Colorado criminal charge
False reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities in Colorado
False reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-8-111.5. Its classification is not fixed: Colorado assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by C.R.S. § 18-8-111.5.
What is the penalty for false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 120 days (no statutory minimum) (False reporting of identifying information — base offense — Applies when a person knowingly provides false identifying information to law enforcement authorities without substantially impeding a felony investigation or arrest.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 750 usd (no statutory minimum) (False reporting of identifying information — base offense — Applies when a person knowingly provides false identifying information to law enforcement authorities without substantially impeding a felony investigation or arrest.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | 12 months to 18 months (False reporting of identifying information — impeding felony investigation — Applies when the false identifying information results in substantially impeding the investigation or arrest of a person for a felony crime under section 24-4.1-302(1).) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (False reporting of identifying information — impeding felony investigation — Applies when the false identifying information results in substantially impeding the investigation or arrest of a person for a felony crime under section 24-4.1-302(1).) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 1 years to 1 years (False reporting of identifying information — impeding felony investigation — Applies when the false identifying information results in substantially impeding the investigation or arrest of a person for a felony crime under section 24-4.1-302(1).; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| False reporting of identifying information — base offense | class 2 misdemeanor | Applies when a person knowingly provides false identifying information to law enforcement authorities without substantially impeding a felony investigation or arrest. | 18-8-111.5(2) |
| False reporting of identifying information — impeding felony investigation | class 6 felony | Applies when the false identifying information results in substantially impeding the investigation or arrest of a person for a felony crime under section 24-4.1-302(1). | 18-8-111.5(2) |
Common questions about false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities in Colorado
Is false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities ranges from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 6 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-8-111.5.
False reporting of identifying information — base offense: class 2 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-8-111.5(2)) · False reporting of identifying information — impeding felony investigation: class 6 felony (C.R.S. § 18-8-111.5(2))
What are the penalties for false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities in Colorado?
Penalties for false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 2 misdemeanor up to a class 6 felony — with the ranges set by C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 and C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Colorado statute covers false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities?
False reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities is governed by C.R.S. § 18-8-111.5 (False reporting of identifying information to law enforcement authorities - definition).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.