Colorado bill defines requirements related to outdoor recreation on privately-owned land

Last week Governor Polis signed the "Landowner Liability Recreational Use Warning Sign" bill into law. The bill will open access to privately owned 14ers in the state, while also protecting landowners from liability. The bill states:

In current law, the "Colorado Recreational Use Statute" (CRUS) protects landowners (owners) from liability resulting from the use of their lands by other individuals for recreational purposes. However, the CRUS does not limit an owner's liability for injuries or death resulting from the owner's willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a known dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity likely to cause harm (willful or malicious failure).

The bill states that under such circumstances, an owner does not commit a willful or malicious failure if:

* The owner posts a warning sign at the primary access point where the individual entered the land, which sign satisfies certain criteria;

* The owner maintains photographic or other evidence of the sign; and

* The dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity that caused the injury or death is described by the sign.

The bill requires an individual who accesses land for recreational purposes to stay on the designated recreational trail, route, area, or roadway unless the owner expressly allows otherwise, or be deemed a trespasser.

Here's a report from FOX31 Denver:





Jeff
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