Editor's Note—Per the County's request of June 15, 2007,
previous sections 310.050 was renumbered to coordinate with state
statute numbering and set out in this Chapter.
Editor’s Note: In this Chapter the words "Sheriff’s
Deputy" are changed to "police officer" pursuant to the St. Charles
County Charter Article IV, Sections 4.250 and 4.1300, as amended in
2012 and effective 1-1-2015, and St. Charles County Ord. No. 15-012,
Section 2, adopted 1-26-2015.
[Ord. No. 07-017 §1, 1-30-2007]
A.
Every
person operating a motor vehicle shall drive the vehicle in a careful
and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the
property of another or the life or body of any person, including the
driver or passengers of the vehicle, and shall exercise the highest
degree of care.
B.
A violation
of this Section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more
than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the St.
Charles County Jail for a term not to exceed one (1) year, or by both
fine and imprisonment. A separate offense shall be deemed committed
on each day a violation occurs or continues. Enforcement of this Section
shall be the responsibility of the County Counselor.
[Ord. No. 08-092 §2, 8-1-2008]
A.
The
following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles
proceeding in the same direction, subject to limitations and exceptions
hereinafter stated:
1.
The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in
the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe distance
and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely
clear of the overtaken vehicle; and
2.
Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the
driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in favor
of the overtaking vehicle and shall not increase the speed of such
driver's vehicle until completely passed by the overtaken vehicle.
B.
The
driver of a motor vehicle may overtake and pass to the right of another
vehicle only under the following conditions:
1.
When the vehicle overtaken is making or about to make a left turn;
2.
Upon a one-way street; or
3.
Upon any highway with unobstructed pavement of sufficient width and
clearly marked for four (4) or more lanes of traffic. The driver of
a motor vehicle may overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right
only under the foregoing conditions when such movement may be made
in safety. In no event shall such movement be made by driving off
the paved or main traveled portion of the roadway.
C.
Except
when a roadway has been divided into three (3) traffic lanes, no vehicle
shall be driven to the left side of the centerline of a highway or
public road in overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in
the same direction unless such left side is clearly visible and is
free of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit
such overtaking and passing to be completely made without interfering
with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching from the opposite
direction or any vehicle overtaken.
D.
No
vehicle shall at any time be driven to the left side of the roadway
under the following conditions:
1.
When approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve of the highway
where the driver's view is obstructed within such a distance as to
create a hazard in the event another vehicle might approach from the
opposite direction;
2.
When the view is obstructed upon approaching within one hundred (100)
feet of any bridge, viaduct, tunnel, or when approaching within one
hundred (100) feet or at any intersection or railroad grade crossing.
E.
Violation
of this Section is a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section
300.001(E), OSCCMo.
[Ord. No. 08-092 §2, 8-1-2008]
A.
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 traffic upon and the condition of the roadway.
Vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business or residential
district in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles,
shall be so operated, except in a funeral procession or in a duly
authorized parade, so as to allow sufficient space between each such
vehicle or combination of vehicles as to enable any other vehicle
to overtake or pass such vehicles in safety.
B.
Violation
of this Section is a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section
300.001(E), OSCCMo.
[Ord. No. 08-030 §3, 3-3-2008]
A.
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 the giving of an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein.
1.
An operator or driver when stopping, or when checking the speed of
the operator's vehicle, if the movement of other vehicles may reasonably
be affected by such checking of speed, shall extend such operator's
arm at an angle below horizontal so that the same may be seen in the
rear of the vehicle;
2.
An operator or driver intending to turn the operator's vehicle to
the right shall extend such operator's arm at an angle above horizontal
so that the same may be seen in front of and in the rear of the vehicle
and shall slow down and approach the intersecting highway as near
as practicable to the right side of the highway along which such operator
is proceeding before turning;
3.
An operator or driver intending to turn the operator's vehicle to
the left shall extend such operator's arm in a horizontal position
so that the same may be seen in the rear of the vehicle and shall
slow down and approach the intersecting highway so that the left side
of the vehicle shall be as near as practicable to the centerline of
the highway along which the operator is proceeding before turning;
4.
The signals herein required shall be given either by means of the
hand and arm or by a signal light device in good mechanical condition
of a type approved by the State Highway Patrol; however, when a vehicle
is so constructed or loaded that a hand and arm signal would not be
visible both to the front and rear of such vehicle, then such signals
shall be given by such light or device. A vehicle shall be considered
as so constructed or loaded that a hand and arm signal would not be
visible both to the front and rear when the distance from the center
of the top of the steering post to the left outside limit of the body,
cab or load exceeds twenty-four (24) inches, or when the distance
from the center of the top of the steering post to the rear limit
of the body or load thereon exceeds fourteen (14) feet, which limit
of fourteen (14) feet shall apply to single vehicles or combinations
of vehicles. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to
any trailer which does not interfere with a clear view of the hand
signals of the operator or of the signaling device upon the vehicle
pulling such trailer; provided further that the provisions of this
Section as far as mechanical devices on vehicles so constructed that
a hand and arm signal would not be visible both to the front and rear
of such vehicle as above provided shall only be applicable to new
vehicles registered within this State after the first (1st) day of
January, 1954.
B.
Violation
of this Section shall be punishable in accordance with Section 300.001(E),
OSCCMo.
