Colorado § 18-9-101 - Definitions.

§ 18-9-101. Definitions.

As used in this part 1, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Destructive device" means any material, substance, or mechanism capable of being used, either by itself or in combination with any other substance, material, or mechanism, to cause sudden and violent injury, damage, destruction, or death.

(1.4) "Funeral" means the ceremonies, rituals, and memorial services held in connection with the final disposition or memorial of a deceased person, including the assembly and dispersal of the mourners.

(1.5) "Funeral site" means a church, synagogue, mosque, funeral home, mortuary, cemetery, gravesite, mausoleum, or other place where a funeral is conducted.

(2) "Riot" means a public disturbance involving an assemblage of three or more persons which by tumultuous and violent conduct creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons or substantially obstructs the performance of any governmental function.

(3) "Transit worker" means a bus operator, train operator, ticket inspector, conductor, station customer assistant, or a person whose official duties include the maintenance, repair, inspection, troubleshooting, testing, or cleaning of buses, trains, or facilities of a mass transportation system, as defined in section 32-9-103, or a commuter rail agency, authority, or company, public or private, whose operation is authorized by the state, whether the person is employed by a political subdivision or a private entity.

Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 466, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 40-9-101. L. 95: (2) amended, p. 1255, § 18, effective July 1. L. 2006: (1.4) and (1.5) added, p. 1198, § 2, effective May 26. L. 2021: (1.4) amended, (SB 21-006), ch. 123, p. 496, § 23, effective September 7. L. 2025: (3) added, (HB 25-1290), ch. 353, p. 1908, § 1, effective August 6.

Cross references: In 2006, subsections (1.4) and (1.5) were added by the "Right to Rest in Peace Act". For the title and legislative declaration, see section 1 of chapter 262, Session Laws of Colorado 2006.

ANNOTATION

Provisions give clear warning that participation in riot forbidden. Subsection (2) of this section and § 18-9-104 give clear warning that knowing participation in the defined conduct is forbidden and provide explicit standards to guide persons charged with their enforcement. People v. Bridges, 620 P.2d 1 (Colo. 1980).

Engaging in a riot was a crime at common law requiring mens rea, or guilty mind, to be criminally actionable. People v. Bridges, 620 P.2d 1 (Colo. 1980).

Mental state "knowingly" is required for the offense of engaging in a riot. People v. Bridges, 620 P.2d 1 (Colo. 1980).