HB 17-1179

House Bill 17-1179, also known as "Immunity For Emergency Rescue From Locked Vehicle," provides legal protection for individuals who break into a locked car to rescue someone or an animal they believe is in immediate danger. To qualify for this immunity, the rescuer must ensure the vehicle isn't a police car, make reasonable efforts to find the owner and contact authorities before entering the vehicle, use only necessary force, stay with the rescued person or animal until help arrives, and leave their contact information if they need to depart early. This bill has been signed into law, meaning it is now enforceable in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for a person who forcibly enters a locked vehicle for the purpose of rendering assistance to an at-risk person or animal. To receive immunity, the person must:   Ensure the vehicle is not a law enforcement vehicle; Have a reasonable belief that the person or animal is in imminent danger of death or suffering serious bodily injury; Verify the vehicle is locked; Make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or operator of the vehicle; Contact a law enforcement or other first responder agency prior to forcibly entering the vehicle and not interfere with the actions of any such responding law enforcement agency; Use no more force than reasonably necessary to enter the locked vehicle; Remain with the at-risk person or animal in a safe location close to the vehicle until law enforcement or other first responder arrives at the scene; except that, if the person rendering assistance has to leave the scene before the owner or operator of the vehicle returns, prior to leaving the scene, the person rendering assistance shall leave a notice on the vehicle with his or her name and contact information and the name and location, if any, of the facility to which he or she took the at-risk person or animal. Also prior to leaving the scene, the person rendering assistance shall contact law enforcement, animal control, or other first responder to provide them with the same information.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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