Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-5.5-101 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of July 2026

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As used in this article 5.5, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Authorization" means the express consent of a person which may include an employee's job description to use said person's computer, computer network, computer program, computer software, computer system, property, or services as those terms are defined in this section.

(2) "Computer" means an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or other data processing device which performs logical, arithmetic, memory, or storage functions by the manipulations of electronic, magnetic, radio wave, or light wave impulses, and includes all input, output, processing, storage, software, or communication facilities which are connected or related to or operating in conjunction with such a device.

(3) "Computer network" means the interconnection of communication lines (including microwave or other means of electronic communication) with a computer through remote terminals, or a complex consisting of two or more interconnected computers.

(4) "Computer program" means a series of instructions or statements, in a form acceptable to a computer, which permits the functioning of a computer system in a manner designed to provide appropriate products from such computer system.

(5) "Computer software" means computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with the operation of a computer system.

(6) "Computer system" means a set of related, connected or unconnected, computer equipment, devices, and software.

(6.3) "Damage" includes, but is not limited to, any impairment to the integrity of availability of information, data, computer program, computer software, or services on or via a computer, computer network, or computer system or part thereof.

(6.5) "Encoding machine" means an electronic device that is used to encode information onto a payment card.

(6.7) "Exceed authorized access" means to access a computer with authorization and to use such access to obtain or alter information, data, computer program, or computer software that the person is not entitled to so obtain or alter.

(7) "Financial instrument" means any check, draft, money order, certificate of deposit, letter of credit, bill of exchange, credit card, debit card, or marketable security.

(7.5) "Payment card" means a credit card, charge card, debit card, or any other card that is issued to an authorized card user and that allows the user to obtain, purchase, or receive goods, services, money, or anything else of value from a merchant.

(8) "Property" includes, but is not limited to, financial instruments, information, including electronically produced data, and computer software and programs in either machine or human readable form, and any other tangible or intangible item of value.

(8.5) "Scanning device" means a scanner, reader, wireless access device, radio- frequency identification scanner, near-field communications technology, or any other electronic device that is used to access, read, scan, obtain, memorize, or store, temporarily or permanently, information from a payment card.

(9) "Services" includes, but is not limited to, computer time, data processing, and storage functions. (10) To "use" means to instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve data from, or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer, computer system, or computer network.

Source: L. 79: Entire article added, p. 728, § 7, effective July 1. L. 83: (1) R&RE and

(10) added, p. 705, §§ 1, 2, effective July 1. L. 2000: (2) amended and (6.3) and (6.7) added, p. 694, § 7, effective July 1. L. 2018: IP amended and (6.5), (7.5), and (8.5) added (HB 18-1200), ch. 379, p. 2290, § 1, effective August 8.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases, 1998–2016 · leading case: People v. Rice, 198 P.3d 1241 (Colo. Ct. App. 2008).

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People v. Rice, 198 P.3d 1241 (Colo. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “Also, the CUBLine was described in testimony at trial sufficient to support a finding that it was a "computer system" as that term is defined in section 18-5.5-101(6), C.R.8.2007. We reject defendant's contention that we must go beyond the ordinary meaning of the term "access"…”

People v. Stotz, 2016 COA 16 (Colo. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 5× “§ 18-5.5-101, C.R.S. 2015. 4 ¶31 The jury was instructed on the statutory definitions of these terms and the elements of computer crime.”

People v. Robb, 215 P.3d 1253 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 3× “2 & 3, §§ 18-5.5-101 & -102, 1983 Colo. Sess. Laws 705 -06.”

People v. Pahl, 169 P.3d 169 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006). “168, § 18-5.5-101(2) at 728. This definition is not confusing or overly technical.”

Briggs v. State, 704 A.2d 904 (Md. 1998). “1997); Colo Rev Stat. §§ 18-5.5-101 to 102 (1997); Conn.”

People v. Stotz, 381 P.3d 357 (Colo. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 4× “- § 18-5.5-101,C.R.S.2015. 4 ¶31 The jury was instructed on the statutory definitions of these terms and the elements of computer crime.”

— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-5.5-101(10) — 1 case

People v. Robb, 215 P.3d 1253 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009). “2 & 3, §§ 18-5.5-101 & -102, 1983 Colo. Sess. Laws 705 -06.”

— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-5.5-101(2) — 1 case

People v. Pahl, 169 P.3d 169 (Colo. Ct. App. 2006). “168, § 18-5.5-101(2) at 728. This definition is not confusing or overly technical.”

— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-5.5-101(6) — 1 case

People v. Rice, 198 P.3d 1241 (Colo. Ct. App. 2008). “Also, the CUBLine was described in testimony at trial sufficient to support a finding that it was a "computer system" as that term is defined in section 18-5.5-101(6), C.R.8.2007. We reject defendant's contention that we must go beyond the ordinary meaning of the term "access"…”

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