CO Code § 42-3-121 (2021)
2021 Colorado Code|Title 42 - Vehicles and Traffic|Article 3 - Registration, Taxation, and License Plates|Part 1 - Registration and Taxation|§ 42-3-121. Violation of Registration Provisions - Penalty

  It is unlawful to commit any of the following acts:   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;    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, cancelled, revoked, suspended, or altered;    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;    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, cancelled, or revoked;    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;    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;    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;    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).         A person who violates paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class B traffic infraction. (2) (a) A person who violates paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.    A person who violates paragraph (b), (d), or (e) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense.    A person who violates paragraph (f) or (g) of subsection (1) of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.         History. 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) .   ANNOTATION   Annotator's note. Since § 42-3-121 is similar to § 42-3-133 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 that provision has been included in the annotations to this section.   This section does not prohibit altering a temporary license plate; therefore, § 18-5-102 , prohibiting forgery, is the appropriate statute to prosecute persons who alter temporary license plates. People v. Stansberry, 83 P.3d 1188 (Colo. App. 2003).