How to Search Jefferson County Traffic Court Records
Start with the Colorado Judicial Branch docket portal at coloradojudicial.gov/dockets. The URL prefilters to Jefferson County (county code 30) and a one-week date range. Set Court Type to County for most traffic cases. Use case class T for traffic infractions and traffic misdemeanors. A driver's last name and a year are often enough to find a case.
Before you run a search, gather the citation number, driver name, year of the offense, and case number (if known). The docket portal does not accept a citation number, but the Colorado Courts Pay Online portal does. Pay Online is the right tool for unpaid traffic tickets. Docket search is the right tool for case info. The Jefferson Combined Court main switchboard is 720-772-2500 and the criminal-case-type line is 720-772-2530.
Which Courts Handle Jefferson County Traffic Cases
Three different courts share traffic work in Jefferson County. Read the citation to see which one applies. The court name is printed on the ticket.
- Jefferson County Court - traffic infractions, traffic misdemeanors, DUI and DWAI when charged as misdemeanors. Located at Jefferson Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden.
- Jefferson County District Court - felony DUI (fourth offense in a lifetime, or DUI with serious bodily injury or vehicular assault). Same building.
- Municipal Court - city ordinance traffic violations. Each Jefferson County city (Lakewood, Arvada, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Westminster portions, Edgewater, Morrison, Littleton portions) runs its own municipal court.
Magistrates handle many traffic infractions and pretrial events at the County Court. The judges and staff roster lists magistrates in divisions L, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, Y, and Z. A traffic citation issued by a Colorado State Patrol trooper for a non-municipal offense in unincorporated Jefferson County is heard at Jefferson County Court at the Jefferson Combined Court in Golden.
Types of Traffic Cases on Record
- Traffic infractions - speeding, careless driving, equipment violations, lane usage, failure to obey traffic-control device.
- Traffic misdemeanors - driving under restraint, no proof of insurance (after first offense), reckless driving, careless driving causing injury, leaving the scene of an accident.
- DUI / DWAI / DUID - driving under the influence, while ability impaired, or under the influence of drugs. Class A traffic misdemeanors. Fourth offense is a Class 4 felony.
- CDL violations - federal rules under 49 CFR Part 383 and state rules in Title 42 Article 2 Part 4. Convictions cannot be masked or deferred for CDL holders.
- Photo enforcement - automated speed and red-light cameras run as civil infractions under C.R.S. § 42-4-110.5. Photo notices are not court tickets unless contested.
What Jefferson County Traffic Court Records Show
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Date of Hearing | The next scheduled court date. |
| Time and Duration | Hearing start time and the slot length. |
| Driver / Defendant Name | Often in all caps. Spell as on the driver's license. |
| Case Number | Year + T + sequence, e.g., 2026T123456. |
| Hearing Type | Arraignment, Pretrial Conference, Sentencing, Return on Summons. |
| Location | Jefferson County / Jefferson Combined Court. |
| Appearance Type | IN PERSON, REMOTE, or NO APPEARANCE REQUIRED. |
| Courtroom | Letter or number, e.g., T or 260. |
Fields the docket list does not show: citation number on its face, officer or agency, exact charge code, fine amount, points, plea, judgment, payment status, photo enforcement images. Those require a full record request through the Clerk of Court at 720-772-2570 or JeffcoRecordRequest@judicial.state.co.us.
Citation Number vs Name Lookup
The Colorado Judicial Branch docket search does not accept a citation number. It uses case number, name, and class. To search by citation number, use the Colorado Courts Pay Online portal at courts.state.co.us/payonline. Pay Online accepts the citation number for unpaid traffic tickets.
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| County | Dropdown | Recommended | Select Jefferson County (county code 30). |
| Court Type | Dropdown | Optional | County for traffic. District for felony DUI. |
| Date Range | Dropdown | Required baseline | Today, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, specific date. |
| Case Class | Dropdown | Optional | T for traffic; M for misdemeanor traffic. |
| Case Sequence | Text | Optional | Numeric sequence after year + class. |
| Party First / Last Name | Text | Optional | Driver name search. |
| Attorney Bar Number | Text | Optional | If counsel of record is known. |
Paying or Contesting a Jefferson County Traffic Ticket
- Read the citation. Note the violation, the court, the date, the citation number, and whether an in-person appearance is required.
- Decide to pay (plead guilty or no contest) or appear and contest.
- To pay online, use Colorado Courts Pay Online and enter the citation or case number.
- To pay by mail, follow the address printed on the citation. Never mail cash.
- To pay in person, visit the Jefferson Combined Court clerk counter at 100 Jefferson County Parkway, M-Th 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. or F 7:30 a.m.-noon.
- To contest, appear at the date printed on the ticket and plead not guilty. The court will set a pretrial conference and trial date.
