2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 42 - VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC (§§ 42-1-101 — 42-21-106) › MOTOR VEHICLE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW (§§ 42-7-101 — 42-7-609) › Article 7 - MOTOR VEHICLE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW (§§ 42-7-101 — 42-7-609) › Part 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 42-7-101 — 42-7-103) › Section 42-7-103 - Definitions

As used in this article 7, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1)
"Accident" means a motor vehicle accident occurring on public or private property within this state.
(2)
"Automobile liability policy" or "bond" means a liability policy or bond subject, if the accident has resulted in bodily injury or death, to a limit, exclusive of interest and costs, of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident and, subject to said limit for one person, to a limit of not less than fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and, if the accident has resulted in injury to or destruction of property, to a limit of not less than fifteen thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.
(3)
"Conviction" means conviction in any court of record or municipal court, and such conviction shall include a plea of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere accepted by the court, the forfeiture of any bail or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance in court which forfeiture has not been vacated, and the acceptance and payment of a penalty assessment under the provisions of section
42-4-1701
or under the similar provisions of any town or city ordinance.
(4)
"Department" means the department of revenue acting directly or through its duly authorized officers and agents.
(5)
"Director" means the executive director of the department of revenue.
(6)
"Driver" means every person who is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway.
(6.5)
(a)
"Evidence of insurance" means proof given by the insured in person to the department that the insured has a complying policy in full force and effect. Proof may be made through presentation of a copy of such complying policy or a card issued to the insured as evidence that a complying policy is in full force and effect. A card issued to the insured as evidence that a complying policy is in full force and effect may be produced in either paper or electronic format. Acceptable electronic formats include display of electronic images on a cellular phone or any other type of portable electronic device.
(b)
For purposes of this subsection (6.5), "complying policy" means a policy of insurance as required by part 6 of article
4
of title
10
, C.R.S.
(7)
"License" means any license, temporary instruction permit, or temporary license issued under laws of this state pertaining to the licensing of persons to operate motor vehicles, or, with respect to any person not licensed, the term means any operating privilege or privileges to apply for such license.
(8)
(a)
"Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is self-propelled, including trailers and semitrailers designed for use with such vehicles and every vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails.
(b)
"Motor vehicle" does not include an electric scooter, as defined in section
42-1-102
.
(9)
"Motor vehicle liability policy", "operators' policy of liability insurance", or "financial responsibility bond" means a policy or bond certified as proof of financial responsibility for the future.
(10)
"Nonresident" means every person who is not a resident of this state.
(11)
"Nonresident's operating privilege" means the privilege conferred upon a nonresident by the laws of this state pertaining to the operation by the nonresident of a motor vehicle.
(12)
"Owner" means a person who holds the legal title of the vehicle; or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then such conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose of this article.
(13)
"Person" means every natural person, firm, partnership, association, or corporation.
(14)
(a)
"Proof of financial responsibility for the future", also referred to in this article as proof of financial responsibility, means proof of ability to respond in damages for liability, on account of accidents occurring after the effective date of said proof, arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle, in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident, and, subject to said limit for one person, in the amount of fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and in the amount of fifteen thousand dollars because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.
(b)
For purposes of this title, the form known as the "SR-22" furnished to the department may be used as proof of financial responsibility in compliance with this article.
(15)
"State" means any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any province of Canada.
(16)
(a)
"Transportation contract" means a contract, agreement, or understanding, whether written or oral, express or implied, between a motor carrier and another party regarding:
(I)
The transportation of property by motor vehicle for compensation or hire;
(II)
Entrance on property for the purpose of loading, unloading, or transporting property by motor vehicle for compensation or hire; or
(III)
Access or services incidental or related to an activity described in subparagraph (I) or (II) of this paragraph (a).
(b)
"Transportation contract" does not include:
(I)
A contract, subcontract, or agreement that concerns or affects transportation involving a railroad;
(II)
The uniform intermodal interchange and facilities access agreement administered by the intermodal association of North America; or
(III)
Any other agreement providing for the interchange, use, or possession of an intermodal chassis or container or other intermodal equipment.
Amended by 2019 Ch. 271, § 17, eff. 5/23/2019.
Amended by 2014 Ch. 63, § 1, eff. 3/24/2014.
Amended by 2013 Ch. 101, § 3, eff. 8/7/2013.
L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2473, § 1, effective 1/1/1995. L. 95: (6.5) added and (14) amended, p. 708, § 3, effective May 23; (6.5) amended, p. 1215, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2004: (6.5)(b) amended, p. 794, § 4, effective May 21. L. 2013: (6.5)(a) amended, (HB 13 -1159), ch. 322, p. 322, § 3, effective August 7. L. 2014: (16) added, (HB 14-1065), ch. 63, p. 283, § 1, effective March 24. L. 2019: IP and (8) amended, (HB 19-1221), ch. 2565, p. 2565, § 17, effective May 23.
Section 19 of chapter 271 (HB 19-1221), Session Laws of Colorado 2019, provides that the act changing this section applies to conduct occurring on or after May 23, 2019.