AN URGENT warning has gone out to drivers as the Sheriff’s office begins handing out fines for breaking “leaf-peeping” rules.
Motorists who leave their cars in common tourist spots could be slapped with $88 fines in one major state.
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Preparations are already being made for fall in Colorado, as the trees begin to turn orange and yellow.
Millions of Americans flock to New England, Colorado and the Midwest as the autumn sweeps in to get a glimpse of the beautiful leaves.
However, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office has decided to take action after hundreds of cars parked illegally last year to look at the trees.
After “no parking” signs were ignored last year, cops have enforced a brand new rule across the right-of-way road shoulders on Clear Creek County Road 381.
The rule will extend all the way to the Park County line.
Any parking violations will see drivers slapped with a $87.50 ticket, according to a spokesperson for a Sheriff’s office.
The new law is being enforced after rescue teams found that their vital journeys were being slowed down by traffic.
Steve Wilson, a spokesperson for the Alpine Rescue team, said: “Mount Bierstadt and Mount Blue Sky. The trails are right there.
“Sometimes the traffic up there is hard. Finding parking is difficult. Our rescue vehicles are pretty large, and ambulances are also large, as everybody knows, so getting up there can be a challenge.”
Ahead of the new law being brought in, a spokesperson for Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office said: “Traffic volume and illegally and improperly park vehicles on both sides of Guanella Pass has increased in recent years, causing delays for emergency responders.
“During last fall’s leaf peeping season, both us and Park County experienced emergency incidents that required a law enforcement and medical response.
“The response was delayed due to hundreds of vehicles parked illegally on both sides of the roadway, essentially making a two-lane road just one lane.
“As a result, Clear Creek and Park Counties – in partnership with the US Forest Service, Town of Georgetown and CDOT – began taking steps to mitigate traffic and parking issues.
“For the public’s safety, we cannot have emergency access hindered; therefore ‘no parking’ signage has been installed on the Clear Creek side and similar signage will also be installed on the Park County side.
“We will also be taking additional mitigation steps for this year’s leaf-peeping season, including extra patrols and enhanced parking enforcement, limiting access as necessary when too many vehicles are on Guanella Pass Road (Clear Creek) and County Rd 62 (Park County side), and towing vehicles that block the roadway.”
The news comes after Starbucks brought back a famous autumnal drink a few weeks earlier than normal.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte will go on sale on August 26, four days earlier than last year.
Starbucks introduced the drink in 2003 and its been a favourite with coffee lovers ever since.
A survey from October 2024 of 1,000 customers found that 90% of respondents said they love pumpkin spice products.
