New Colorado tow law requires 24-hour notice

COLORADO (KRDO) -- A new Colorado law that was signed in June requires Colorado towing companies to give vehicle owners 24 hours' written notice before removing a vehicle from the parking lot of an apartment, condo, or mobile home park.

The law went into effect on Wednesday.

According to our news partners in Denver, the legislation dubbed the "towing bill of rights," also prohibits tow companies from towing cars with expired registration. Another stipulation is that tow companies take a picture of a vehicle before it is removed.

“This law basically is a complete overhaul of towing in Colorado," said Rep. Naquetta Ricks, a Democrat who co-sponsored the bill.

The new law does include several exceptions where a vehicle can be towed immediately from an apartment, condor, or mobile home parking lot.

Those exceptions are:

• The car owner has two previous notices for parking illegally.
• The car is being repossessed.
• The tow is ordered by a court or police officer.
• A car blocking a driveway or roadway.
• A car illegally parked in a handicapped space.
• A car blocking a fire zone.
• A car parked in someone's reserved, paid parking space.
• A car parked without a resident pass in a lot requiring passes.

Other facets of the new law include requiring tow companies to post signage outside of their businesses listing the maximum rate for a tow. Additionally, if your car is towed the new law allows you to get it back without having to pay the entire bill all at once. Owners can retrieve their vehicles if they pay 15 percent of the fees, up to $60, and sign an agreement with the tow company to pay the amount in full.