Title XIX — MOTOR VEHICLES, WATERCRAFT AND AVIATION

304.001. Definitions for chapter 304 and chapter 307. — As used in this chapter and chapter 307, the following terms shall mean: (1) "Abandoned property", any unattended motor vehicle, trailer, all-terrain vehicle, outboard motor or vessel removed or subject to removal from publi…

304.005. Autocycle — defined—protective headgear not required — valid driver's license required to operate. — 1. As used in this section, the term "autocycle" means a three-wheeled motor vehicle which the drivers and passengers ride in a partially or completely enclosed nonstradd…

304.009. Speed limit — violation, penalty. — 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 304.010, a speeding violation of section 304.010 which is over the posted speed limit by five miles per hour or less is an infraction. The court costs assessed for a violation of this sectio…

304.010. Definitions — maximum speed limits — cities, towns, villages, certain counties, may set speed limit, how set — slower speeds set, when — violations, penalty. — 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: (1) "Expressway", a divided highway of at least ten miles…

304.011. Slow speed, regulation of — agricultural implements, slower speeds, when, special permits required — penalties. — 1. No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed …

304.012. Motorists to exercise highest degree of care — violation, penalty. — 1. Every person operating a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of this state shall drive the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of ano…

304.013. All-terrain vehicles, prohibited on highways, rivers or streams of this state, exceptions, operational requirements — special permits — prohibited uses — penalty. — 1. No person shall operate an all-terrain vehicle, as defined in section 301.010, upon the highways of thi…

304.014. Rules of the road to be observed. — Every person operating or driving a vehicle upon the highways of this state shall observe and comply with the following rules of the road. ­­-------- (L. 1953 p. 587 § 304.020) (1951) Instruction authorizing recovery on finding defenda…

304.015. Drive on right of highway — traffic lanes — signs — violations, penalties. — 1. All vehicles not in motion shall be placed with their right side as near the right-hand side of the highway as practicable, except on streets of municipalities where vehicles are obliged to m…

304.016. Passing regulations — violations, penalties. — 1. The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to the limitations and exceptions hereinafter stated: (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicl…

304.017. Distance at which vehicle must follow, penalty. — 1. The driver of a vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonably safe and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the roadway. Vehicles…

304.019. Hand and mechanical signals, violations, penalty. — 1. No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of or turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after…

304.022. Emergency and stationary vehicles — use of lights and sirens — right-of-way — procedure — penalty. — 1. Upon the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren or while having at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal …

304.023. Passing stopped streetcars, penalty. — 1. An operator or driver of a motor vehicle shall stop same not less than eight feet from the rear of any streetcar going in the same direction which has stopped for the purpose of taking on or discharging passengers, and shall rema…

304.024. Crosswalks and parking regulations established — signs — violation, an infraction. — 1. The state highways and transportation commission with respect to highways under its jurisdiction may erect or place signs establishing crossovers or crosswalks or prohibiting or restr…

304.025. Highway and vehicle defined. — 1. The word "highway" whenever used in sections 304.014 to 304.026 shall mean any public road or thoroughfare for vehicles, including state roads, county roads and public streets, avenues, boulevards, parkways or alleys in any municipality.…

304.027. Spinal cord injury fund created, uses — surcharge imposed, when. — 1. There is hereby created in the state treasury for use by the board of curators of the University of Missouri a fund to be known as the "Spinal Cord Injury Fund". All judgments collected pursuant to thi…

304.028. Brain injury fund created, moneys in fund, uses — surcharge imposed, when. — 1. There is hereby created in the state treasury for use by the department of health and senior services a fund to be known as the "Brain Injury Fund". All judgments collected pursuant to this s…

304.029. Operation of low-speed vehicles on highway, permitted when — exemptions. — 1. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a low-speed vehicle may be operated upon a highway in the state if it meets the requirements of this section. Every person operating a low-speed v…

304.030. Certain buses and trucks to stop at railroad crossing, when — exception, requirements. — Every motor vehicle transporting passengers, for hire, every school bus, and every motor vehicle transporting high explosives, or poisonous or compressed inflammable gases, and every…

304.031. Traffic signal preemption system, use of, permitted when — violations, penalty. — 1. As used in this section, "Traffic Signal Preemption System (TSPS)" shall mean a traffic-control system designated for use by emergency vehicles, as defined in this section, to improve tr…

304.032. Utility vehicles, operation on highway and in streams or rivers prohibited — exceptions — passengers prohibited — violations, penalty. — 1. No person shall operate a utility vehicle, as defined in section 301.010, upon the highways of this state, except as follows: (1) U…

304.033. Recreational off-highway vehicles, operation on highways prohibited, exceptions — operation within streams and rivers prohibited, exceptions — license required for operation, exception. — 1. No person shall operate a recreational off-highway vehicle, as defined in sectio…

304.034. Municipalities may regulate golf cart and motorized wheelchair usage on streets and highways. — 1. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the governing body of any municipality may by resolution or ordinance allow persons to operate golf carts or motorized wheelc…

304.035. Stop required at railroad grade crossing, when — commercial motor vehicles, speed at crossings — penalty. — 1. When any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing, the driver of the vehicle shall operate the vehicle in a manner so he will be able to st…

304.040. Failure to stop, penalty. — Any person violating the provisions of section 304.030 shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. ­­-------- (RSMo 1939 § 8400)

