[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.010]
This Title may be known and cited as the "Jefferson County Traffic Code" and may be referred to as such when being amended and is also referred to herein as the "code".
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.020]
The provisions of this code should apply to the part of Jefferson County outside the incorporated Cities. Whenever the words "Jefferson County" or "County" are used in this code with reference to applicability of its provisions, they shall mean the areas described in this Section.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.025]
All regulations contained in this Traffic Code regarding traffic control devices on State highways shall be with the concurrence of the State Highway and Transportation Commission. The State Highway and Transportation Commission is hereby authorized to post and install all regulatory signs on State highways.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.030]
A.
It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this code.
B.
Every person who is convicted of any misdemeanor under the provisions of the Traffic Code shall, where no different punishment is prescribed, be punished by imprisonment in the County Jail not exceeding one (1) year or by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.
[Ord. No. 18-0158, 2-28-2018]
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.040]
A.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and its deputies and the State Highway Patrol shall enforce all traffic ordinances of this County and shall have authority to make arrests for any violations of this code.
B.
Deputies of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department or such officers as are duly and lawfully assigned by the Sheriff of Jefferson County are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand or signal in conformance with the traffic laws; provided that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, such officers of the Sheriff's Department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.
C.
Officers of any City, Town or Village Fire Department or Fire Protection District having the status of a political subdivision pursuant to the Statutes of the State of Missouri, when at the scene of a incident, may direct or assist the Law Enforcement Officers in directing traffic at such scene or in the immediate vicinity.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.050]
No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any Law Enforcement Officer or Fire Department official.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.060]
A.
The provisions of this code shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this State, County or municipalities and it shall be unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this code, except as otherwise permitted in this code or State law.
B.
All operators of Fire Department vehicles returning from fires or false alarms or when on other non-emergency runs shall obey all provisions of this code.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.070]
Every person propelling any pushcart or riding an animal upon a highway, roadway, alleyway or driveway and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle shall be subject to the provisions of this code applicable to the driver of any vehicle, except those provisions of this code which by their very nature can have no application.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.080]
A.
The provisions of this code regulating the operation, parking and standing of vehicles shall apply to authorized emergency vehicles as defined in this code, except that the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to, but not upon returning from, a fire alarm, but subject to the conditions herein stated, may:
1.
Park and stand irrespective of the provisions of this code;
2.
Proceed past a red signal indication or stop sign but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
3.
Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as the driver does not endanger life or property;
4.
Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.
B.
The exemption herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when the driver of any such vehicle while in motion sounds an audible signal by bell, siren or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary and when the vehicle displays at least one (1) lighted red or blue beacon visible in normal atmospheric conditions for a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle.
C.
The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard to the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of the driver's reckless disregard for the safety of others, nor shall such provision relieve the driver from the duty of obeying the directions of a Law Enforcement Officer at the scene of the emergency.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.090]
A.
The County Highway Administrator's (hereinafter "Highway Administrator") authority as it pertains to traffic control shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
1.
Install regulatory traffic control devices in the case of emergency or special conditions which the public peace, safety, convenience and expedition of traffic may demand.
2.
Close any roadway, alleyway or driveway within Jefferson County and withdraw the same from public use temporarily and during such period as public work thereon or other public emergency or expediency shall make such acts necessary. In conjunction with this authority, the Highway Administrator shall place a sign at each end of the portion of such roadway, alleyway or driveway withdrawn from public use. This shall bear the legend "Road Closed".
3.
When it has been determined by the Highway Administrator that any barrier, obstacle or plant material within the County right-of-way adjacent to the roadway pavement is hazardous, the Highway Administrator is authorized to remove said barrier or plant material from the right-of-way.
4.
The Highway Administrator is authorized to mount and install lamps upon any part of any or all of the vehicles owned or operated by the Jefferson County Department of Public Works, Highway Division, which lamps, when lighted, display a flashing yellow or amber light visible in any and all directions from such vehicle and to use such lamps when such vehicle is being used in the performance of emergency services.
