Colo. Rev. Stat. » Title 42
Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-121 (2026)

Violation of registration provisions - penalty

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) It is unlawful to commit any of the following acts: (a) To operate or permit the operation, upon a highway, of a motor vehicle subject to registration under this article or to possess or control a trailer coach or trailer that is not registered and does not display the number plates issued for such vehicle or trailer coach for the current year, except for trailer coaches or trailers owned by a licensed dealer or licensed manufacturer while being held for sale or resale or while operated on the streets or highways with dealer plates or depot tags authorized pursuant to section 42-3-116; (b) To display or permit to be displayed, to have in possession, or to offer for sale a certificate of title, validation tab or sticker, or registration number plate knowing the same to be fictitious or to have been stolen, canceled, revoked, suspended, or altered; (c) To lend to or knowingly permit the use by one not entitled thereto a certificate of title, registration card, or registration number plate issued to the lending or permitting person; (d) To fail or refuse to surrender to the department, upon demand, a certificate of title, registration card, or registration number plate that has been suspended, canceled, or revoked; (e) To use a false name or address, to knowingly make a false statement, or to knowingly conceal a material fact in an application for the registration, renewal registration, or duplicate registration of a motor vehicle; (f) To use or permit the use of a noncommercial or recreational vehicle to transport cargo or passengers for profit or hire or in a business or commercial enterprise; (g) To use or permit the use of a truck or truck tractor registered as a collector's item pursuant to section 42-12-401 (1)(c) to transport cargo or passengers for profit or hire or in a business or commercial enterprise; (h) To drive or permit to be driven a truck or truck tractor registered as a collector's item pursuant to section 42-12-401 (1)(c) for any purpose other than those purposes allowed in section 42-12-401 (1)(c).

(2) (a) A person who violates paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.

(b) A person who violates paragraph (b), (d), or (e) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense.

(c) A person who violates paragraph (f) or (g) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.

Source: L. 2005: Entire article amended with relocations, p. 1102, § 2, effective August 8. L. 2008: (1)(a) amended, p. 638, § 3, effective August 5. L. 2011: (1)(g), (1)(h), and (2)(c) amended, (SB 11-031), ch. 86, p. 243, § 4, effective August 10.

Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 42-3-133 as it existed prior to 2005, and the former § 42-3-121 was relocated to § 42-3-204.

Cross references: For the penalty for a class B traffic infraction, see § 42-4-1701 (3)(a)(I); for the penalty for a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, see § 42-4-1701 (3)(a)(II).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1997–2023 · leading case: Thompson v. Colorado, 29 F. Supp. 2d 1226 (D. Colo. 1998).
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Thompson v. Colorado, 29 F. Supp. 2d 1226 (D. Colo. 1998). · cites it 17× “§ 42-3-121, “Parking Privileges for Persons with Disabilities”, violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“Act”).”
People v. Manier, 197 P.3d 254 (Colo. Ct. App. 2008). “See § 42-3-121(1)(b), ("It is unlawful ... [tlo display or permit to be displayed, to have in possession, or to offer for sale a .”
In Re Coleman, 209 B.R. 739 (Bankr.D. Colo. 1997). · cites it 2× “”)(emphasis added); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-121 (1) (1996) (vehicle registration)!" 'person with a disability' means a person so severely impaired that such *743 person is unable to move from place to place without the aid of a mechanical device .”
Jones v. Reis (D. Colo. 2023). · cites it 2× “# 27 at 12); see also Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-121 . The Court rejects all of Plaintiff’s arguments that he was not subject to the motor vehicle laws of the state of Colorado when he was driving on a public highway on the date of the alleged incident in this case.”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-121(1)(b) — 1 case
People v. Manier, 197 P.3d 254 (Colo. Ct. App. 2008). “See § 42-3-121(1)(b), ("It is unlawful ... [tlo display or permit to be displayed, to have in possession, or to offer for sale a .”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-121(2)(a)(I) — 1 case
Thompson v. Colorado, 29 F. Supp. 2d 1226 (D. Colo. 1998). “§ 42-3-121, “Parking Privileges for Persons with Disabilities”, violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“Act”).”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-121(2)(a)(II) — 1 case
Thompson v. Colorado, 29 F. Supp. 2d 1226 (D. Colo. 1998). “§ 42-3-121, “Parking Privileges for Persons with Disabilities”, violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“Act”).”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-121(2)(b) — 1 case
Thompson v. Colorado, 29 F. Supp. 2d 1226 (D. Colo. 1998). “§ 42-3-121, “Parking Privileges for Persons with Disabilities”, violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“Act”).”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 42-3-121(2)(d) — 1 case
Thompson v. Colorado, 29 F. Supp. 2d 1226 (D. Colo. 1998). “§ 42-3-121, “Parking Privileges for Persons with Disabilities”, violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“Act”).”
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