304.044. Buses and trucks not to follow within three hundred feet — penalty. — 1. The following terms as used in this section shall mean: (1) "Bus", any vehicle or motor car designed and used for the purpose of carrying more than seven persons; (2) "Truck", any vehicle, machine, …

304.050. School buses, drivers to stop for, when — signs required on buses — crossing control arm — bus driver responsibilities — driver identity rebuttable presumption, when (Jessica's Law). — 1. (1) The driver of a vehicle upon a highway upon meeting or overtaking from either d…

304.060. School buses and other district vehicles, use to be regulated by board — field trips in common carriers, regulation authorized — violation by employee, effect — St. Louis County buses may use word "special". — 1. The state board of education shall adopt and enforce regul…

304.070. Violation of section 304.050, penalty. — 1. Any person who violates any of the provisions of subsections 1, 3, and 7* of section 304.050 is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. In addition, the court may suspend the driver's license of any person who violates the provision o…

304.075. School bus signs to be removed, when — misdemeanor. — 1. Any motor vehicle which is not regularly being operated by a school district or under contract with a school district or by private schools for the transportation of school children shall not bear signs indicating …

304.076. Head Start buses to bear signs. — Notwithstanding anything in subsection 1 of section 304.075 to the contrary, effective August 28, 1996, any new bus to be used to transport children to or from a federal Head Start program shall bear signs indicating that it is a Head St…

304.079. Use of designated disabled parking spaces, when. — 1. Designated disabled parking spaces may only be used when a disabled person, who has been issued disabled license plates or windshield hanging placards pursuant to the provisions of section 301.142 or by those states w…

304.080. Handicapped persons with white cane or dog, driver to take all necessary precautions — cane or dog not required to enforce rights, when. — The driver of a vehicle approaching a person with a visual, aural or physical disability who is carrying a cane predominantly white …

304.110. Violation of sections 304.080 to 304.110, penalty. — Any person who violates any provision of sections 304.080 to 304.110, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof be fined not exceeding twenty-five dollars and costs of prosecution, and in default of …

304.120. Municipal regulations — owner or lessor not liable for violations, when. — 1. Municipalities, by ordinance, may establish reasonable speed regulations for motor vehicles within the limits of such municipalities. No person who is not a resident of such municipality and wh…

304.125. Traffic violation citation quota prohibited--exception. — No political subdivision or law enforcement agency shall have a policy requiring or encouraging an employee to issue a certain number of citations for traffic violations on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yea…

304.130. Regulation of vehicular traffic — notice, hearings — approval — publication of notice (first class counties). — 1. For the purpose of promoting the public safety, health and general welfare and to protect life and property, the county commission in all counties of the fi…

304.140. Penalty for violations. — Any person violating any order or regulation adopted under section 304.130 shall upon conviction be adjudged guilty of an infraction. ­­-------- (L. 1947 V. I p. 451 § 2, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1047)

304.145. Stunt driving prohibited — definitions — violations, penalties — probation and parole restrictions. — 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: (1) "Aggravated offender", a person who has been found guilty of: (a) Three or more violations of this section comm…

304.151. Driver's responsibility not to obstruct traffic — written warning, infraction, effective date. — 1. Except in the case of an accident resulting in the injury or death of any person, the driver of a vehicle which for any reason obstructs the regular flow of traffic on the…

304.152. Roadside checkpoints and roadblock patterns based on vehicle type prohibited. — 1. Notwithstanding any provision of the law to the contrary, no law enforcement agency may establish a roadside checkpoint or roadblock pattern based upon a particular vehicle type, including…

304.153. Tow companies or tow lists, utilization of by law enforcement and state transportation employees—definitions—requirements—unauthorized towing, penalty—inapplicability. — 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean: (1) "Firefighter", any person, including …

*304.154. Towing truck company requirements—access to towed vehicles by insurance adjusters—notice to vehicle owner of transfer from storage lot or facility—display of tow company address, when. — 1. A towing company operating a tow truck pursuant to the authority granted in sect…

304.155. Abandoned motor vehicles on public property, removal — hazards on land and water, removal, limited liability, when — towing of property report to highway or water patrol or crime inquiry and inspection report when, owner liable for costs — check for stolen vehicles proce…

304.156. Notice to towing company, owner or lienholder, when — storage charges, when authorized — search of vehicle for ownership documents — petition, determination of wrongful taking — possessory lien, new title, how issued — sale of abandoned property by municipality or county…

304.157. Vehicles left unattended or improperly parked on private property of another, procedure for removal and disposition — violation of certain required procedure, penalty. — 1. If a person abandons property, as defined in section 304.001, on any real property owned by anothe…

304.158. Notice to owner of abandoned property — duty of real property owner — liability of towing company — recovery for damages to real property, when — liability of real property owner for towing charges, when — information to be displayed on wrecker — towing charges — storage…

304.159. Municipality may prohibit storage of certain vehicles, exceptions. — Any city, town or village within this state may prohibit, by ordinance, the storage of inoperable vehicles or other vehicles deemed by such city, town or village to constitute a public safety hazard. No…

304.160. Glass, tacks, injurious substances, duty to remove from highway, when — penalty. — 1. Any person who has purposely, accidentally, or by reason of an accident, dropped any tacks, nails, wire, scrap metal, glass, crockery, sharp stones, or other substances injurious to the…