Everything You Need To Know About Colorado Trespassing Laws
Colorado is a state with lots of wilderness areas. If you are not paying attention it can be easy to get turned around on a hiking trail, or on your way up to the top of a 14er mountain. Before you know it, someone may ask you to 'get off my lawn.'
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What does Colorado law say about trespassing, and what are the different charges one might face? Keep reading to learn more about three of the most common types of trespassing in the Centennial State.
Types of Trespassing in Colorado
According to DenverCriminalDefenseLaywer.com, Colorado has established three degrees of trespassing.
- 1st Degree: When someone enters a residence or motor vehicle to commit additional crimes.
- 2nd Degree: When someone crosses into a fenced-off area or enters the common area of a hotel, condo, apartment building, or vehicle.
- 3rd Degree: When a person illegally goes inside/stays within another person's premises.
Trespassing Charges in Colorado
According to RubenstienLawOffices.com, Charges for first-degree trespassing are a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a fine and/or jail time. First-degree trespassing in an occupied structure such as someone's home, is a felony that could come with a much larger fine and longer jail sentence.
Second-degree trespassing in someone else's vehicle is a class 2 misdemeanor. When it occurs on agricultural land with intent to commit a crime, it can be a class 4 felony. A conviction could result in a long-term jail sentence and up to $500,000 in fines.
Third-degree trespassing is a petty crime unless it's on agricultural land. In such cases, this can be a class 5 felony with a long-term prison sentence and/or a $100,000 fine.
Defending Trespassing Charges
According to Shouselaw.com, several considerations that can change the outcome of a trespassing charge include having the owner's permission to be on the property, not being away if you are on private property or agricultural land, having no intention to commit a crime, or if the property is not a dwelling or is abandoned.
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