Getting the Proper Ids
Driver’s/Car Licenses
Colorado law states that you must obtain a Colorado driver’s license and vehicle plates immediately upon establishing state residency. Residency is: working at any type of job, owning or operating a business in Colorado or living in the state continuously for 90 days. Note: You must have TWO forms of identification. Driver’s license: Grand County Court House, Hot Sulphur Springs. Call for hours (970) 887-7253.
Teenage Drivers
If you are under 18, you cannot drive a vehicle carrying a passenger under 21 unless you have held your driver’s license for at least six months. And you cannot drive a vehicle carrying more than one passenger under 21 unless you have held your driver’s license for at least one year. Penalty: fine, community service and an assessment of two license suspension points.
No Ding a Ling
Colorado law prohibits a person with any type of Instruction Permit from using a “mobile communication device” (in other words, a cell phone) while they are driving. This includes instruction-permit holders of all ages. Exceptions are if it is an emergency, if the driver is contacting a public safety entity (police, fire department, etc.) or if the driver has parked the vehicle.
Vehicle Registration:
You must register your vehicle in the county where you reside. Grand County Court House, Hot Sulphur Springs: (970) 725-3347
Registration of any vehicle may be denied or delayed if the Colorado Motor Vehicle Registration file does not show insurance coverage for the vehicle. Each month, insurance companies must inform the Colorado Motor Vehicle Registration Division who has insurance and whether insurance has lapsed or does not exist. You must provide proof of insurance to the county clerk and recorder before registration can occur. You may use your insurance card, copy of your insurance policy or a letter from your insurance company (on the company’s letterhead) as proof of insurance.
A Colorado initiative known as Motor Voter allows you to register to vote at all offices where driver’s licenses are issued. Qualifications to become a registered voter in Colorado: 18 years of age by election day, United States citizen, address of residence within a given precinct for 30 days by election day.
Once registered, you may vote in person at a place designated by the county clerk up to 24 days before any election and no later than the Friday prior to the election. On election day, polls are open from 7am to 7pm.
Colorado’s Many License Plates
Besides numerous government and “official business” licenses plates, Colorado has more than 52 unique plates. You can select a special state college alumni plate, a Columbine Respect Life plate, a Vietnam Vet, 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Marine, U.S. Army or even a raptor plate. You can make up your own personalized plate and, if you can provide proof that each generation of your direct ancestor was a resident of Colorado at least 100 years ago, you can drive around with a Pioneer plate. For more on the different Colorado plates, go to www.colorado.gov, Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, www.revenue.state.co.us/mv_dir/.
