HB 18-1051 Summary

• Increases penalties for leaving campfires unattended from a class 2 petty offense (previously $50 fine) to a class 3 misdemeanor when the campfire is located in a forested or grassland area, with punishments ranging from a $50 minimum fine up to 6 months imprisonment or a $750 fine, or both.

• Redefines the offense to require that a person knowingly or recklessly fails to reasonably attend a campfire at all times or fails to thoroughly extinguish it before leaving the site, rather than simply leaving it unattended.

• Applies the same enhanced penalties to violations on Division of Wildlife property under Colorado Revised Statutes 33-15-106.

• Requires county boards of commissioners to erect and maintain at least 20 notices in each county informing the public that campfires must not be left unattended and must be totally extinguished before leaving camp.

• Takes effect July 1, 2018, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.