CO Code § 42-3-101 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 42 - Vehicles and Traffic|Article 3 - Registration, Taxation, and License Plates|Part 1 - Registration and Taxation|§ 42-3-101. Legislative Declaration

  The general assembly declares that its purpose in enacting this article is to implement by law the purpose and intent of section 6 of article X of the state constitution, wherein it is provided that “The general assembly shall enact laws classifying motor vehicles and also wheeled trailers, semitrailers, trailer coaches, and mobile and self-propelled construction equipment, prescribing methods of determining the taxable value of such property, and requiring payment of a graduated annual specific ownership tax thereon, which tax shall be in lieu of all ad valorem taxes upon such property; ...”.    The general assembly further declares that it intends to classify in this article the personal property so specified, to prescribe methods by which the taxable value of such classified property shall be determined, to require payment of a graduated annual specific ownership tax upon each item of such classified personal property, and to provide for the administration and collection of such tax, and for the apportionment and distribution of the revenue derived therefrom.     History. Source: L. 2005: Entire article amended with relocations, p. 1071, § 2, effective August 8.    Editor's note:   This title was numbered as numerous articles within chapter 13, C.R.S. 1963. The provisions of this title were amended with relocations in 1994, effective January 1, 1995, resulting in the addition, relocation, and elimination of sections as well as subject matter. For amendments to this title prior to 1994, consult the Colorado statutory research explanatory note and the table itemizing the replacement volumes and supplements to the original volume of C.R.S. 1973 beginning on page vii in the front of this volume. Former C.R.S. section numbers are shown in editor's notes following those sections that were relocated. For a detailed comparison of this title, see the comparative tables located in the back of the index.   Cross references:   For the provisions providing for the manufacture of license plates and highway signs by state correctional facilities, see article 24 of title 17; for registration and use of snowmobiles, see article 14 of title 33; for the regulation of commercial driving schools, see article 2 of this title; for provisions relating to highway safety, see article 5 of title 43; for licensing and regulation of automobile dealers, see part 1 of article 20 of title 44; for the antimonopoly financing law, see part 2 of article 20 of title 44; for the Sunday closing law, see part 3 of article 20 of title 44.   Editor's note:   This title was amended with relocations in 1994, and this article was subsequently amended with relocations in 2005, resulting in the addition, relocation, and elimination of sections as well as subject matter. For amendments to this article prior to 2005, consult the Colorado statutory research explanatory note beginning on page vii in the front of this volume and the editor's note following the title heading. Former C.R.S. section numbers are shown in editor's notes following those sections that were relocated. For a detailed comparison of this article, see the comparative tables located in the back of the index.   Cross references:   For disposition of fines and penalties under this article, see § 42-1-217 .   ANNOTATION   Annotator's note. Since § 42-3-101 is similar to § 42-3-101 as it existed prior to the 2005 amendment to article 3 of title 42, which resulted in the relocation of provisions, a relevant case construing a former provision similar to that section has been included in the annotations to this section.   The registration of vehicles is primarily a taxing scheme whereby the owner of a vehicle is assessed an annual fee in lieu of an ad valorem tax on his vehicle. Sifuentes v. Weed, 186 Colo. 109 , 525 P.2d 1157.   Taxing scheme applies to vehicles to be operated on Colorado highways. The taxing scheme applies, with some exceptions, to all vehicles which are owned by Colorado residents and are primarily designed to be operated on Colorado highways. Sifuentes v. Weed, 186 Colo. 109 , 525 P.2d 1157 (1974).   If the vehicle is not to be operated on Colorado highways, the owner is not required to pay the ownership tax. Sifuentes v. Weed, 186 Colo. 109 , 525 P.2d 1157 (1974).   The law is designed to be equitable. Sifuentes v. Weed, 186 Colo. 109 , 525 P.2d 1157 (1974).   The taxing scheme is equitably tailored to tax those who have an opportunity to operate a vehicle on Colorado highways. Sifuentes v. Weed, 186 Colo. 109 , 525 P.2d 1157 (1974).   Plaintiff not deprived of property right by enforcement of law. Sifuentes v. Weed, 186 Colo. 109 , 525 P.2d 1157 (1974).   Taxing scheme implemented by § 42-3-115 . Sifuentes v. Weed, 186 Colo. 109 , 525 P.2d 1157 (1974).