2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 42 - VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (§§ 42-1-101 — 42-21-106) › CERTIFICATES OF TITLE (§§ 42-6-101 — 42-6-206) › Article 6 - CERTIFICATES OF TITLE - USED MOTOR VEHICLE SALES (§§ 42-6-101 — 42-6-206) › Part 1 - CERTIFICATES OF TITLE (§§ 42-6-101 — 42-6-148) › Section 42-6-139 - Registration and title application - where made

(1)
(a)
For purposes of this section, a person's residence is the person's principal or primary home or place of abode, to be determined in the same manner as residency for voter registration purposes as provided in sections
1-2-102
and
31-10-201
, C.R.S.; except that, in applying the terms of those sections, "voter registration" is replaced with "motor vehicle registration" or "off-highway vehicle registration" as a circumstance to be taken into account in determining the principal or primary home or place of abode.
(b)
A person's residence for the purposes of titling an off-highway vehicle is the same as determined by paragraph (a) of this subsection (1).
(2)
(a)
Except as may be otherwise provided by rule of the director, it is unlawful for a person who is a resident of the state to register, obtain a license for, or procure a certificate of title to a motor vehicle at any address other than:
(I)
For a motor vehicle owned by a business and operated primarily for business purposes, the address where the vehicle is principally operated and maintained; or
(II)
For a motor vehicle to which subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a) does not apply, the address of the owner's residence; except that, if a motor vehicle is permanently maintained at an address other than the address of the owner's residence, the vehicle shall be registered at the address where the vehicle is permanently maintained.
(b)
Except as may be otherwise provided by rule of the director, it is unlawful for a person who is a resident of the state to procure a certificate of title to an off-highway vehicle at an address other than:
(I)
For an off-highway vehicle owned by a business and operated primarily for business purposes, the address where the vehicle is principally operated and maintained; or
(II)
For an off-highway vehicle to which subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b) does not apply, the address of the owner's residence; except that, if an off-highway vehicle is permanently maintained at an address other than the address of the owner's residence, the vehicle must be registered at the address where the vehicle is permanently maintained.
(3)
A person who knowingly violates any of the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, section
42-3-103 (4)(a)
, or section
42-6-140
or any rule of the director promulgated pursuant to this part 1 commits a petty offense.
(4)
In addition to any other applicable penalty, a person who violates subsection (2) of this section, section
42-3-103 (4)(a)
, or section
42-6-140
is subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars. The violation is determined by, assessed by, and paid to the municipality or county where the motor or off-highway vehicle is or should have been registered, subject to judicial review pursuant to rule 106 (a)(4) of the Colorado rules of civil procedure.
(5)
A person subject to the penalties imposed by this section continues to be liable for unpaid registration fees, specific ownership taxes, or other taxes and fees concerning the registration of a vehicle owed by such person.
Amended by 2021 Ch. 462, § 756, eff. 3/1/2022.
Amended by 2013 Ch. 407, § 34, eff. 6/5/2013 and applicable to acts committed on or after 7/1/2014.
L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2467, § 1, effective 1/1/1995. L. 97: (3) and (4) amended and (5) added, p. 1003, § 7, effective August 6. L. 98: (3) and (4) amended, p. 787, § 3, effective 7/1/1999. L. 2003: (3) and (4) amended, p. 2004, § 74, effective May 22. L. 2005: Entire section amended, p. 823, § 28, effective August 8; (3) and (4) amended, p. 1179, § 20, effective August 8. L. 2009: (3) amended, (SB 09 -108), ch. 52, p. 52, § 11, effective March 2. L. 2013: (1), (2), and (4) amended, (SB 13-280), ch. 407, p. 2394, § 34, effective June 5. L. 2021: (3) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 3321, p. 3321, § 756, effective 3/1/2022.
(1) This section is similar to former § 42-6-137 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-6-139 was relocated to §
42-6-141
.
(2) Amendments to subsections (3) and (4) by Senate Bill 05-038 and House Bill 05-1107 were harmonized.
(3) Section 803(2) of chapter 462 (SB 21-271), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022.
2021 Ch. 462, was passed without a safety clause. See Colo. Const. art. V, § 1(3).
For penalties for petty offenses, see § 18-1.3-503 .