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Colorado Revised Statutes Title 42. Vehicles and Traffic § 42-4-314. Automobile emissions control systems--tampering--operation of vehicle

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(1) No person shall knowingly disconnect, deactivate, or otherwise render inoperable any air pollution control system which has been installed by the manufacturer of any automobile of a model year of 1968 or later, except to repair or replace a part or all of the system.

(2) No person shall operate on any highway in this state any automobile described in subsection (1) of this section knowing that any air pollution control system installed on such automobile has been disconnected, deactivated, or otherwise rendered inoperable.

(3)(a) A person who violates subsection (1) or (2) of this section commits a class A traffic infraction and shall be fined thirty-five dollars pursuant to section 42-4-1701(4)(a)(I)(N). The department shall not assess any points under section 42-2-127 for a conviction pursuant to subsection (1) or (2) of this section.

(b) A person who violates subsection (6) of this section commits a class A traffic infraction and shall be fined one hundred dollars pursuant to section 42-4-1701(4)(a)(I)(N). The department shall not assess any points under section 42-2-127 for a conviction pursuant to subsection (6) of this section.

(4) The air quality control commission may adopt rules and regulations pursuant to sections 25-7-109 and 25-7-110, C.R.S., which permit or allow for the alteration, modification, or disconnection of manufacturer-installed air pollution control systems or manufacturer tuning specifications on motor vehicles for the purpose of controlling vehicle emissions. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the alteration or the conversion of a motor vehicle to operate on a gaseous fuel, if the resultant emissions are at levels complying with state and federal standards for that model year of motor vehicle.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the adjustment or modification of motor vehicles to reduce vehicle emissions pursuant to section 215 of the federal “Clean Air Act”, as amended, 42 U.S.C. sec. 7549.

(6)(a)Nuisance exhibition of motor vehicle exhaust--prohibition. A person shall not engage in a nuisance exhibition of motor vehicle exhaust, which is the knowing release of soot, smoke, or other particulate emissions from a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of fourteen thousand pounds or less into the air and onto roadways, other motor vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians, in a manner that obstructs or obscures another person's view of the roadway, other users of the roadway, or a traffic control device or otherwise creates a hazard to a driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian.

(b) The prohibition set forth in subsection (6)(a) of this section does not apply to:

(I) A commercial vehicle, as defined in section 42-1-102(17.5);

(II) A common carrier, as defined in section 40-1-102(3)(a)(I);

(III) A motor carrier, as defined in section 40-10.1-101(10);

(IV) A motor carrier of passengers, permitted pursuant to section 40-10.1-302;

(V) A motor carrier of towed motor vehicles, permitted pursuant to section 40-10.1-401;

(VI) A motor carrier of household goods, permitted pursuant to section 40-10.1-502;

(VII) A motor vehicle used for agricultural purposes; or

(VIII) Any other vehicle used for commercial activities.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Colorado Revised Statutes Title 42. Vehicles and Traffic § 42-4-314. Automobile emissions control systems--tampering--operation of vehicle - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/co/title-42-vehicles-and-traffic/co-rev-st-sect-42-4-314/

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