State authorities brought civil and criminal charges against Colorado residents who registered recreational vehicles worth up to $400,000 in Montana to avoid local taxes and registration fees.

The offenders registered recreational vehicles only in Montana, which does not charge sales taxes on motor vehicles and has low registration fees. But Colorado residents must pay sales taxes and registration fees in Colorado, said Mark Couch, spokesman for the Colorado Department of Revenue.

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office and the revenue department working together obtained misdemeanor tax evasion convictions against 12 people living in Jefferson, Boulder, Arapahoe and Weld counties, Couch said.

They each received deferred sentences, and were also ordered to pay restitution to the state, register their recreational vehicles in Colorado and perform community service, Couch said.

The Revenue Department also took civil action against other Colorado residents who owned recreational vehicles registered in Montana. The state billed 122 recreational vehicle owners $2.7 million in unpaid sales taxes, penalties and interest.

Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com