5.
The Highway Administrator has the sole authority to petition the County Council with any recommended amendments to Sections and Schedules within the Traffic Code that are based on performed traffic studies or engineering determination.
[Ord. No. 18-0158, 2-28-2018]
6.
The Highway Administrator has the sole authority to petition the County Council with any recommended additions to the County Road system of publicly maintained roads and streets within unincorporated Jefferson County, Missouri. Said petitions shall be evaluated on a performance-based selection process that is defined by the Highway Administrator. Any recommended additions to the existing system shall include a cost-benefit analysis and become subject to budgetary limitations. Added facilities to the County Road System must be included in Schedule III for traffic control enforcements.
[Ord. No. 18-0158, 2-28-2018]
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.100]
A.
The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable to the driver placed in accordance with the provisions of this code, unless otherwise directed by a Law Enforcement Officer. This Section is subject to the exceptions granted the driver of any authorized emergency vehicle by this code.
B.
When a traffic control signal is not operating due to mechanical failure or other reasons, all traffic shall come to a complete stop before proceeding through the intersection at which the non-operating signal is stationed.
No provision of this Title for which official traffic control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular Section does not state that official traffic control devices are required, such Section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place.
[Ord. No. 10-0269 §1, 7-7-2010]
A.
Except when authorized or directed under State law to immediately take a person before the Municipal Judge for the violation of any traffic laws, a Police Officer who halts a person for such violation, other than for the purpose of giving him/her a warning or warning notice and does not take such person into custody under arrest, shall issue to him/her a uniform traffic ticket which shall be proceeded upon in accordance with Supreme Court Rule No. 37.
B.
Whenever any motor vehicle without driver is found parked or stopped in violation of any of the restrictions imposed by ordinance of the City or by State law, the officer finding such vehicle shall take its registration number and may take any other information displayed on the vehicle which may identify its user, and shall conspicuously affix to such vehicle a uniform traffic ticket or other citation for the driver to answer to the charge against him/her within seven (7) days during the hours and at a place specified in the traffic ticket.
C.
The Jefferson County Sheriff's office shall provide, in quadruplicate, suitable serially numbered forms for notifying violators to appear and answer to charges of violating traffic laws and ordinances.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.130]
In the event any person fails to comply with a notice given to the person or attached to a vehicle or fails to make appearance pursuant to a summons directing an appearance in the Municipal Court or Violations Bureau or if any person fails or refuses to deposit bail as required and within the time permitted by ordinance, the Clerk of the Associate Circuit Court or Violations Bureau shall forthwith have a complaint entered against such person and secure and issue a warrant for his/her arrest.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §101.140]
All traffic control devices on highways, roadways, alleyways and driveways within Jefferson County shall conform to the "Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" published by the Federal Highway Administration and its latest revisions. Copies of the manual are on file in the office of the Jefferson County Department of Public Works.
[Order of 5-2-2009 §103.010; Ord. No. 10-0269 §1, 7-7-2010]
The following words and phrases, as used in this code, shall for the purpose of this code have the meaning respectively ascribed to them:
The entire width and length of the public right-of-way and/or easement of an alley.
That portion of an alley intended for use by the general traveling public.
The standing or parking of any vehicle upon a highway, roadway or alleyway in a manner where the longitudinal axis of the vehicle forms an angle with the alignment of the curb.
Any road designated by the Jefferson County Council as part of the County arterial road system authorized by Section 137.558, RSMo.
Vehicles operated as ambulances or operated by the State Highway Patrol, Police or Fire Department in Jefferson County, Missouri, Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff, Jefferson County Emergency Services or Medical Examiner.
Publicly or privately owned vehicles operated in the performance of emergency service by the Prosecuting Attorney, the Prosecuting Attorney's full-time investigators or the two (2) deputy medical examiners whom the Coroner has designated in writing to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department as being so authorized.
