Colorado § 33-13-108.2 - Operating a vessel while the privilege to operate is suspended.

§ 33-13-108.2. Operating a vessel while the privilege to operate is suspended.

(1) Any person who operates a vessel in this state at a time when a court-ordered suspension of the operator's vessel operating privilege is in effect for a conviction of an alcohol- or drug-related operating offense pursuant to section 33-13-108.1 (1) commits a class 2 misdemeanor. However, in a case where the defendant is convicted and it is established that it was necessary to operate the vessel in violation of this subsection (1) because of an emergency, the mandatory jail sentence shall not apply, and, for a conviction, the court may impose a sentence of imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than one year and, in the discretion of the court, a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, and, for a subsequent conviction, the court may impose a sentence of imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not more than two years and, in the discretion of the court, a fine of not more than three thousand dollars.

(2) In any trial in which a person is charged with a violation of subsection (1) of this section, a duly authenticated copy of the record of former convictions and judgments of any court of record against the party indicted or informed against for an alcohol- or drug-related vessel operating offense pursuant to section 33-13-108.1 shall be prima facie evidence of the convictions and judgments and may be used in evidence against the party. Identification photographs and fingerprints that are part of the record of such former convictions and judgments and the party's incarceration after sentencing for any of such former convictions and judgments shall be prima facie evidence of the identity of the party and may be used in evidence against the party.

(3) Upon a subsequent conviction under subsection (1) of this section within five years after the first conviction, in addition to the penalty prescribed in said subsection (1), the court shall order the defendant to not operate a vessel in this state for a period of two years after the subsequent conviction.

(4) Upon conviction of or a plea of no contest to a violation of this section, the court shall forward a certified copy of the conviction or plea to the division.

Source: L. 89: Entire section added, p. 1358, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2008: Entire section amended, p. 651, § 3, effective August 5. L. 2021: (1) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3266, § 574, effective March 1, 2022.