DENVER—Officials say the number Colorado drivers who should have lost their licenses but can still drive legally because of a backlog at the Division of Motor Vehicles is higher than originally thought.
KMGH-TV in Denver reported earlier this month that an estimated 3,000 Colorado motorists whose licenses should’ve been suspended are still behind the wheel.
That’s because the state has only 17 hearing officers to handle traffic violations, so it can take up to seven months for a driver’s license to be suspended.
The exceptions are drunken driving or vehicular homicide cases, which are required by state law to have a hearing within 60 days of the conviction.
Following the station’s report, the head of the Department of Revenue asked DMV officials for an exact number of drivers awaiting a hearing.
The agency determined the number actually is 5,279, the station reported Wednesday. And of those, 268 drivers have committed additional traffic offenses and remain behind the wheel.
Matt Cook, head of enforcement for the DMV, said he wasn’t aware the number was so high.
“For whatever reason, I was led to believe it was around 3,000,” he said. “Be that as it may, I want to find out how we got to where we’re at, and that’s my job now. We don’t want bad drivers on the road. We don’t.”
Cook said the backlog built up over time, and at one point a few years ago, the division had fewer than six hearing officers to cover the entire state.
There are approximately 34,000 hearings a year.
Terrance Carroll, the incoming speaker of the Colorado House, has said he is “flabbergasted” by the backlog and considering a state audit to find out what caused it.
Colorado assigns points to traffic violations, ranging from 1 for a minor speeding infraction to 12 for DUI and other crimes. If a driver accrues 12 points in a year, their license is suspended. The limit is six points if the driver is younger than 18.
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On the Net:
DMV violations and points:
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Information from: KMGH-TV,
