Renters’ bill, limit on cash gifts vetoed
Gov. Bill Owens on Thursday vetoed a bill limiting the penalties for late rent and another prohibiting politicians from accepting money for office accounts.
House Bill 1061 would have capped fees for late rent to 15 percent and required a security deposit to be returned within 60 days. Owens, in the veto address, said the bill does not protect property owners.
Senate Bill 40 would have limited the amount House and Senate members can accept from one person during their time in public service. Owens said the law was unnecessary because bribes are already illegal and the accepted money is disclosed.
“The governor’s veto of this important legislation ensures Colorado’s dubious distinction as being one of only six states that allow its legislators to accept cold, hard cash as a ‘gift’ with no strings attached,” the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, said in a statement.
Seat-belt measure gains initial approval
A bill that would allow police to pull over drivers who are not wearing seat belts won preliminary approval in the Senate on Thursday.
Currently, police can ticket drivers who are not wearing seat belts if the driver or passengers are pulled over for some other offense.
This bill would now allow a car with a driver or front-seat passenger who was not wearing a seat belt to be stopped just for that offense.
Some Republicans opposed the bill, saying there are better things for police to be doing.
