Lawmakers attempt to tackle auto theft

Penalties could increase

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down on the scourge of vehicle theft in the state by decoupling the cost of a stolen car from the criminal penalty a thief faces and by increasing penalties for repeat auto theft o enders.

Senate Bill 97 would make stealing any vehicle a Class 5 felony, which is generally punishable by one to three years in prison or a ne between $1,000 to $100,000, or both.

Right now, the penalty level for an auto thief depends on the value of the vehicle they steal. e lowest level o ense is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 364 days in jail, for stealing a car worth up to $2,000 if it’s a rst or second auto theft.

e highest level o ense is a Class 3 felony, punishable by up to 12 years in prison, for stealing a car valued at $100,000 or more.

Under the new measure, a person who steals a car could be charged with Class 4 felony based on aggravating circumstances, such as should a thief keep the vehicle for more than a day, use the vehicle during the commission of another crime or take steps to alter or disguise the vehicle. Class 4 felonies are punishable by up to six years in prison.

e legislation, brought at politi- cians face pressure to deal with an increasing number of car thefts across the state, would also make a third or subsequent auto theft conviction a Class 3 felony, which are generally punishable by four to 12 years in prison and nes of $3,000 to $750,000 or both.

Tim Lane, with the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council, said the legislation creates a tiered auto theft penalty system that aims to send a message that no matter the value of a vehicle, stealing an automobile is a serious o ense. Lane said the legislation likely wouldn’t change the maximum penalty for a juvenile auto thief.

“ is is one thing to help with auto theft,” he said, “but it’s by no means the entire solution.”

Lane spoke at a news conference with Democratic and Republican state lawmakers. Also attending the event were Denver-area mayors and police chiefs, as well as local prosecutors and key members of Gov. Jared Polis’ administration.

“Imagine waking up one morning to nd your only way of getting to work, of getting your kids to school or day care is gone,” said Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, an Arvada Democrat and prime sponsor of the bill, at Monday’s news conference. “Picture heading to the parking lot after a long day of work to nd your way home has been taken. Imagine the terror of being held up at gunpoint and forced to leave your vehicle in a carjacking. Too many of our neighbors don’t need to imagine what this feels like because they have lived it rsthand.” e other lead sponsors of the bill are Republican Sen. Bob Gardner of Colorado Springs and Reps. Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Shannon Bird, D-Westminster.

Polis, in a written statement, endorsed the measure.

“To achieve our shared goal of making Colorado one of the top ten safest states in the next ve years, it is critical we address rising auto theft crimes in our state,” he said. “Coloradans are counting on us. A vehicle’s monetary value does not represent the value to the owner and the impacts a stolen vehicle has on a person or family’s daily life. Criminals should be held accountable for the crimes they commit and charged in a consistent, just, and rational way.” e new legislation also includes a “joy-ride” provision that would make it a Class 1 misdemeanor to use a vehicle without the owner’s permission as long as the car is returned within 24 hours without damage and only minor tra c offenses were committed. A second and subsequent conviction for the joy-ride o ense would be a Class 5 felony, however. is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

Legal Notice No. 415687

First Publication: February 9, 2023

Last Publication: February 9, 2023

Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

Metropolitan Districts

Public Notice

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly, to the eligible electors of SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT ("District") of Jefferson County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the District will conduct a regular election on the 2nd day of May, 2023, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time, (3) three directors will be elected for a 4-year term and (1) one director will be elected for a 2-year term.

In order to be a candidate for one of the director positions, a qualified individual must submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District’s Designated Election Official (DEO):

Robin A. Navant, DEO rnavant@spencerfane.com

Spencer Fane LLP

1700 Lincoln Street, Ste. 2000 Denver, CO 80203 Phone: 303-839-3714

The Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form must be returned to the Designated Election Official by close of business (5:00 p.m. MST) on Friday, February 24, 2023. The form should be emailed to rnavant@spencerfane.com. If the designated election official determines that a self-nomination and acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form at any time prior to the close of business on the day of the deadline.

Affidavit of Intent To Be A Write-In-Candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the Designated Election Official by the close of business on Monday, February 27, 2023.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an application for an absentee ballot may be filed with the Designated Election Official, at the contact information referenced above, no later than the close of business on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

Robin A. Navant, Designated Election Official

Legal Notice No. 415649

First Publication: February 9, 2023

Last Publication: February 9, 2023

Publisher: Golden Transcript Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press Public Notice

A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Sections 1-4-912; 1-13.5-303; 1-13.5-305; 1-13.5-501; 1-13.5-1002 and 32-1-902(2), C.R.S. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the VAUXMONT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, of JEFFERSON County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an election will be held on the 2nd day of May, 2023, between the hours of 7:00 a. m. and 7:00 p. m. At that time, three (3) directors will be elected to serve four (4)-year terms. Eligible electors of the VAUXMONT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT interested in serving on the board of directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from Sarah

E. E. Shepherd, the District Designated Election Official (DEO), at info@ccrider.us, or by calling 303-482-1002. The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and

Acceptance is close of business on Friday, February 24, 2023 (not less than 67 days before the election). If the DEO determines that a SelfNomination and Acceptance form is not sufficient, the eligible elector who submitted the form may amend the form at any time prior to the close of business on the day of the deadline. Affidavit of Intent to be a write-in-candidate forms must be submitted to the office of the designated election official by the close of business on Monday, February 27, 2023 (the sixty-fourth day before the election).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that requests for an application for an absentee voter’s ballot may be made orally or in writing with the designated election official no later than the close of business on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at the address and telephone number listed above between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

VAUXMONT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /S/ SARAH E. E. SHEPHERD

Designated Election Official

Legal Notice No. 415676

First Publication: February 9, 2023

Last Publication: February 9, 2023

Publisher: Golden Transcript Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press

Public Notice

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and, particularly, to the electors of the Apex Park and Recreation District of Jefferson County, Colorado (the “District”): on the day of May, 2023 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At that time, two (2) directors will be elected to serve four-year (4) terms. Eligible electors of the District interested in serving on the Board of Directors may obtain a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form from the District’s Designated Election Official (DEO): Sarah Shepherd at info@ccrider.us, 303-482-1002 or with the District’s Deputy DEO: Brook-Lyn Greenwood, Apex Center, 13150 West 72nd Avenue, Arvada, CO 80005, 303.403.2518, Brook-LynG@apexprd.org.

The office of the DEO is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Deputy DEO’s office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The deadline to submit a Self-Nomination and Acceptance form is close of business on Friday, February 24, 2023 (67th day before the election). An Affidavit of Intent to be a Write-In Candidate form must be submitted to the office of the DEO by the close of business on Monday, February 27, 2023 (64th day before the election).

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an application for an absentee ballot shall be filed with the Designated Election Official no later than the close of business on the Tuesday preceding the election, April 25, 2023.

By: /s/ Sarah Shepherd

Designated Election Official

Publish in: Golden Transcript and Arvada Press Publish once: Between January 22, 2023 and February 16, 2023

Legal Notice No. 415677

First Publication: February 9, 2023

Last Publication: February 9, 2023

Publisher: Golden Transcript and the Arvada Press ###