That long grace period for moving in and out of toll lanes along several metro-area highways will come to an end Sunday.

Starting Sunday, Oct. 1, the warning period on C-470 in the south metro area and I-25 north of Denver will end, and motorists who cross the double solid white lines instead of entering or exiting via dashed lines will be issued civil penalties, starting at $75. Those fines could go as high as $150, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Signage along the express lane corridors indicate violators could receive fines of up to $250. This is the total amount allowed by state statute, but the transportation agency’s board of directors has set the fines to start at $75, according to an agency statement Thursday.

Those penalties are already accessed for weaving motorists for the I-70 mountain express lanes from Idaho Springs to U.S. 40. CDOT spokesman Tim Hoover told Colorado Politics one vehicle, a high-end black Audi, has already racked up 17 fines on I-70.

The tolls, however, have not been activated on I-25 south of Castle Rock to Colorado Springs. Officials earlier said the final toll prices there have also yet to be decided.  

The transportation agency reported it had issued warnings to 40,000 motorists weaving in and out of express lanes on I-25 and C470 between Sept. 1 and Sept. 20. 

CDOT has used highway variable message signs, billboards, traffic radio, digital advertisements and social media to get the word out about the program and to warn drivers not to weave in and out of express lanes.

Crossing over the double solid lines has always been illegal, the agency statement said. But now: “with the help of state-of-the-art technology in the form of new software, cameras and roadway sensors, enforcing the rules of the road just got much easier.”

“We realize that 40,000 warnings sounds like a large figure, and in sheer numbers, it is,” Hoover said in the statement Thursday. “However, it represents only a small proportion of drivers on these corridors, with the vast majority of motorists following the law and driving safely. Unfortunately, a minority of drivers are creating dangerous conditions for everyone on the road with their weaving.”

Entering or exiting express lanes is allowed only at access points with dashed lines.

“We have heard the public’s complaints about these reckless drivers for years, and now we have the technology to hold them accountable,” Hoover said. “We’ve given out warnings for 30 days to these folks, but starting Sunday, they’ll be getting civil penalties in the mail if they continue driving dangerously.”

More than 90% of warnings issues went to vehicles with Colorado license plates, and the most frequent scofflaws were those driving Ford F-150s, Toyota 4Runners and Subaru Outbacks. There are small number of high-end luxury vehicles that are more likely to be repeat offenders: Hummer, Lamborghini, Maserati and McLaren. Electric vehicle brands Polestar and Rivian also make that list, Hoover indicated. 

“Our long-term aim is to see this program dramatically reduce violations in the Express Lanes and help make travel safer for everyone,” Hoover said. “We hope this is the highest number of violations we’ll ever see.”

The first two express lane corridors where fines will be issued are on C-470 from I-25 to Wadsworth Boulevard, and I-25 from US 36 to E-470. 

The civil penalties – no points on the license are attached to the fines – will eventually be applied to all express lane corridors in Colorado.