Colorado § 42-4-1406 - Foreign matter on highway prohibited - penalty - definitions.
Full text of Colorado Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-1406 — Foreign matter on highway prohibited - penalty - definitions., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 42-4-1406. Foreign matter on highway prohibited - penalty - definitions.
(1) (a) No person shall throw or deposit upon or along any highway any glass bottle, glass, stones, nails, tacks, wire, cans, container of human waste, or other substance likely to injure any person, animal, or vehicle upon or along such highway.
(b) No person shall throw, drop, or otherwise expel a lighted cigarette, cigar, match, or other burning material from a motor vehicle upon any highway.
(2) Any person who drops, or permits to be dropped or thrown, upon any highway or structure any destructive or injurious material or lighted or burning substance shall immediately remove the same or cause it to be removed.
(3) Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a highway shall remove any glass or other injurious substance dropped upon the highway from such vehicle.
(4) No person shall excavate a ditch or other aqueduct, or construct any flume or pipeline or any steam, electric, or other railway, or construct any approach to a public highway without written consent of the authority responsible for the maintenance of that highway.
(5) (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (5), any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.
(b) (I) Any person who violates subsection (1)(b) of this section commits a petty offense and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-503.
(II) Any person who violates paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of this section by throwing or depositing a container of human waste upon or along any highway shall be punished by a fine of five hundred dollars in lieu of the penalty and surcharge prescribed in section 42-4-1701 (4)(a)(I)(N).
(6) As used in this section:
(a) "Container" includes, but is not limited to, a bottle, a can, a box, or a diaper.
(b) "Human waste" means urine or feces produced by a human.
Source: L. 94: Entire title amended with relocations, p. 2393, § 1, effective January 1, 1995. L. 2002, 3rd Ex. Sess.: Entire section amended, p. 52, § 1, effective July 18. L. 2005: (1)(a) and (5)(b) amended and (6) added, p. 137, § 1, effective April 5. L. 2006: (5)(b)(I) amended, p. 1512, § 74, effective June 1. L. 2021: (5)(b)(I) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3308, § 734, effective March 1, 2022.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 42-4-1207 as it existed prior to 1994, and the former § 42-4-1406 was relocated to § 42-4-1606.
Source: official Colorado text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado § 42-4-1406
What does Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-1406 cover?
Section 42-4-1406 ("Foreign matter on highway prohibited - penalty - definitions.") is part of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Colorado. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Colorado § 42-4-1406?
A common citation format is "Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-1406" (Colorado). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Colorado law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Colorado official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Colorado attorney.
How does Colorado § 42-4-1406 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Colorado can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.