The whole Colorado guide

COLORADO FIELD FILE

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About this guide — education built from the Colorado Revised Statutes as the Office of Legislative Legal Services publishes them, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Colorado attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of October 2026.

No one may drive a motor vehicle on a highway in Colorado without a current license or instruction permit in immediate possession.

C.R.S. 42-2-101

A driver who has the license on them may not refuse to take it out of a wallet or cover and hand it to an officer who reasonably suspects a traffic violation.
After a crash, or on request at any lawful traffic contact, the owner or driver presents evidence of a complying insurance policy.
That evidence includes the policy shown on a cell phone or other electronic device.

The Fourth Amendment sets limits on every stop, and the Supreme Court of the United States has drawn several of them. It has held that a stop is reasonable where the officer has probable cause to believe a traffic violation occurred, whatever the officer's actual motive; that an officer making a lawful stop may order the driver, and the passengers, out of the vehicle; that a passenger is seized by the stop and may challenge it; and that a stop may last no longer than its purpose requires, so it may not be extended for a dog sniff without separate reasonable suspicion. It has also held that consent to a search has to be voluntary, judged on all the circumstances, and that the prosecution does not have to prove the person knew they could refuse. Those holdings are a floor: a state's own constitution and statutes can give more protection than they do, never less.

Sources for this section (9)

C.R.S. 42-2-101 — Licenses for drivers required - penalty - definition
C.R.S. 42-2-115 — License, permit, or identification card to be exhibited on demand - penalty
C.R.S. 42-4-1409 — Compulsory insurance - penalty - legislative intent
Whren v. United States, 517 U.S. 806 (1996) — A traffic stop is reasonable when there is probable cause of a traffic violation
Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106 (1977) — An officer may order the driver out of a lawfully stopped car
Maryland v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408 (1997) — An officer may order passengers out of a lawfully stopped car
Brendlin v. California, 551 U.S. 249 (2007) — A passenger is seized by a traffic stop and may challenge it
Rodriguez v. United States, 575 U.S. 348 (2015) — A stop may not be extended beyond its purpose to run a dog sniff
Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S. 218 (1973) — Consent to a search must be voluntary

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Colorado attorney.

COLORADO FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Being stopped

Marijuana and drugs

Impaired driving

Court and money

Your home

Recording

Carrying a firearm

Charges and penalties

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

COLORADO FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Traffic StopsC.R.S. 42-2-115 — the license handed over on reasonable suspicion, and proof of insurance on paper or a phone▾

Speed LimitsC.R.S. 42-4-1101 — reasonable and prudent first, then 25 in a business district, 30 in a residence district, and 65 on the interstate▾

Points on a LicenseC.R.S. 42-2-127 — 12 points in 12 months or 18 in 24 for an adult, and fewer for a minor driver▾

Driving Without a License, or Under RestraintC.R.S. 42-2-138 — driving on a restrained license is an infraction, and a misdemeanor when the restraint came from an alcohol offense▾

Permits and Teen DriversC.R.S. 42-2-104 — a permit at 15 after a 30 hour course, 12 months on it and 50 hours, and no young passengers for 6 months▾

Careless and Reckless DrivingC.R.S. 42-4-1401 — wanton or willful disregard is reckless, a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, and careless becomes class 1 with an injury▾

Stopping for a School BusC.R.S. 42-4-1903 — stop at least 20 feet back from either direction, and a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense on a second in five years▾

After a CrashC.R.S. 42-4-1601 — stop, give a name and plate, help the injured, report it, and a felony for leaving an injury crash▾

Seat Belts and Car SeatsC.R.S. 42-4-236 — car seats by age and weight to 9, belts to 18, and no stop for an adult belt alone▾

Emergency Vehicles and the Move Over RuleC.R.S. 42-4-705 — pull right for a siren, move a lane away from a stopped one, or slow to 25 or 20 under▾

Eluding a Police OfficerC.R.S. 18-9-116.5 — eluding is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, and a felony when driven recklessly▾

Car InsuranceC.R.S. 42-4-1409 — a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense with a $500 minimum fine, and $1,000 for a second in five years▾

