For Colorado drivers 21 and older, 12 points in 12 months, or 18 in 24 months, generally leads to a license suspension. A single ticket for 40 mph or more over the limit is worth 12 points on its own. And for convictions on or after August 12, 2026, driving 100 mph or faster adds 4 more points on top of the points for the speed itself, with additional points for repeat high-speed violations. For more on Colorado’s point system and the new rules, see my Colorado Speeding Ticket Lawyer (2026 Guide).

If you have a license from another state, Colorado reports the conviction to your home state, which may treat it under its own rules. See the out-of-state section below.

Arrested or Just Ticketed?

At very high speeds, what happens at the roadside varies. Some drivers are given a summons with a court date and sent on their way. Others are arrested and have to post bond before they can continue their trip. Either way, a criminal speeding charge requires you, or your lawyer, to deal with the Kit Carson County Court. It is not something you can simply pay online and forget.

When Speeding Comes With Other Charges

A high-speed stop in Kit Carson County often comes with more than a speeding ticket. Depending on how the trooper describes your driving, you may also be charged with:

• Careless driving, a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, for driving without due regard for road and traffic conditions
• Reckless driving, also a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, for driving with a wanton or willful disregard for safety, which carries 8 points on its own

Stacked charges change the picture. The points can add up quickly, and each one is a separate conviction on your record. How these charges are resolved, and which ones remain, can make the difference between keeping and losing your license.

DUI Arrests on I-70

I also handle many DUI cases in Kit Carson County. A DUI arrest starts both a criminal case in the county court and a separate license case with the Colorado DMV, with a deadline of just seven days to request a hearing. For more, see my Burlington and Kit Carson County DUI Lawyer page.

Commercial Drivers

I-70 through Kit Carson County is a major freight route. If you hold a CDL, speeding 15 mph or more over the limit and reckless driving are federal serious traffic violations that can count toward a CDL disqualification, even in your own car. See my Colorado CDL Traffic Lawyer page.

Other Traffic Charges on I-70 in Kit Carson County

Construction Zone Tickets

I-70 through eastern Colorado regularly has long construction and maintenance zones, and speeding through them is costly. Fines are doubled in highway work zones, and driving 25 mph or more over the limit in a designated construction zone is a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense, a step up from the usual class 2. Whether the zone was properly marked and active at the time can matter.

Winter Crashes, Jackknifes, and Wind

This stretch of I-70 is exposed. Snow, ice, and strong crosswinds can make it treacherous, and the highway is typically closed a few times each winter. Jackknifed and blown-over semis are common, and a crash in those conditions can lead to a careless driving charge, even when the weather was a major factor. If someone was hurt, careless driving becomes a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense. Road conditions, wind, visibility, and the actions of other drivers can all be central to the defense.

Truck Stop and Gas Station Incidents

Not every case happens at highway speed. A trucker backing out of a fuel island or parking spot can make contact with another vehicle without realizing it and drive off, then later get a call from law enforcement about leaving the scene. What started as a minor bump can become a criminal charge, and for a CDL holder, leaving the scene is a federal major offense that can cost the CDL. If an officer contacts you about an incident like this, talk to a lawyer before you give a statement. See my hit-and-run defense page.

Out-of-State Drivers

If you were passing through on your way east, you are probably wondering two things: what this will do to your license back home, and whether you have to drive back to Burlington.

Your Home-State License

Colorado shares traffic convictions with other states. A Colorado speeding, careless, or reckless driving conviction is generally reported to the state that issued your license, and your home state may add points, raise your insurance, or take action against your license under its own rules. A criminal speeding conviction can also show up on background checks. That is why the outcome in Kit Carson County matters well beyond Colorado.

Do You Have to Come Back?

Not necessarily. Depending on the charge and the stage of the case, I may be able to appear on your behalf, and the court may allow you to appear virtually when your presence is required. The court has the final say, and I will tell you up front what to expect in your case.

Don’t Just Pay It

For an infraction, paying the ticket is generally treated as a conviction to the charge as written. For a criminal speeding charge, there may be no simple way to pay at all. Before you pay anything or enter a plea, it is worth knowing exactly what the conviction will be and how your home state will treat it.

The Kit Carson County Court

Traffic and criminal traffic cases from I-70 in Kit Carson County are heard in the Kit Carson County Court in Burlington, part of Colorado’s 13th Judicial District.

Kit Carson County Combined Court 1650 Donelan Ave., Suite 301 Burlington, CO 80807 (719) 346-5524

I handle cases throughout the 13th Judicial District. For more on the district’s courts, see my DUI Defense in Colorado’s 13th Judicial District page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk to a Kit Carson County Traffic Lawyer

I have more than 20 years of courtroom experience defending drivers in Colorado traffic and criminal cases, and I personally handle each case. If you were stopped on I-70 in Kit Carson County, whether you live in Colorado or were just passing through, contact my office or call 303-355-5148 before you pay the ticket or enter a plea.