Any privately owned vehicle operated as an ambulance when responding to emergency calls.
Any privately owned wrecker or tow truck or vehicles owned and operated by a public utility or public service corporation while performing emergency service.
Every device propelled by human power upon which any person or persons may ride, having two (2) or more tandem wheels either of which is twenty (20) or more inches in diameter.
A yellow line or lines delineating the separation between travel lanes in opposite directions. It need not be at the geometrical center of the pavement.
A motor vehicle designed or regularly used for carrying freight, merchandise, supplies, tools or equipment.
Every highway or roadway or right-of-way thereof in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons having no legal rights of access to, from, on or across the same except at such points and in such manner as may be determined or designated by the public authority having jurisdiction over such highway or roadway.
Chief officer of the County in all matters pertaining to highways, roads, bridges and is responsible for all operations of the County Highway Department.
Highway Division of the Department of Public Works.
Any roadway owned and maintained by the County Highway Department. Said roads are open to use by the traveling general public.
Any pedestrian crossing indicated by lines or other markings on the pavement or, when not marked at intersection, that portion of a highway or roadway ordinarily included within the prolongation or connection of curb and property lines.
Any person who drives, operates or is in any manner in actual physical control of a vehicle.
A travel way privately used for access to and distribution within a site, not including sidewalks.
A solid white line used to delineate the right edge of a highway or roadway.
The total weight of a vehicle including the weight of any carried cargo.
The traveling portion of a public right-of-way of a highway intended for use by the general traveling public and maintained by the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department.
The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral boundary lines or, if present, the lateral curb lines of two (2) or more highways, roadways or alleyways, whether or not one (1) such highway, roadway or alleyway crosses the other.
Where a highway or roadway includes two (2) roadways thirty (30) or more feet apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided highway or roadway by an intersecting highway or roadway shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
A motor vehicle without current valid registration plates and motor vehicle safety inspection certificates lawfully attached to it or a motor vehicle which is wrecked, dismantled, inoperative, abandoned or discarded.
Every officer of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department or any officer lawfully and duly authorized, deputized, assigned or called upon to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violation of traffic regulations or any Fire Department official acting pursuant to Section 300.040 of the Jefferson County Traffic Code.
Any self-propelled vehicle not operated exclusively on tracks.
A motor vehicle operated on two (2) or three (3) wheels whether or not with a sidecar and excluding motorized bicycles.
Any two-wheeled or three-wheeled device having an automatic transmission and a motor with a cylinder capacity of not more than fifty (50) cubic centimeters, which produces less than three (3) gross brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground.
That character of traffic violation where at the time of violation the motor vehicle involved is in motion, except that the term does not include the driving of a motor vehicle without a valid motor vehicle registration license.
Any person actually in physical control of a vehicle.
The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading merchandise or passengers.
Any road open to use of the traveling general public, even though not maintained or owned by the County.
Every roadway or driveway not open to the use of the general traveling public.
The right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the other;
A strip of land over which a highway, roadway or alleyway passes.
The entire width and length of the right-of-way or the easement of a road, avenue or boulevard or similar item.
That portion of a road intended for use by the general traveling public, typically delineated by curbs, edge lines or the edge of pavement.
A section of any highway or roadway where signs warn of the presence of persons going to and returning from public or private schools.
The portion of a road outside the roadway excluding sidewalks at the same or near same grade as the adjoining roadway.
A paved area separate from the highway or roadway intended for use by pedestrians.
The halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.
When prohibited, any halting even momentarily of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a Police Officer or traffic control sign or signal.
All highways and every roadway or portion thereof on which vehicular traffic is given preferential right-of-way.
All official signs, signals, markings, intersection lighting and devices not inconsistent with this code, placed by a public body having authority to regulate, warn or guide traffic.
Any mechanical device on wheels in, upon or by which persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, roadway or alleyway or driveway, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon rails or tracks.