Colorado criminal charge
Careless driving in Colorado
Careless driving is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 42-4-1402. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 42-4-1402.
What is the penalty for careless driving in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 10 days to 90 days (Careless driving — base offense — Applies to a violation of the careless driving statute except where bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death results as specified in (2)(b) and (2)(c).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 42-4-1701 |
| Fine | 150 usd to 300 usd (Careless driving — base offense — Applies to a violation of the careless driving statute except where bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death results as specified in (2)(b) and (2)(c).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 42-4-1701 |
| Jail / prison | 10 days to 364 days (Careless driving causing bodily injury — Applies when the person's careless driving is the proximate cause of bodily injury to an individual.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 42-4-1701 |
| Fine | 300 usd to 1000 usd (Careless driving causing bodily injury — Applies when the person's careless driving is the proximate cause of bodily injury to an individual.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 42-4-1701 |
| Jail / prison | 10 days to 364 days (Careless driving causing serious bodily injury or death — Applies when the person's careless driving is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury (as defined in section 18-1-901) or death to an individual.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 42-4-1701 |
| Fine | 300 usd to 1000 usd (Careless driving causing serious bodily injury or death — Applies when the person's careless driving is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury (as defined in section 18-1-901) or death to an individual.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 42-4-1701 |
Applies to current.
How is careless driving classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Careless driving — base offense | class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense | Applies to a violation of the careless driving statute except where bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death results as specified in (2)(b) and (2)(c). | 42-4-1402(2)(a) |
| Careless driving causing bodily injury | class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense | Applies when the person's careless driving is the proximate cause of bodily injury to an individual. | 42-4-1402(2)(b) |
| Careless driving causing serious bodily injury or death | class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense | Applies when the person's careless driving is the proximate cause of serious bodily injury (as defined in section 18-1-901) or death to an individual. | 42-4-1402(2)(c)(I) |
Common questions about careless driving in Colorado
Is careless driving a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: careless driving ranges from a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense to a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense in Colorado under C.R.S. § 42-4-1402.
Careless driving — base offense: class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense (C.R.S. § 42-4-1402(2)(a)) · Careless driving causing bodily injury: class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense (C.R.S. § 42-4-1402(2)(b)) · Careless driving causing serious bodily injury or death: class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense (C.R.S. § 42-4-1402(2)(c)(I))
What are the penalties for careless driving in Colorado?
Penalties for careless driving in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense up to a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 42-4-1701; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers careless driving?
Careless driving is governed by C.R.S. § 42-4-1402 (Careless driving - penalty).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.