(1) (a) A person, other than a towing carrier or peace officer as described in section 162.5-101, C.R.S., commits the crime of unlawful removal of tow-truck signage if:
A towing carrier has placed a tow-truck warning sign on the driver-side window of avehicle to be towed or, if window placement is impracticable, in another location on the driverside of the vehicle; and
The vehicle to be towed is within fifty feet of the towing carrier vehicle; and
The person removes the tow-truck warning sign from the vehicle before the tow iscompleted.
A person commits the crime of unlawful usage of tow-truck signage if the personplaces a tow-truck warning sign on a vehicle when the vehicle is not in the process of being towed or when the vehicle is occupied.
A towing carrier may permit an owner of the vehicle to be towed to retrieve anypersonal items from the vehicle before the vehicle is towed.
A person who violates subsection (1) of this section commits a class 3 misdemeanor.
For purposes of this section, "tow-truck warning sign" means a sign that is at leasteight inches by eight inches, is either yellow or orange, and states the following:
WARNING: This vehicle is in tow. Attempting to operate or operating this vehicle may result in criminal prosecution and may lead to injury or death to you or another person.
Source: L. 2011: Entire section added, (SB 11-260), ch. 298, p. 1433, § 2, effective July 1.
Cross references: In 2011, this section was added by the "Allen Rose Tow-truck Safety Act". For the short title, see section 1 of chapter 298, Session Laws of Colorado 2011.