text: At some apartments and mobile home parks in Colorado, it’s not unusual to wake up and find your car has been towed over a minor infraction — and you could owe hundreds to get it back.
  “Because they didn’t park squarely on their driveway, their vehicle is towed, and they can’t afford to release it, and their kids’ car seats are in it, and they don’t know which lot is in it,” said state Rep. Edie Hooton, a Boulder Democrat, listing the problems that can cascade from an incident like this.
  This year, Hooton wants to crack down on companies that tow residents over small infractions in order to collect fees.
  State law already requires residential communities to write out contracts that specify when and why a towing company can take cars. But Hooton suspects some community managers are skirting that requirement and giving towers carte blanche for predatory practices.
  Hooton and state Rep. Naquetta Ricks, both Democrats, plan to introduce a “vehicle owner’s bill of rights” that would put more teeth into those existing state laws. They want to ensure that each tower is working under a specific contract and that residents have access to its terms.
  “This is a serious problem in these communities,” Hooton said.
  More stories about Colorado politics:
  Nearly 100,000 people may keep their driver’s licenses in 2022 because of a new Colorado law
  Coloradans get new powers to vanquish auto-renew contracts Colorado in 2022
  Colorado will start oversight of fast-growing non-bank mortgage companies on Jan. 1
  Sharing the documents would ensure that people know when they can be towed. She also wants to consider increasing the staff of the agency that regulates towing companies, and potentially increase fees on companies that break the law.
  The forthcoming bill, which hasn’t yet been drafted, could require communities to file their towing contracts with state regulators.
  “We want to make sure that every mobile home park and HOA — that they all have contracts, and we want to make sure that there is an enforcement mechanism with those contracts,” Hooton said.
  She also is concerned that people can be towed over violations such as expired license plates, which she described as a “law enforcement issue” outside the concern of private companies.
  John Connolly, state president of the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Colorado, said that the industry would work with legislators on the new law.
  "The Towing and Recovery Professionals of Colorado have always supported good legislation and will continue to do so. Our main mission is to help the state of Colorado and our communities in providing safe and efficient towing services. We look forward to helping Rep. Hooton and Rep. Ricks with their mission to close loop holes in current private property laws to help protect consumers and the integrity of the towing industry," he wrote in an email.
  The Rocky Mountain Home Association, which represents mobile home community owners, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
  Editor's note: This article was updated on Jan. 5, 2022 with comment from the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Colorado.
  You care.
  You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. We can help you keep up. The Lookout is a free, daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning!
  CPR thanks our sponsors.Become a sponsor
  Popular Stories
  Justice
  The mother of the Club Q shooting suspect was arrested and charged the morning of the shooting
  Education
  ‘This situation is unsustainable’: Stagnant wages fuel resentment among Colorado State University’s nontenure-track faculty
  Justice
  Colorado Springs fundraisers are rallying people behind the city’s LGBTQ community after the Club Q shooting
  2022 Elections
  State-mandated recount ordered in Boebert-Frisch race to represent Colorado District 3
  Latest Stories
  Climate Change
  As CU Boulder hosts climate activists from across the world, some students protest its financial ties to fossil fuels
  By Miguel Otárola
  News
  A night of drag: Fundraiser for Club Q staff focuses on love and the strength of community
  By Abigail Beckman
  News
  Colorado Weather: Wind gusts bring power outages and the threat of wildfires and avalanches
  By Tony Gorman
  Education
  CSU names Amy Parsons as sole finalist for university president
  By Jenny Brundin
  Listen to a Colorado Postcard
  Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Listen now.
  Upcoming Events
  The 7th Annual Colorado Matters Holiday Extravaganza7:30pmCentral Presbyterian Church
  Dec15
  Indie 102.3’s December Local 303 Meetup6:30pmMercury Cafe
  Dec19
  Indie 102.3 Presents New Year’s Eve with Kiltro8:00pmSkylark Lounge
  Dec31
  Sign Up For Our Newsletters
  It takes a good day’s drive to cover Colorado, but we’ll help you do it in a few minutes. Our newsletters bring you a closer look at the stories that affect you and the music that inspires you.