Colorado criminal charge
Foreign matter on highway prohibited in Colorado
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
Foreign matter on highway prohibited is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 42-4-1406. 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. § 42-4-1406.
What is the penalty for foreign matter on highway prohibited in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 10 days (no statutory minimum) (Throwing burning material from vehicle — Violation of subsection (1)(b), throwing, dropping, or expelling a lighted cigarette, cigar, match, or other burning material from a motor vehicle onto a highway, is a petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
| Fine | up to 300 usd (no statutory minimum) (Throwing burning material from vehicle — Violation of subsection (1)(b), throwing, dropping, or expelling a lighted cigarette, cigar, match, or other burning material from a motor vehicle onto a highway, is a petty offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-503 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is foreign matter on highway prohibited classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throwing burning material from vehicle | petty offense | Violation of subsection (1)(b), throwing, dropping, or expelling a lighted cigarette, cigar, match, or other burning material from a motor vehicle onto a highway, is a petty offense. | 42-4-1406(5)(b)(I) |
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.