Concerning criminalizing certain motor vehicle activities, and, in connection therewith, criminalizing and creating penalties for motor vehicle racing, street takeovers, and stunt driving.
HB26-1329 would expand Colorado’s traffic and criminal laws to specifically prohibit and penalize a range of dangerous motor vehicle activities on highways and roadways, including street takeovers, coordinated street takeovers, racing and drag racing, and stunt driving. The bill defines key terms such as race, drag race, street takeover, stunt driving, drifting, burnout, doughnut, wheelie, and spectator, and it makes it unlawful not only to drive in these events but also to coordinate, facilitate, fuel, or knowingly attend them as a spectator. It also covers conduct that slows or blocks traffic in connection with these events.
The bill creates escalating penalties for violations. A first offense for unlawful racing or stunt driving is treated as a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense, while repeat offenses can become felonies. Separate felony penalties apply to unlawful coordinated street takeovers, with higher fines and longer driver’s license revocations for repeat conduct. The bill also increases the seriousness of vehicular eluding when it occurs in connection with these prohibited activities, making it a class 4 felony in those circumstances. In addition, it authorizes arrest, court-ordered impoundment or immobilization, and, in some cases, seizure or forfeiture-related procedures for vehicles used in these offenses.
The bill would amend several sections of Colorado law, including the racing and drag racing statute, the driver’s license point system, vehicular eluding, and the statute governing automated vehicle identification systems. It would add a new provision allowing automated vehicle identification systems to assist in investigations of violations of the racing and takeover law. The bill applies only to offenses committed on or after June 15, 2026.
Because no committee transcript or vote record is provided, the available context shows limited direct evidence of debate or public sentiment. However, the bill’s introduction and its focus on public safety suggest it was framed as a response to dangerous and disruptive street racing and takeover activity. Its last recorded action was a House Judiciary Committee postponement indefinitely on April 1, 2026, indicating the bill did not advance out of committee and may have faced resistance or lack of support.
The main points of contention likely involve the breadth of the prohibitions and the severity of the penalties. In particular, the bill criminalizes not only drivers but also spectators, passengers, facilitators, and fuel providers, and it uses broad knowledge standards such as what a person “should reasonably know.” Those provisions could raise concerns about overbreadth, enforcement difficulty, and whether innocent bystanders could be swept into liability, while supporters would likely emphasize deterrence, traffic safety, and stronger tools for law enforcement.
HB26-1329 would substantially revise Colorado Revised Statutes sections governing racing, speed exhibitions, driver’s license points, vehicular eluding, and automated vehicle identification systems. It would replace the existing framework for speed contests and speed exhibitions with a more detailed set of offenses targeting street takeovers, coordinated street takeovers, drag racing, and stunt driving, while adding new definitions and penalties. It would also authorize vehicle impoundment, immobilization, and potential seizure procedures, and it would increase driver’s license consequences and criminal penalties for repeat conduct and related eluding offenses.
The bill appears to have been introduced with a public-safety rationale and likely had support from those concerned about street racing and takeover incidents. At the same time, the lack of recorded votes or transcript discussion makes the overall sentiment difficult to measure precisely. Its indefinite postponement in the House Judiciary Committee suggests the measure did not secure enough support to move forward, which may indicate concern about its scope, enforcement, or penalty structure.
Likely areas of contention include the bill’s broad reach beyond drivers to passengers, spectators, facilitators, and fuel providers; the use of “reasonably know” standards; and the creation of felony liability for conduct tied to street takeovers and repeat offenses. Opponents may view the spectator and facilitation provisions as overinclusive or difficult to enforce fairly, while supporters would argue that organized takeovers require broader deterrence and stronger enforcement tools. The impoundment, immobilization, and seizure provisions, along with the use of automated vehicle identification systems, may also have raised privacy, due process, and proportionality concerns.