- Ask about a defensive-driving course in lieu of points. Approval is at the prosecutor's discretion.
- For a deferred judgment on a misdemeanor traffic case, negotiate with the prosecutor. CDL holders may not get a deferred judgment on a CDL-related case.
Public Access Laws for Traffic Court Records
Most Colorado traffic court records are open under the Colorado Open Records Act at C.R.S. § 24-72-201 et seq. and the court rules. Juvenile traffic matters follow the Children's Code at Title 19 and have separate restrictions. Sealed records under C.R.S. § 24-72-706 are not public. Photo-enforcement notices that never reach court remain civil infractions unless contested.
For records held by the Sheriff or local police (accident reports, body-worn camera footage from a traffic stop), use the Sheriff's NextRequest portal at jeffcosheriff.nextrequest.com. For records held by the DMV (driver history, license status), use the Colorado myDMV portal.
Court Traffic Record vs State Driver Record
These are two different files kept by two different agencies. A reader pulling only one will miss data on the other.
| Item | Court Traffic Record | State Driver Record (DMV) |
|---|---|---|
| Custodian | Colorado Judicial Branch - Clerk of Court at Jefferson Combined Court | Colorado Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles |
| What is in it | Citation, charge, pleadings, motions, orders, judgment, sentence, fines, restitution, probation | Driving history abstract, convictions reported by courts, points, license status, suspensions, revocations, restraints, SR-22 status |
| How to access | Docket search; Record/Document Request Form | Online Motor Vehicle Record at mydmv.colorado.gov; in person at a DMV office |
| Cost | $0.25/page; $20 certified; $5 name search | State fee for unofficial driver record online; certified fees published by DMV |
| Fix errors | File a motion in the underlying case | Contact DMV Driver Control with certified disposition from the court |
CDL and Commercial Driver Records
Federal law (49 CFR 384.226) prohibits states from masking traffic convictions for commercial driver license holders, even where state law would allow deferred judgment. A Jefferson County traffic conviction against a CDL holder is reported to the state, posted to the driving record, and shared through the Commercial Driver License Information System (CDLIS).
Two serious traffic convictions within three years cause a 60-day CDL disqualification. Three within three years cause 120 days. Major offenses (DUI, refusal, leaving the scene, or a felony involving a CMV) cause a one-year disqualification. The disqualification jumps to three years if the vehicle was placarded for hazardous materials.
DUI and DWAI Cases
First, second, and third DUI or DWAI offenses are typically Class A traffic misdemeanors and stay in Jefferson County Court. Penalties scale with prior offenses, BAC, and aggravating facts. Fourth offense (or DUI involving serious bodily injury or death) is a Class 4 felony filed in District Court.
The express-consent license action runs separately at the DMV. The court traffic case and the DMV license-revocation hearing are independent proceedings. For the criminal-records side of DUI and DWAI, see criminal records. Court orders for ignition interlock and alcohol education are typical sentence pieces in DUI cases - the DMV may require interlock separately under the express-consent process.
Deferred Adjudication and Defensive Driving
Colorado allows deferred judgment under C.R.S. § 18-1.3-102 in many criminal misdemeanor traffic cases. The court holds the case in stay for a probation-style period. Upon successful completion, the plea is withdrawn and the case is dismissed. Successful deferred judgments do not appear as convictions on the driver record.
Defensive driving and driver-improvement courses can remove or offset up to four points from a Colorado driving record under DMV rules. The court itself does not remove points. The driver completes the course and submits the certificate to the DMV. Photo-enforcement tickets do not carry points.
Sealing or Expunging Traffic Records
Most traffic infractions are civil in Colorado and are not sealed in the same way as misdemeanor convictions. Traffic infractions remain on the driver record at the DMV and on the court docket. Traffic misdemeanors may be sealed under C.R.S. § 24-72-706 after the statutory waiting period: one year after disposition for a petty offense, two years for most misdemeanors, three years for a class 1 misdemeanor.
DUI, DWAI, and DUID convictions are not sealable under C.R.S. § 24-72-706(2)(a)(III). Juvenile traffic offenses are governed by the Children's Code (Title 19) and follow separate sealing rules. The Colorado General Assembly publishes a memorandum on the sealing process for criminal records. Sealing a court traffic case does not erase the entry on the DMV driver record - those are two separate files and require separate paths.
Fees for Traffic Record Copies
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Copy per page | $0.25 (parties / attorneys: $15 cap; no cap for non-parties) |
| Certified or exemplified copy per document | $20 |
| Name Search | $5 |
| Research / redaction after first hour | $30/hour |
| Off-site case file retrieval | Actual cost |
| Pay Online convenience fee | Per-transaction at courts.state.co.us/payonline |
Note: Certified copies are required when a court, employer, or insurer needs proof of disposition - plain printouts are not accepted in court for legal action.