The service for Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, is being held at Denver First Church of Nazarene, December 02, 2016. Hundreds gather to honor the fallen trooper.
In January, a Greenwood Village police officer was sitting inside of his vehicle on the shoulder of Interstate 25 when out of nowhere a motorist slammed into the rear of his patrol car, leaving it as a pile of twisted metal.
The Colorado State Patrol released a video in March showing a trooper and several others nearly being hit by a passing sport-utility vehicle that failed to obey the state’s “move over” law.
“If you see emergency personnel on the side of the road, please slow down and move over,” Donahue’s family said in a statement released Thursday. “Two little girls are going to grow up without their Daddy and there’s just no good reason.”
In the wake of Donahue’s death, law enforcement agencies throughout Colorado have been re-emphasizing the state’s law mandating motorists give room to officers, tow truck drivers and highway workers. The State Patrol has issued more than 1,000 such tickets so far this year for disobeying the statute, a violation that carries with it a four-point penalty and a fine that differs depending on jurisdiction.
On Thursday, Greenwood Village police led a targeted, 12-hour enforcement effort with Denver police and the sheriff’s offices in Douglas and Arapahoe counties that resulted in 266 stops. More than 175 citations for failure to follow the move over law were issued and 79 written warnings were handed out.
“Our officers along the I-25 corridor are only seeing about 30 to 40 percent of the cars move over,” said Cmdr. Eric Schmitt, who oversees the Greenwood Village Police Department’s traffic unit. “The rest are zipping right by us.”
Schmitt said officers are frustrated by the ambivalence of drivers. He explained that police find motorists are either unaware of the move over law or simple don’t care enough to follow it.
“Our hope is to do something like this every month or so,” he said. “We have found a lot of people just don’t know about this law.”
The Colorado State Patrol has drastically increased the number of tickets it has written to motorists who fail to move over since 2012 when it wrote 548 citations for the violation. In 2014, the force wrote 1,470 citations for the charge and another 919 last year.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Hundreds gather for the service for Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, is being held at Denver First Church of Nazarene, December 02, 2016. The crowd stands to cheer Cody's wife and two daughters.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue's wife and two daughters listen to friends speak about Cody, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, during his service, December 02, 2016. People gather at Denver First Church of Nazarene to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The service for Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, is being held at Denver First Church of Nazarene, December 02, 2016. Hundreds gather to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A Colorado State Patrol Trooper bows his head during the service for Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, December 02, 2016. People gather at Denver First Church of Nazarene to honor the fallen trooper.
Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post
Members of the Lord family observe the funeral procession for fallen Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue on East Hampden Avenue in Englewood. Pictured from left to right are Richard Lord, 65, his twin grandsons Hudson and Colton Lord, both 2, the twin's mother and Lord's daughter Emily Lord, 33, and Emily Lord's older son Bennett Lord, 4. All are Littleton residents who attended along with Emily Lord's husband, a law enforcement officer who the family declined to name, who was serving in the honor guard. Trooper Donahue died after being struck by a truck on Interstate 25 on Nov. 25 in Douglas County while responding to an unrelated vehicle crash on the highway. Funeral services were held shortly afterward at the nearby Denver First Church of the Nazarene.
Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post
A Colorado State Patrol cruiser proceeds past Patriot Guard Riders member Gary Hand, 63, right, of Watkins, as he and other members line East Hampden Avenue in Englewood during the funeral procession for fallen Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue. Trooper Donahue died after being struck by a truck on Interstate 25 on Nov. 25 in Douglas County while responding to an unrelated vehicle crash on the highway.
Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post
Law enforcement escorts the funeral procession for fallen Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue as Patriot Guard Riders line East Hampden Avenue at South Logan Street in Englewood. Trooper Donahue died after being struck by a truck on Interstate 25 on Nov. 25 in Douglas County while responding to an unrelated vehicle crash on the highway. Funeral services were held shortly afterward at the nearby Denver First Church of the Nazarene.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Colorado State Patrol Chief Scott Hernandez speaks about Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, during his funeral service, December 02, 2016. People gather at Denver First Church of Nazarene to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Erin Donahue-Paynter speaks during the service of her brother, Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, December 02, 2016. People gather at Denver First Church of Nazarene to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Colorado State Patrol Chief Scott Hernandez speaks about Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, during his funeral service, December 02, 2016. People gather at Denver First Church of Nazarene to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The service for Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, is being held at Denver First Church of Nazarene, December 02, 2016. Hundreds plan to gather to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The service for Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, is being held at Denver First Church of Nazarene, December 02, 2016. Hundreds gather to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A sheriff deputy puts the funeral program for Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who was killed on I-25 during an accident investigation, in his hat during the service, December 02, 2016. People gather at Denver First Church of Nazarene to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Friends and family comfort Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue's wife during a funeral service for her husband, December 02, 2016. People gather at Denver First Church of Nazarene to honor the fallen trooper.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
The flag is presented to Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue's wife during his service at Denver First Church of Nazarene, December 02, 2016.
Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post
A Colorado State Patrol honor guard fires a three-volley rifle salute outside the Denver First Church of the Nazarene in Englewood during the funeral for fallen Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue, who died after being struck by a truck on Interstate 25 on Nov. 25 in Douglas County. Trooper Donahue died after being struck by a truck on Interstate 25 on Nov. 25 in Douglas County while responding to an unrelated vehicle crash on the highway.
Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post
Fire personnel salute next to a Denver South Metro Fire Rescue apparatus during a three-volley rifle salute for fallen Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue at the Denver First Church of the Nazarene in Englewood. Trooper Donahue died after being struck by a truck on Interstate 25 on Nov. 25 in Douglas County while responding to an unrelated vehicle crash on the highway.
Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post
The funeral procession for fallen Colorado State Patrol Trooper Cody Donahue leaves the Denver First Church of the Nazarene in Englewood following Donahue's funeral service. Trooper Donahue died after being struck by a truck on Interstate 25 on Nov. 25 in Douglas County while responding to an unrelated vehicle crash on the highway.
Trooper Josh Lewis, a State Patrol spokesman, said he’s not sure why there has been a spike. He said the State Patrol would rather educate motorists than have to enforce the statute, but that it’s likely the agency will start making a concerted effort after Donahue’s death to ensure drivers are giving law enforcement and highway workers space.
“Right now we are very much focused on the immediate aftermath (of Trooper Donahue’s death),” he said. “But it’s something you can anticipate.”
