Colorado § 13-21-108.4 - Persons rendering emergency assistance from a locked vehicle - exempt from criminal and civil liability - definitions.

§ 13-21-108.4. Persons rendering emergency assistance from a locked vehicle - exempt from criminal and civil liability - definitions.

(1) For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Animal" means a dog or cat. The term "animal" does not include livestock, as defined in subsection (1)(c) of this section.

(b) "At-risk person" means an at-risk adult, an at-risk adult with IDD, an at-risk elder, or an at-risk juvenile, as those terms are defined in section 18-6.5-102.

(c) "Livestock" means cattle, horses, mules, burros, sheep, poultry, swine, llamas, and goats.

(2) A person is immune from civil and criminal liability for property damage resulting from his or her forcible entry into a locked vehicle if:

(a) The vehicle is not a law enforcement vehicle; and

(b) An at-risk person or animal is present in the vehicle and the person rendering assistance has a reasonable belief that the at-risk person or animal is in imminent danger of death or suffering serious bodily injury; and

(c) The person determines that the vehicle is locked and that forcible entry is necessary; and

(d) The person makes a reasonable effort to locate the owner or operator of the vehicle and documents the color, make, model, license plate number, and location of the vehicle; and

(e) The person contacts a local law enforcement agency, the fire department, animal control, or a 911 operator prior to forcibly entering the vehicle, and the person does not interfere with, hinder, or fail to obey a lawful order of any person duly empowered with police authority or other first responder duties who is discharging or apparently discharging his or her duties; and

(f) The person uses no more force than he or she believes is reasonably necessary; and

(g) (I) The person rendering assistance remains with the at-risk person or animal, reasonably close to the vehicle, until a law enforcement officer, emergency medical service provider, animal control officer, or other first responder arrives at the scene.

(II) If it is necessary for the person rendering assistance to leave the scene before the owner or operator of the vehicle returns to the scene, or before a law enforcement officer, emergency medical service provider, animal control officer, or other first responder arrives at the scene, and regardless of whether or not the person rendering assistance took the at-risk person or animal to a hospital, an appropriate law enforcement, animal control, or veterinary facility, prior to leaving the scene the person rendering assistance shall:

(A) Place a notice on the windshield of the vehicle that includes his or her name and contact information and the name and contact information of the location, if any, to which the person rendering assistance took the at-risk person or animal when he or she left the scene; and

(B) Contact law enforcement, animal control, or other first responder to advise them of his or her name and contact information, that he or she is leaving the scene, and the name and contact information of the location, if any, to which the person rendering assistance is taking the at-risk person or animal.

Source: L. 2017: Entire section added, (HB 17-1179), ch. 127, p. 435, § 1, effective August 9.

ANNOTATION

Law reviews. For article, "Colorado's Good Samaritan Laws", see 53 Colo. Law. 42 (Apr. 2024).