No contact orders and restraining orders are similar. Colorado no contact orders cover most of the behavior that a protection order covers. However, a no contact order can be permanent or can last for as long as criminal proceedings take, instead of expiring after a fixed number of days. In some cases, a no contact order only ends when the victim decides to end it.
When subject to a no contact order, you must make every reasonable effort to comply with the order. No matter how hard it may be, you should not visit or attempt to communicate with the other person involved. If you violate the no contact order, you could face criminal consequences.
What might constitute a violation of a no-contact order?
Colorado no contact orders typically instruct you to stay at least 100 yards away from the other person. That’s the length of an entire football field. You have to avoid seeing the other person in public and will typically be to leave a public space if you are both there at the same time. You also should avoid any form of telephone or digital communications.
You should not try to call them on the phone, even from a number other than your own. You also should not email them, show up at their place of work or otherwise attempt to communicate with them. Even posting about them on social media or encouraging your friends to reach out to the other person could leave to allegations of violating the order.
How Colorado penalizes a breach of a no contact order
If you violate the no contact order and either get caught by law enforcement or reported by the person with the order, you will potentially face arrest at the time of the violation. Depending on the circumstances that lead to the initial order, such a violation will likely lead to a Class 2 or Class 1 misdemeanor charge.
You can theoretically defend yourself against these charges in court, especially if the circumstances leading to the alleged violation involved a miscommunication or a mistake on your part. If you don’t defend yourself, however, the consequences could be as much as six months in jail.
