Colorado criminal charge
Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver in Colorado
Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a criminal offense under Colorado law, defined by C.R.S. § 18-12-111.5. 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. § 18-12-111.5.
What is the penalty for unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver in Colorado?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (no statutory minimum) (First offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver — A violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)(a) constituting unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Fine | up to 1000 usd (no statutory minimum) (First offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver — A violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)(a) constituting unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-501 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 3 years (Second or subsequent offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver — A second or subsequent violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)(a) constituting unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 5 felony.) | presumptive | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Fine | 1000 usd to 100000 usd (Second or subsequent offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver — A second or subsequent violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)(a) constituting unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 5 felony.) | discretionary | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
| Parole / supervision | 2 years to 2 years (Second or subsequent offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver — A second or subsequent violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)(a) constituting unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 5 felony.; mandatory parole) | mandatory | C.R.S. § 18-1.3-401 |
Applies to offenses on/after 2022-03-01 (SB21-271).
How is unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver classified in Colorado?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| First offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver | class 1 misdemeanor | A violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)(a) constituting unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense. | 18-12-111.5(6)(b) |
| Second or subsequent offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver | class 5 felony | A second or subsequent violation of subsection (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)(a) constituting unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is a class 5 felony. | 18-12-111.5(6)(b) |
Common questions about unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver in Colorado
Is unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver a felony or a misdemeanor in Colorado?
It depends on the circumstances: unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Colorado under C.R.S. § 18-12-111.5.
First offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver: class 1 misdemeanor (C.R.S. § 18-12-111.5(6)(b)) · Second or subsequent offense - unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver: class 5 felony (C.R.S. § 18-12-111.5(6)(b))
What are the penalties for unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver in Colorado?
Penalties for unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver in Colorado depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 5 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 unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver?
Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver is governed by C.R.S. § 18-12-111.5 (Unlawful conduct involving an unserialized firearm, frame, or receiver - exceptions - penalties - authority to serialize a firearm).
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.