I recently read an interesting news article where women were claiming a man had approached them in various stores and asked them ‘creepy’ and personal questions. One woman even chased him out of the store, asking people to help her stop him and call the police. But, were his actions illegal? The simple answer is no. While it might not be socially acceptable and it did seem to make some of the women quite uncomfortable, asking creepy questions is not a crime, at least not yet. I could see Colorado lawmakers adding a subsection of the Harassment statute to include any language or topic that makes someone uncomfortable, but for now, that’s not the case. What I found so interesting, though, is that one woman who videotaped her encounter with the man, showed some pretty criminal behavior herself, at least by the Colorado Harassment standards.
Larimer County Harassment Attorney: What is the Definition of Harassment in Fort Collins?
The Colorado law definition of Harassment – C.R.S. 18-9-111 – is:
- Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person or subjects him to physical contact; or
- In a public place directs obscene language or makes an obscene gesture to or at another person; or
- Follows a person in or about a public place; or
- Directly or indirectly initiates communication with a person or directs language toward another person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, telephone network, data network, text message, instant message, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium in a manner intended to harass or threaten bodily injury or property damage, or makes any comment, request, suggestion, or proposal by telephone, computer, computer network, computer system, or other interactive electronic medium that is obscene; or
- Makes a telephone call or causes a telephone to ring repeatedly, whether or not a conversation ensues, with no purpose of legitimate conversation; or
- Makes repeated communications at inconvenient hours that invade the privacy of another and interfere in the use and enjoyment of another’s home or private residence or other private property; or
- Repeatedly insults, taunts, challenges, or makes communications in offensively coarse language to, another in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response.
Based on the actions of the woman, she could have been cited for (c) following a person in a public place and (h) repeatedly insulting the man. Now, please don’t get me wrong. I am in no way condoning the man’s behavior, nor am I saying the woman should have been criminally charged. I am just trying to point out the irony of the situation. She felt uneasy and most likely wanted to prevent anyone else from having to feel that way and, in essence, could have gotten in trouble for her response.
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Fort Collins Harassment Lawyer: What is the Penalty for Harassment When Accused in Northern Colorado?
Harassment is a class 3 misdemeanor in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park. This level misdemeanor is punishable by up to 6 months in the Larimer, Boulder or Rio Blanco County Jail along with $50-$750 in fines.