Colorado criminal charge
Chop shop activity in Colorado
Chop shop activity is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-4-420. 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. § 18-4-420.
What is the penalty for chop shop activity in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | 2 years to 6 years (Ownership or operation of a chop shop — Applies when a person violates paragraph (a) of subsection (1), i.e., owns or operates a chop shop or conspires to do so, knowing it is a chop shop.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 2000 usd to 500000 usd (Ownership or operation of a chop shop — Applies when a person violates paragraph (a) of subsection (1), i.e., owns or operates a chop shop or conspires to do so, knowing it is a chop shop.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 3 years to 3 years (Ownership or operation of a chop shop — Applies when a person violates paragraph (a) of subsection (1), i.e., owns or operates a chop shop or conspires to do so, knowing it is a chop shop.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 3 years (Transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving from a chop shop — Applies when a person violates paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1), involving transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving unlawfully obtained vehicles or parts to or from a chop shop, knowing it is a chop shop.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving from a chop shop — Applies when a person violates paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1), involving transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving unlawfully obtained vehicles or parts to or from a chop shop, knowing it is a chop shop.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 2 years to 2 years (Transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving from a chop shop — Applies when a person violates paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1), involving transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving unlawfully obtained vehicles or parts to or from a chop shop, knowing it is a chop shop.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 3 years (Altering or removing a vehicle identification number — Applies when a person commits altering or removing a vehicle identification number as described in subsection (3)(a).) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Altering or removing a vehicle identification number — Applies when a person commits altering or removing a vehicle identification number as described in subsection (3)(a).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 2 years to 2 years (Altering or removing a vehicle identification number — Applies when a person commits altering or removing a vehicle identification number as described in subsection (3)(a).; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2018-07-01.
How is chop shop activity classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership or operation of a chop shop | class 4 felony | Applies when a person violates paragraph (a) of subsection (1), i.e., owns or operates a chop shop or conspires to do so, knowing it is a chop shop. | 18-4-420(2) |
| Transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving from a chop shop | class 5 felony | Applies when a person violates paragraph (b) or (c) of subsection (1), involving transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving unlawfully obtained vehicles or parts to or from a chop shop, knowing it is a chop shop. | 18-4-420(2) |
| Altering or removing a vehicle identification number | class 5 felony | Applies when a person commits altering or removing a vehicle identification number as described in subsection (3)(a). | 18-4-420(4) |
Common questions about chop shop activity in Colorado
Is chop shop activity a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: chop shop activity ranges from a class 5 felony to a class 4 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-4-420.
Ownership or operation of a chop shop: class 4 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-420(2)) · Transporting, selling, transferring, purchasing, or receiving from a chop shop: class 5 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-420(2)) · Altering or removing a vehicle identification number: class 5 felony (C.R.S. § 18-4-420(4))
What are the penalties for chop shop activity in Colorado?
Penalties for chop shop activity in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 5 felony up to a class 4 felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers chop shop activity?
Chop shop activity is governed by C.R.S. § 18-4-420 (Chop shop activity - ownership or operation of a chop shop - altered or removed identification number - penalties - definitions).
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.