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DENVER, CO – The House today passed legislation to crack down on predatory vehicle booting, improve industry transparency, and ramp up consumer protections. HB25-1117 passed the House by a vote of 41-24.
“Vehicle booting must be conducted fairly and transparently – not to take advantage of hardworking Coloradans,” said Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. “An unexpected and unwarranted boot can cause financial and logistical headaches. Our bill would protect consumers by regulating vehicle immobilization companies, ensuring they operate under strict guidelines that prevent predatory practices. We’re taking steps to empower the Public Utilities Commission to hold companies accountable and protect Coloradans from unjust vehicle immobilization.”
“Lack of industry regulation and consumer protections has given free rein to vehicle booting companies to immobilize Coloradans’ vehicles without good cause,” said Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins. “Colorado’s made important progress to protect you from predatory towing practices, and now we’re tackling unfair booting practices, which can be just as disruptive to getting to work, doctors’ appointments, or school. This bill cracks down on booting companies that patrol parking lots indiscriminately and improves transparency to give consumers a fair warning of at least 24 hours before immobilizing them.”
HB25-1117 aims to improve oversight, transparency and fairness surrounding vehicle immobilization, including booting. Specifically, this bill would give the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) additional oversight to deny, suspend, revoke or refuse to renew a permit to a vehicle booting company if the company is violating specific guidelines.
The goal of HB25-1117 is to protect consumers from predatory booting practices by establishing new requirements for vehicle booting companies, including clear signage, and preventing companies from patrolling parking lots.
Under the bill, vehicle booting companies would be required to:
Document a vehicle’s condition and the reason for immobilization before they immobilize it,
Display the name of the company, the permit number and a phone number of the company on each company vehicle used for immobilization,
Not charge more than once for the removal of more than one immobilization device
Remove an immobilization device if at least $60 of the total amount owed is paid.
Additionally, vehicle booting companies must refrain from immobilizing a vehicle if:
It has already been immobilized by another company
It is on private property, unless given appropriate permission
It is in a parking space or common parking area until it places a written notice on the vehicle at least 24 hours before immobilizing
There is inadequate signage posted by the property owner
In recent years, Colorado Democrats have passed landmark legislation to protect consumers against predatory towing practices, including HB21-1283, HB22-1314, and HB24-1051.