Colorado troopers warn of ‘strong penalties’ after investigating hundreds of distracted driving crashes involving CMVs in 2025
The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) issued an alert reminding truck drivers that they could face serious penalties for distracted driving.
In an August 20 news release, CSP shared commercial vehicle distracted driving crash statistics from last year and warned truckers of the penalties they could face if they are caught texting behind the wheel.
In 2025, CSP investigated a total of 316 commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes involving distracted driving. Of these, 60 crashes resulted in injury or death.
The total number of distracted driving crashes involving CMVs in 2025 decreased by 6.5% from 2024.
CSP said that interstate CMV drivers may face “serious penalties” for distracted driving even if a crash does not occur.
Possible penalties include:
- Drivers can be fined up to $2,750
- Repeat offenses will result in the driver being disqualified or put out-of-service for up to 120 days
- The driver’s employer can be fined up to $11,000 if they knowingly allow or do not restrict drivers from use hand-held devices while driving
- Violations will negatively affect the employer’s SMS (Safety Measurement System) ratings
- Violations are considered “serious traffic violations,” and penalties are taken from existing FMCSA guidelines
“Trucking is an important and demanding job that requires focus,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the CSP. “With the long hours professional drivers are on the road, they need to be proactive when it comes to removing distractions and ensuring that driving never comes second to any other task in the cab.”
CSP noted that distracted driving could include behaviors other than texting, including “eating behind the wheel” or using navigation or dispatching devices while driving.