ColoradoHB25-11172025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Vehicle Immobilization Company Regulation

Sponsored By: Andrew Boesenecker (Democratic), Julie Gonzales (Democratic), Junie Joseph (Democratic), Mike Weissman (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Transportation & Motor VehiclesBusiness & Economic Development

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

11 provisions identified: 10 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Drivers gain billing and payment protections

Companies must give an itemized bill showing each charge, fee rate, and any fee that caused the booting. They must clearly list payment methods, immediately accept cash or a valid major credit card, and release the vehicle upon payment. A second company cannot boot an already-booted vehicle, and one company can charge only once to remove all its devices. Once booting starts, a lower state-set release charge applies while the worker remains on the private property. Companies must explain the release option when approached before booting and stop work immediately when release is requested and that charge is paid.

Drivers gain evidence to challenge booting

Companies must document vehicle condition and the booting reason with photos of at least 2,000 by 2,000 pixels each. Required views include the device and attachment point, plus the reason; authorized or interested people can request copies. If damage occurred, missing compliant condition photos create a presumption the company caused it; missing reason photos create a presumption of unauthorized booting. Companies can challenge these presumptions and must provide proof of commercial liability and motor vehicle liability insurance on request. Required records, including notice evidence and sign and vehicle photos, must be kept three years and supplied to regulators or enforcement officials on request.

Drivers gain limits on private-property booting

Colorado booting companies generally need fresh, signed permission for each private-property booting, unless legal or police authority allows it. Permission must come from an eligible property representative within the previous 24 hours, not through automatic or advance approval. Companies must keep the state permission form for three years and provide it to an authorized or interested person on request. Financial ties limit who can grant permission; an owner who profits cannot use that company, though another company can be authorized. Booting companies cannot patrol for parking violations or pay anyone for the right to boot vehicles.

Drivers usually get warning before booting

Drivers generally must receive a windshield warning at least 24 hours before booting in parking spaces or common parking areas. It must explain the violation, when booting will happen, and that repeating the violation can lead to booting without warning. Exceptions cover repeat violations, including repeated returns, fire hydrants or zones, illegal or disability-space parking, legal orders, and major access obstructions. Designated resident spaces and residents-only lots also qualify, but visitor spaces in those lots still require advance warning. When using an exception, companies must leave their phone number, normal hours, and after-hours contact number on the booted vehicle.

Residents gain parking notices and protections

Landlords must give tenants written parking rules before adopting or changing them, or before someone agrees to become a tenant. Drivers entering and parking on covered private property must receive notice of parking rules and possible booting at the owner's expense. Companies cannot boot a resident's inoperable vehicle in the resident's designated, rented, or purchased parking space or driveway. This protection also covers a mobile-home lot the resident owns or leases.

Drivers can identify and report companies

Booting vehicles must show the company name, permit number, and phone on both sides while traveling to, performing, or leaving booting work. Letters must be at least three inches tall and readable from 50 feet in daylight; workers must visibly wear business identification. Removal work must meet lighting and safety requirements. At private-property release, invoices, receipts, and bills must clearly explain the right to complain to the Public Utilities Commission, in equally large type. Listed booting violations count as deceptive trade practices, enforceable by Colorado's Attorney General or district attorneys.

Drivers can obtain partial-payment vehicle release

Companies must immediately release a vehicle when an authorized or interested person pays at least $60 and signs the state debt form. Lienholders and insurers cannot use this option, and companies cannot require extra approval; knowingly giving false information is unlawful. The form, “IMMOBILIZED VEHICLE RELEASE NOTICE WITH PAYMENT OWED,” is available on the Public Utilities Commission's website. A separate provision also allows release after acknowledging the debt and paying 15% of the fees, capped at $60. Signing preserves complaint rights and other remedies; the unpaid balance remains owed and can be pursued through court or collection.

Drivers get clearer parking warning signs

Beginning January 1, 2026, required booting signs must cover at least two square feet, with letters at least one inch high. Signs must use English and Spanish, contrasting colors, parking restrictions and times, an owner-expense warning, and the company's name and phone number. They must be permanently mounted 3–10 feet above ground and visible across the parking area; they may share other required signs. Round-the-clock restrictions require “AUTHORIZED PARKING ONLY,” and lots with more than ten freestanding lampposts have extra sign-distribution rules. Related statutory repeals take effect July 2, 2026.

Drivers get firm vehicle release deadlines

After an authorized or interested person contacts the company for release, the deadline is 90 minutes during normal business hours. Outside those hours, the deadline is 120 minutes. Companies using remote release must collect the device within 120 minutes; owners and operators do not have to return it. Drivers must move it off the road unless a physical limitation makes that unreasonably difficult or impossible. Companies must immediately remove devices free of charge to towing carriers showing authorization for a nonconsensual or law-enforcement-directed tow.

State screens and oversees booting companies

Colorado companies need an annual Public Utilities Commission permit before offering or performing booting services within the state; local governments are excluded. Applicants must show workers' compensation coverage and financial responsibility and disclose all owners and company leaders, including during renewal. The commission can restrict permits, including rates, and inspect facilities and vehicles; the State Patrol also has inspection authority. Permit denial or loss can follow undisclosed leadership, unpaid penalties, felony or booting-related convictions or pleas within five years, or public-interest findings. Repeated, willful violations support a public-interest finding that companies can challenge under commission rules. Missing a covered fine deadline triggers revocation after the commission decision is final and can disqualify the company and covered affiliates from state operating authority for five years after the payment due date. Permit fees and appropriations go into the Vehicle Booting Cash Fund, continuously available to the commission for oversight.

Some drivers lack these booting protections

The detailed booting protections do not apply to immobilizations ordered by peace officers or technicians acting under their direction. They also exclude parking spaces serving a business on commercial real estate and commercial parking on federally leased land. Another exception covers booting ordered or performed by municipalities, counties, or cities and counties, including their agents, contractors, and employees. These exclusions limit the reach of the protections; they do not remove every other legal right.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Jennifer Bacon
Democratic • House
Javier Mabrey
Democratic • House
Kyle Brown
Democratic • House
Meg Froelich
Democratic • House
Mandy Lindsay
Democratic • House
Naquetta Ricks
Democratic • House
Regina English
Democratic • House
Sheila Lieder
Democratic • House
Tammy Story
Democratic • House
Yara Zokaie
Democratic • House
Cathy Kipp
Democratic • Senate
Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Democratic • Senate
Sen. F. Winter
Affiliation unavailable
Iman Jodeh
Democratic • Senate
James Coleman
Democratic • Senate
Katie Wallace
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Cutter
Democratic • Senate
Nick Hinrichsen
Democratic • Senate
Tony Exum
Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 160 • No: 87

House vote • 4/23/2025

Senate amendments: Repass

Yes: 41 • No: 22

House vote • 4/23/2025

Senate amendments: Concur

Yes: 43 • No: 20

Senate vote • 4/17/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 22 • No: 13

Senate vote • 4/14/2025

Refer House Bill 25-1117, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.

Yes: 5 • No: 3

House vote • 3/26/2025

Third reading: Bill

Yes: 41 • No: 24

House vote • 2/18/2025