2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 42 - VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (§§ 42-1-101 — 42-21-106) › TAXATION (§§ 42-3-101 — 42-3-314) › Article 3 - REGISTRATION, TAXATION, AND LICENSE PLATES (§§ 42-3-101 — 42-3-314) › Part 2 - LICENSE PLATES (§§ 42-3-201 — 42-3-271) › Section 42-3-202 - Number plates furnished to be attached - penalty

(1)
(a)
(I)
Except as provided in subsection (1)(a)(II) of this section, the owner shall attach the number plates assigned to a self-propelled vehicle to the vehicle with one in the front and the other in the rear.
(II)
The owner shall attach the number plate assigned to any of the following vehicles to the rear of the vehicle:
(A)
A motorcycle;
(B)
An autocycle;
(C)
A street rod vehicle;
(D)
A trailer, semitrailer, or other vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle; or
(E)
Special mobile machinery.
(III)
The owner shall display number plates during the current registration year, except as otherwise provided in this article 3.
(b)
If the department issues a validating tab or sticker to a motor vehicle pursuant to section
42-3-201
, the current month validating tab or sticker shall be displayed in the bottom left corner of the rear license plate. The current year validating tab or sticker shall be displayed in the bottom right corner of the rear license plate. The tabs or stickers shall be visible at all times.
(2)
(a)
(I)
The owner or driver of a motor vehicle shall securely fasten the license plate to the vehicle to which it is assigned so as to prevent the plate from swinging.
(II)
Except when authorized by this article 3 or rule of the department, the rear license plate must be:
(A)
Horizontal at a height not less than twelve inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate;
(B)
In a place and position to be clearly visible;
(C)
Maintained free from foreign materials and clearly legible;
(D)
At the approximate center of the vehicle measured horizontally; and
(E)
Mounted on or within eighteen inches of the rear bumper.
(III)
Except when authorized by this article 3, the front license plate must be:
(A)
Displayed horizontally on the front of a motor vehicle in the location designated by the motor vehicle manufacturer;
(B)
Maintained free from foreign materials; and
(C)
Clearly legible.
(b)
A person shall not operate a motor vehicle with an affixed device or a substance that causes all or a portion of a license plate to be unreadable by a system used to automatically identify a motor vehicle. Such a device includes, without limitation, a cover that distorts angular visibility; alters the color of the plate; or is smoked, tinted, scratched, or dirty so as to impair the legibility of the license plate.
(3)
(a)
A person who violates any provision of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.
(b)
A person who violates paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of this section commits a class A traffic infraction and shall be punished by a fine of one hundred dollars.
(4)
Notwithstanding subsections (1) to (3) of this section, the owner of a military vehicle may elect to not display the vehicle's assigned license plate if the license plate is physically in the military vehicle and is available for inspection to any peace officer who requests the plate.
Amended by 2022 Ch. 361, § 9, eff. 1/1/2023.
Amended by 2018 Ch. 85, § 1, eff. 3/29/2018.
Amended by 2017 Ch. 72, § 4, eff. 3/23/2017.
Amended by 2015 Ch. 334, § 2, eff. 1/1/2016, applicable to temporary registrations issued on or after 7/1/2016. See editor's note.
Amended by 2014 Ch. 303, § 3, eff. 7/1/2014.
L. 2005: Entire article amended with relocations, p. 1108, § 2, effective August 8. L. 2008: (1) amended, p. 321, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2010: (4) added, (SB 10 -075), ch. 169, p. 597, § 2, effective August 11; (1)(a) amended, (HB 10 -1172), ch. 320, p. 1491, § 10, effective October 1. L. 2014: (1)(a) amended, (HB 14-1367), ch. 303, p. 1286, § 3, effective July 1. L. 2015: (2)(a) amended, (SB 15-090), ch. 334, p. 1360, § 2, see subsection (2) of the editor's note following this section. L. 2017: (1)(a) amended, (HB 17-1044), ch. 72, p. 229, § 4, effective March 23. L. 2018: (2)(a)(II) and (2)(a)(III) amended, (SB 18-028), ch. 85, p. 685, § 1, effective March 29.
(1) This section is similar to former § 42-3-123 as it existed prior to 2005.
(2) Section 6(1)(b) and 6(2) of chapter 334 (SB 15-090), Session Laws of Colorado 2015, provides that changes to this section take effect only if the department of revenue receives enough gifts, grants, and donations for materials, start-up costs, and computer programming necessary to implement this act, and take effect January 1, 2016, only if the revisor of statutes receives written notice that such funds were received. The revisor of statutes received the required notice, dated February 12, 2016.
2022 Ch. 361, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
For the penalty for a class B traffic infraction, see § 42-4-1701(3)(a)(I) .