20+ Years of DUI and Criminal Defense
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Built on Trust, Focused on Results
Park County Traffic Lawyer: US-285 Tickets and the Fairplay Court
If you were stopped on US-285 between Bailey and Kenosha Pass or through South Park, on US-24 near Wilkerson Pass or Hartsel, or on Highway 9 around Fairplay and Alma, your case will most likely be heard at Park County Combined Court in Fairplay. For many drivers, that’s a long way from home.
I’m Monte Robbins. I defend traffic and criminal traffic cases in Park County, including for drivers who live in the Denver metro area or out of state, and I personally handle every case. This page explains how the Fairplay court works, what’s at stake, and whether you have to make the drive back.
Which Court Is My Park County Ticket In?
- Park County Combined Court in Fairplay: State Patrol and Sheriff’s Office tickets, and any case with state charges.
- Fairplay Municipal Court: Fairplay police patrol both Fairplay and Alma. Depending on the offense, they write tickets into either Fairplay Municipal Court or Park County Combined Court. Fairplay also issues photo radar tickets, which go to the municipal court.
Your ticket or summons will say which court your case is in.
Park County Combined Court: 300 Fourth St., Fairplay, CO 80440.
How Park County Court Handles Traffic Cases
The letter in your case number tells you which track you’re on: R for a traffic infraction, T for a criminal traffic offense (for example, 2026T…).
Traffic Infractions (R Cases)
R cases are heard in Courtroom R1 or Courtroom A. Your case is first set for a first hearing, then for a Final Hearing if needed.
Criminal Traffic (T Cases)
Criminal traffic cases are heard in Courtroom A. Early in the case, settings often include:
- Hearing on advisement or arraignment
- Appearance on bond and appearance of counsel
- Pretrial conference
- Plea hearing, if the case resolves
If the case is headed for trial instead, it moves to a motions hearing, a pretrial readiness conference, and then a court trial or jury trial.
Do I Have to Drive Back to Fairplay?
Often not. A virtual appearance may be possible if I file a motion and the court approves it in advance. Approval isn’t automatic and the motion has to be filed ahead of time, so if you live in the metro area or out of state, it’s worth calling early.
Who Writes Traffic Tickets in Park County
- Colorado State Patrol, from its Fairplay post, which covers US-285, US-24 and Highway 9. Other drivers can also dial *CSP to report aggressive driving, so some stops start with a call from another motorist.
- Park County Sheriff’s Office, based in Fairplay with a substation in Bailey.
- Fairplay Police Department, which patrols both Fairplay and Alma.
High Speeds and Careless Driving on US-285
In Park County, high-speed tickets often come with an added charge of careless driving. Passing violations on the two-lane stretches of highway are common too. Here’s why these charges are worth taking seriously:
- Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit is a criminal traffic offense, not a ticket you can just pay. It’s a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense: 10 to 90 days in jail and a $150 to $300 fine.
- The points add up fast. 20 to 39 mph over is 6 points, and 40 or more over is 12. Since August 12, 2026, the DMV adds extra points on top of those: 2 to 8 more for repeat convictions of 20 or more over (or over 75 mph) within 12 months to 5 years, and driving 100 mph or more adds 4 more points.
- Careless driving is 4 points, and careless driving that causes injury is a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense.
How the points stack. 25 mph over (6 points) plus careless driving (4 points) is 10 points from one stop. If reckless driving (8 points) is charged instead of careless, it’s 14, enough on its own to suspend an adult’s license, which takes 12 points in 12 months.
See my Colorado Speeding Ticket Lawyer guide for more on the 2026 point changes.
Common Traffic Charges in Park County
- Speeding, especially high speeds
- Careless driving, including careless driving with an accident
- Passing violations
- Reckless driving
- Road rage, which can bring careless or reckless driving charges and sometimes criminal charges as well
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Eluding
- Drag racing and speed contests
- Driving under suspension. See my Driving Under Restraint page.
- Habitual traffic offender (HTO). See my Habitual Traffic Offender page.
Where is court for a Park County traffic ticket?
Park County Combined Court, 300 Fourth St., Fairplay. Traffic infractions are heard in Courtroom R1 or A, and criminal traffic cases in Courtroom A. Some Fairplay police tickets go to Fairplay Municipal Court instead.
I live in Denver. Do I have to drive to Fairplay for court?
Not necessarily. A virtual appearance may be possible if I file a motion and the court approves it in advance. It isn’t automatic, so call early.
What’s the difference between an R case and a T case?
R means a traffic infraction, usually a fine and points. T means a criminal traffic offense, such as reckless driving or speeding 25 mph or more over, which can carry jail and has to go through court.
I was going 25 over on US-285. Can I just pay the ticket?
Usually not. Speeding 25 mph or more over the limit is a criminal traffic offense that has to go through court, and it carries 6 or more points.
My ticket is from Fairplay police. Which court is it in?
It depends on the offense. Fairplay police write tickets into either Fairplay Municipal Court or Park County Combined Court. Your ticket will say which.
Talk to a Park 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 on US-285 closer to Denver, around Conifer or Morrison? That’s Jefferson County. See my Jefferson County Traffic Lawyer page.
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