[Ord. No. 08-092 §2, 8-1-2008]
A.
Upon
approaching a stationary emergency vehicle displaying lighted red
or red and blue lights, the driver of every motor vehicle shall:
1.
Proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way, if possible with
due regard to safety and traffic conditions, by making a lane change
into a lane not adjacent to that of the stationary vehicle, if on
a roadway having at least four (4) lanes with not less than two (2)
lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle;
or
2.
Proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining
a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be unsafe
or impossible.
B.
Violation
of this Section is a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section
300.001(E), OSCCMo.
[Ord. No. 08-092 §2, 8-1-2008]
A.
The
driver of a vehicle upon a highway, upon meeting or overtaking from
either direction any school bus which has stopped on the highway for
the purpose of receiving or discharging any school children and whose
driver has in the manner prescribed by law given the signal to stop,
shall stop the vehicle before reaching such school bus and shall not
proceed until such school bus resumes motion or until signaled by
its driver to proceed.
B.
The
driver of a vehicle upon a highway with separate roadways need not
stop upon meeting or overtaking a school bus which is on a different
roadway, or which is proceeding in the opposite direction on a highway
containing four (4) or more lanes of traffic, or which is stopped
in a loading zone constituting part of, or adjacent to, a limited
or controlled access highway at a point where pedestrians are not
permitted to cross the roadway.
C.
If
any vehicle is witnessed by a St. Charles County police officer or
the driver of a school bus to have violated the provisions of this
Section and the identity of the operator is not otherwise apparent,
it shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person in whose name
such vehicle is registered committed the violation. In the event that
charges are filed against multiple owners of a motor vehicle, only
one of the owners may be convicted and court costs may be assessed
against only one of the owners. If the vehicle which is involved in
the violation is registered in the name of a rental or leasing company
and the vehicle is rented or leased to another person at the time
of the violation, the rental or leasing company may rebut the presumption
by providing the police officer or County Counselor's office with
a copy of the rental or lease agreement in effect at the time of the
violation. The County Counselor's office may not bring any legal proceedings
against a rental or leasing company under this Section unless prior
written notice of the violation has been given to that rental or leasing
company by registered mail at the address appearing on the registration
and the rental or leasing company has failed to provide the rental
or lease agreement copy within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such
notice.
D.
Violation
of this Section is a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section
300.001(E), OSCCMo.
[Ord. No. 08-092 §2, 8-1-2008]
A.
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, RSMo., or by those
States with which the Missouri Director of Revenue has entered into
reciprocity agreements as provided in Section 301.142, RSMo., is then,
or immediately preceding being parked, was an occupant of the motor
vehicle bearing the disabled license plate or windshield hanging placard
or in cases where the motor vehicle bearing the disabled license plate
or windshield hanging placard is then being used to deliver or collect
one (1) or more of the disabled persons for whom the disabled license
plate or windshield hanging placard was issued.
B.
The
driver, or any occupant, of a motor vehicle bearing disabled license
plates or a windshield hanging placard which is parked or has been
observed to have been parking in a duly designated disabled parking
space shall, upon request from any St. Charles County police officer,
produce the disabled registration certificate issued to the disabled
person or entity as provided for in Section 301.142, RSMo., or such
other authorization to show that the driver or any occupant of the
vehicle is lawfully entitled to use a designated disabled parking
space. The driver or any occupant of the motor vehicle shall, in addition
to the certificate, produce other identification with a photograph
of the disabled person for whom the disabled plates or windshield
hanging placard was issued.
C.
If
the driver, or an occupant, of a motor vehicle which is parked or
has been observed to have parked in a designated disabled parking
space is unable to, or cannot, produce the certificate as provided
for in Section 301.142, RSMo., or other proper authorization showing
that the vehicle is being used, or has been lawfully parking in a
disabled parking space, the operator is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable
in accordance with Section 300.001(E), OSCCMo. However, no person
shall be found guilty of violating this Section if the operator produces
such a certificate to the court that was valid at the time of the
citation for a person who was using the vehicle.
D.
The
windshield hanging placard shall only be used when the vehicle is
parked in a disabled parking space. It shall be unlawful for any person
to operate or drive a motor vehicle with a windshield hanging placard
hanging from the inside rearview mirror.
[Ord. No. 08-092 §2, 8-1-2008]
A.
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 roadway of any highway shall make every
reasonable effort to move the vehicle or have it moved so as not to
block the regular flow of traffic.
B.
Any
person who fails to comply with the requirements of this Section is
guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished
by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) nor more than fifty
dollars ($50.00).
[Ord. No. 08-092 §2, 8-1-2008]
[Ord. No. 08-092 §2, 8-1-2008]
A.
The
driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way
to a vehicle which has entered the intersection from a different highway,
provided however, there is no form of traffic control at such intersection.
B.
When
two (2) vehicles enter an intersection from different highways at
approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left
shall yield the right-of-way to the driver of the vehicle on the right.
This Subsection shall not apply to vehicles approaching each other
from opposite directions when the driver of one (1) of such vehicles
is attempting to or is making a left turn.
C.
The
driver of a vehicle within an intersection and intending to turn to
the left shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from
the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close
thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.
D.
The
driver of a vehicle intending to make a left turn into an alley, building
or any private road or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any
vehicle approaching from the opposite direction when the making of
such left turn would create a traffic hazard.