Open Containers in the CarC.R.S. 42-4-1305 — no drinking or open alcohol in the passenger area, a class A traffic infraction and a $50 fine▾

Marijuana in the CarC.R.S. 42-4-1305.5 — no using it or an open container in the passenger area, a class A traffic infraction and a $50 fine▾

Motorcycle HelmetsC.R.S. 42-4-1502 — a helmet for anyone under 18 on a motorcycle, autocycle or scooter▾

Window TintC.R.S. 42-4-227 — 27% light transmittance on every window but the windshield, and 4 inches at the top of it▾

Phones Behind the WheelC.R.S. 42-4-239 — no hand held phone use while driving, $75 the first time, and a dismissal once with a hands free device▾

The Last Hundred FeetC.R.S. 42-4-903 — a turn signal for the last one hundred feet in town, and two hundred feet elsewhere▾

Where You May Not ParkC.R.S. 42-4-1204 — fifteen feet from a hydrant, twenty from a crosswalk, thirty from a stop sign▾

Staying in Your LaneC.R.S. 42-4-1013 — the left lane on a highway posted sixty-five or more is for passing▾

On a BicycleC.R.S. 42-4-1412.5 — slow to ten miles an hour and yield at a stop sign, stop and yield at a red light▾

Moving OverC.R.S. 42-4-705 — one lane over for a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck, utility truck, or any car with its hazards on▾

Driving While SuspendedC.R.S. 42-2-138 — knowingly driving under most restraints is a class A traffic infraction▾

On the WaterC.R.S. 33-13-108.1 — operating a vessel at 0.08 or under the influence is a misdemeanor▾

Horses on the RoadC.R.S. 42-4-109 — ride or lead a horse on the left side of the highway, facing traffic▾

Being stopped

Being ArrestedC.R.S. 16-3-102 — a warrant, a crime in the officer's presence, or probable cause, and calls at the earliest possible time▾

When You Must IdentifyC.R.S. 16-3-103 — a name, an address and identification if available, never a social security number▾

Reading a Search WarrantC.R.S. 16-3-305 — served within fourteen days, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at a home, and a knock and an announcement▾

Marijuana and drugs

Marijuana and DrugsC.R.S. 18-18-406 — over two ounces is a drug misdemeanor, public use a petty offense, and twelve plants at a home▾

ParaphernaliaC.R.S. 18-18-428 — a drug petty offense with a fine of not more than $100▾

Calling for an OverdoseC.R.S. 18-1-711 — report, stay, identify and cooperate, and possession charges from the same events are barred▾

Minor in PossessionC.R.S. 18-13-122 — alcohol or marijuana under twenty-one is an unclassified petty offense, up to $100 the first time▾

Tobacco and Vapes Under Twenty OneC.R.S. 18-13-121 — a $200 civil fine for selling or giving one to anyone under twenty one▾

Impaired driving

DUI, DUI per Se and DWAIC.R.S. 42-4-1301 — 0.08 within two hours, impaired to the slightest degree, and 5 days and $600 the first time▾

The DUI Stop and the TestC.R.S. 42-4-1301.1 — a choice of blood or breath, a sample within two hours, and a refusal that can be used at trial▾

Drivers Under 21C.R.S. 42-4-1301 — 0.02 to 0.05 under 21 is a class A traffic infraction, and a license revoked 3 months the first time▾

The License Revocation After a DUI ArrestC.R.S. 42-2-126 — 9 months at 0.08, a year for a first refusal, and 7 days to ask for a hearing▾

Court and money

Protective OrdersC.R.S. 13-14-104.5 — a temporary order, a hearing within fourteen days, and no police report required▾

Getting PaidC.R.S. 8-4-109 — paid immediately when fired, at the next payday on quitting, and a penalty after a fourteen day demand▾

The Pay StubC.R.S. 8-4-103 — an itemized statement with every payment, and records kept three years▾

Earned Sick TimeC.R.S. 8-13.3-403 — one hour for every thirty worked, up to forty-eight hours a year▾

