HB 18-1204

House Bill 18-1204, which has been signed into law in Colorado, addresses drivers who operate vehicles without insurance. If a driver is caught driving uninsured, they must pay an annual fee of $250 for three years unless they prepay for six months of insurance and pay only $125 annually; this fee can be waived if the person's income is below 130% of the federal poverty line and they prepay for insurance. Additionally, drivers involved in accidents causing serious injury while uninsured may face a surcharge up to $4,000 and could have their vehicle immobilized with a boot for up to six months by court order. The bill also allows the state to cancel a driver's license if these fees are not paid or prepaid insurance is not arranged as required. This law impacts all drivers in Colorado who operate vehicles without proper insurance coverage.

Official Summary

Section 1 of the bill repeals the motorist insurance database. If a person drives without insurance, the bill: Requires the person, in sections 3, 5, and 8 , to pay a $250 fee each year for 3 years unless the person prepays for insurance for 6 months, in which case the person pays $125; except that the fee is waived if the person's income is under 130% of the poverty line and he or she prepays for insurance for 6 months; and In section 7, imposes a surcharge of up to $4,000 if the violation occurred in connection with an accident that caused serious bodily injury to another person. Section 7 also authorizes a court to order an immobilization device (a boot) on the person's motor vehicle for up to 180 days. If the person does not pay the fees or prepay for insurance as required in section 3, 5, and 8, section 5 cancels the person's driver's license. In section 2, the fees are deposited in the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account in the highway users tax fund. In section 6, the motorist insurance fee is set to 10 cents.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.) , Read More