Is TPing a House Illegal in Colorado?

Over the past few weeks, many houses across Northern Colorado have been getting TP'd. With homecoming season, Halloween season, and typical fall weekends when kids want to have fun, it's not uncommon to see kids in the area pranking homes. TPing is mostly a harmless prank, and rarely does damage, which is why many teenagers decide to do it. While some will not view it as a big deal, there are those who will get upset. If caught TPing, could you be arrested, or could your child face charges if they are caught doing so in Colorado?

Is TPing Illegal in Colorado?

Is it possible to get arrested for a small, innocent prank like TPing someone's home? In short, yes, you or your child could face charges, depending on how things happen. There are different ways you could be arrested or charged. The first is that you could get arrested for trespassing, which would be considered a misdemeanor. You can not enter a person's private property without consent, and it is considered third-degree criminal trespass. Another way you could be arrested or charged is criminal tampering. In Colorado, it is illegal to tamper with someone else's property with the intent to cause inconvenience or annoyance, and it is a class 2 misdemeanor. TPing someone's home would fall under annoying someone for sure.

Can You Get Arrested For TPing in Colorado?

While it won't get you arrested, you could get a citation for littering, since you are leaving behind a few roles of toilet paper in someone's yard, trees, and parts of their home. The worst-case scenario is if you commit criminal mischief, which would be causing physical or financial damage. This could involve damaging gutters, breaking a window, ruining the landscape, or a number of other things. If you only TP, odds are you would be ok, but if you decided to egg someone's home or vehicles or spray paint, that would fall into this category. If the damage is under $300, you will receive a petty offense, but if the damage is more, you could be looking at felony charges.

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While TPing can be fun as a teenager and a harmless prank, as mentioned here, there are risks when choosing who to target. Make sure to not damage property, and if your child or you succeed, you shouldn't be caught but be prepared for the consequences if you are, as technically you or your children are breaking the law when doing so.

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