Hurt at WorkC.R.S. 8-43-102 — written notice to the employer within ten days, and a claim filed within two years▾

Discrimination at WorkC.R.S. 24-34-402 — the protected traits, and C.R.S. 24-34-403 — a charge within three hundred days▾

Working Under EighteenC.R.S. 8-12-105 — fourteen to work, no more than eight hours a day or forty a week▾

Jury Duty and Your JobC.R.S. 13-71-126 — regular wages up to $50 a day for the first three days, and no penalty for serving▾

The Clause About Working ElsewhereC.R.S. 8-2-113 — a covenant not to compete is void, apart from highly compensated workers and a separate signed notice▾

Working with a RecordC.R.S. 8-2-130 — no criminal history question on the first application, and no ad saying a record bars applying▾

Small Claims CourtC.R.S. 13-6-403 — claims up to seven thousand five hundred dollars, and people represent themselves▾

Old Debts and Time LimitsC.R.S. 13-80-103.5 — six years on a debt, three on a contract, two for most torts, one for assault or libel▾

A Claim Against the GovernmentC.R.S. 24-10-109 — written notice within one hundred eighty-two days of discovering the injury▾

Getting DivorcedC.R.S. 14-10-106 — ninety-one days of living here, ninety-one days after service, and a marriage irretrievably broken▾

Custody and Parenting TimeC.R.S. 14-10-124 — the best interests of the child, with the child's safety paramount▾

Who the Parent Is on PaperC.R.S. 19-4-105 — married or in a civil union, or within three hundred days after it ends▾

Dying Without a WillC.R.S. 15-11-102 — the spouse takes everything, or a set first share and part of the rest▾

A Small EstateC.R.S. 15-12-1201 — an affidavit, ten days after the death, with no probate pending▾

Turning EighteenC.R.S. 13-22-101 — full age at eighteen to contract and manage an estate▾

Disciplining a ChildC.R.S. 18-1-703 — reasonable and appropriate force to maintain discipline▾

Changing Your NameC.R.S. 13-15-101 — a petition, verified by affidavit, in the county where you live▾

Who Has to Report ItC.R.S. 19-3-304 — doctors, nurses, teachers and the rest of the list report suspected abuse▾

Debt CollectorsC.R.S. 5-16-105 — after 8 a.m. and before 9 p.m., and a written request to stop is honored▾

What a Creditor Cannot TakeC.R.S. 13-54-102 — clothing, household goods, two vehicles and the tools of a trade, to set amounts▾

When You Cannot PayC.R.S. 13-54-104 — no more than twenty percent of a week's disposable earnings for most debts▾

When They Take the Car BackC.R.S. 5-5-111 — twenty days after a notice of right to cure, before repossession for a missed payment▾

Lemon LawC.R.S. 42-10-103 — three repairs, two for safety, or twenty-four business days out of service, in two years or 24,000 miles▾

Deceptive Business PracticesC.R.S. 6-1-113 — actual damages or $500, whichever is greater, and three times for bad faith▾

The Letter About Your InformationC.R.S. 6-1-716 — notice within thirty days of determining a breach, and the attorney general told▾

Door to Door SalesC.R.S. 5-3-402 — until midnight of the third business day to cancel a home solicitation sale▾

The Repair EstimateC.R.S. 42-9-105 — no more than the estimate plus ten percent or $25, whichever is less, without consent▾

When Someone Uses Your NameC.R.S. 18-5-902 — using another's identifying information to get something of value is a class 4 felony▾

Voting Step by StepC.R.S. 1-2-101 — eighteen by election day, a citizen, and twenty-two days living here; preregistration from fifteen▾

Voting After a ConvictionC.R.S. 1-2-103 — no vote only while serving a felony sentence of confinement▾

Getting Public RecordsC.R.S. 24-72-203 — open to any person, presumed within three working days, and copies at twenty-five cents a page▾

When a Meeting Is PublicC.R.S. 24-6-402 — three or more members of a local body, notice twenty-four hours ahead, and no secret ballots▾

Taken in for an EvaluationC.R.S. 27-65-106 — an emergency hold of no more than seventy-two hours, never in a jail▾