§ 18-5-101 — Definitions

Colorado § 18-5-101

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 18: Criminal
• Art.: Offenses Involving Fraud

Text

As used in sections 18-5-101 to 18-5-110, unless the
context otherwise requires:

(1) Complete written instrument means one which purports to be a genuine
written instrument fully drawn with respect to every essential feature thereof.

(1.5) Document-making implement means any implement or impression,
including, but not limited to, a template or a computerized template or form,
specially designed or primarily used for making identification documents, false
identification documents, or another document-making implement.

(2) To falsely alter a written instrument means to change a written
instrument without the authority of anyone entitled to grant such authority,
whether it be in complete or incomplete form, by means of erasure, obliteration,
deletion, insertion of new matter, transposition of matter, or any other means, so
that such instrument in its thus altered form falsely appears or purports to be in all
respects an authentic creation of or fully authorized by its ostensible maker.

(3) To falsely complete a written instrument means:

(a) To transform an incomplete written instrument into a complete one by
adding, inserting, or changing matter without the authority of anyone entitled to
grant that authority, so that the complete written instrument falsely appears or
purports to be in all respects an authentic creation of or fully authorized by its
ostensible maker; or

(b) To transform an incomplete written instrument into a complete one by
adding or inserting materially false information or adding or inserting a materially
false statement. A materially false statement is a false assertion that affects the
action, conduct, or decision of the person who receives or is intended to receive the
asserted information in a manner that directly or indirectly benefits the person
making the assertion.

(4) To falsely make a written instrument means to make or draw a written
instrument, whether complete or incomplete, which purports to be an authentic
creation of its ostensible maker, but which is not, either because the ostensible
maker is fictitious or because, if real, he did not authorize the making or the drawing
thereof.

(5) Forged instrument means a written instrument which has been falsely
made, completed, or altered.

(6) Government means the United States, any state, county, municipality,
or other political unit, any department, agency, or subdivision of any of the
foregoing, or any corporation or other entity established by law to carry out
governmental functions.

(6.5) Identification document means a document made or issued by or
under the authority of the United States government, a state, political subdivision of
a state, a foreign government, political subdivision of a foreign government, an
international governmental, or an international quasi-governmental organization
which, when completed with information concerning a particular individual, is of a
type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of individuals.

(7) Incomplete written instrument means one which contains some matter
by way of content or authentication but which requires additional matter in order to
render it a complete written instrument.

(7.5) Produce includes alter, authenticate, or assemble.

(8) Utter means to transfer, pass, or deliver, or attempt or cause to be
transferred, passed, or delivered, to another person any written instrument, article,
or thing.

(9) Written instrument means any paper, document, or other instrument
containing written or printed matter or the equivalent thereof, used for purposes of
reciting, embodying, conveying, or recording information, and any money, credit
card, token, stamp, seal, badge, or trademark or any evidence or symbol of value,
right, privilege, or identification, which is capable of being used to the advantage or
disadvantage of some person.

Legislative History

Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 433, � 1. C.R.S. 1963: � 40-5-101. L. 94: (3) amended, p. 1718, � 12, effective July 1. L. 2000: (1.5), (6.5), and (7.5) added, p. 646, � 2, effective July 1. L. 2005: (3)(b) amended, p. 1499, � 3, effective July 1.