Except as in this Article provided, every motor vehicle other
than a motor-drawn vehicle and other than a motorcycle shall be equipped
with at least two (2) approved headlamps mounted at the same level
with at least one (1) on each side of the front of the vehicle. Every
motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one (1) and not more than
two (2) approved headlamps. Every motorcycle equipped with a sidecar
or other attachment shall be equipped with a lamp on the outside limit
of such attachment capable of displaying a white light to the front.
Every person driving a motor vehicle equipped with multiple-beam
road lighting equipment, during the times when lighted lamps are required,
shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high
enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles
at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following
requirements and limitations: Whenever the driver of a vehicle approaches
an oncoming vehicle within five hundred (500) feet, or is within three
hundred (300) feet to the rear of another vehicle traveling in the
same direction, the driver shall use a distribution of light or composite
beam so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes
of the other driver, and in no case shall the high-intensity portion
which is projected to the left of the prolongation of the extreme
left side of the vehicle be aimed higher than the center of the lamp
from which it comes at a distance of twenty-five (25) feet ahead,
and in no case higher than a level of forty-two (42) inches above
the level upon which the vehicle stands at a distance of seventy-five
(75) feet ahead.
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed three (3)
auxiliary lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than twelve
(12) inches nor more than forty-two (42) inches above the level surface
upon which the vehicle stands.
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than two (2)
side cowl or fender lamps which shall emit a white or yellow light
without glare. Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than
one (1) running board courtesy lamp on each side thereof which shall
emit a white or yellow light without glare. Any motor vehicle may
be equipped with a backup lamp either separately or in combination
with another lamp; except that no such backup lamp shall be continuously
lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed one (1)
spotlamp but every lighted spotlamp shall be so aimed and used so
as not to be dazzling or glaring to any person.
Headlamps, when lighted, shall exhibit lights substantially
white in color; auxiliary lamps, cowllamps and spotlamps, when lighted,
shall exhibit lights substantially white, yellow or amber in color.
No person shall drive or move any vehicle or equipment, except a school
bus when used for school purposes or an emergency vehicle upon any
street or highway with any lamp or device thereon displaying a red
light visible from directly in front thereof.
Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle other than headlamps, spotlamps, front direction signals or auxiliary lamps which projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candlepower shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five (75) feet from the vehicle. Alternately flashing warning signals may be used on school buses when used for school purposes and on motor vehicles when used to transport United States mail from post offices to boxes of addressees thereof and on emergency vehicles as defined in Section
300.010 of this Title on buses owned or operated by churches, mosques, synagogues, temples or other houses of worship, and on commercial passenger transport vehicles or railroad passenger cars that are stopped to load or unload passengers, but are prohibited on other motor vehicles, motorcycles and motor-drawn vehicles except as a means for indicating a right or left turn.
At the times when lighted lamps are required, at least two (2)
lighted lamps shall be displayed, one on each side of the front of
every motor vehicle except a motorcycle and except a motor-drawn vehicle
except when such vehicle is parked subject to the provisions governing
lights on parked vehicles. Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with
headlamps as in this Article required is also equipped with any auxiliary
lamps or a spotlamp or any other lamp on the front thereof projecting
a beam of an intensity greater than three hundred (300) candlepower,
not more than a total of four (4) of any such lamps on the front of
a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when upon a highway.
All vehicles, including agricultural machinery or implements,
road machinery, road rollers, traction engines and farm tractors not
in this Article specifically required to be equipped with lamps, shall
be equipped during the times when lighted lamps are required with
at least one (1) lighted lamp or lantern exhibiting a white light
visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of
such vehicle and with a lamp or lantern exhibiting a red light visible
from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear, and such lamps
and lanterns shall exhibit lights to the sides of such vehicle.
Any person who shall place or drive or cause to be placed or
driven, upon or along any State highway of this City any animal-driven
vehicle whatsoever, whether in motion or at rest, shall after sunset
to one-half (½) hour before sunrise have attached to every
such vehicle at the rear thereof a red taillight or a red reflecting
device of not less than three (3) inches in diameter of effective
area or its equivalent in area. When such device shall consist of
reflecting buttons there shall be no less than seven (7) of such buttons
covering an area equal to a circle with a three (3) inch diameter.
The total subtended effective angle of reflection of every such device
shall be no less than sixty degrees (60°) and the spread and efficiency
of the reflected light shall be sufficient for the reflected light
to be visible to the driver of any motor vehicle approaching such
animal-drawn vehicle from the rear of a distance of not less than
five hundred (500) feet. In addition, any person who operates any
such animal-driven vehicle during the hours between sunset and one-half
(½) hour before sunrise shall have at least one (1) light flashing
at all times the vehicle is on any highway of this City. Such light
or lights shall be amber in the front and red in the back and shall
be placed on the left side of the vehicle at a height of no more than
six (6) feet from the ground and shall be visible from the front and
the back of the vehicle at a distance of at least five hundred (500)
feet. Any person violating the provisions of this Section shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.
[Ord. No. 1678 §1, 5-5-2009]
A. Definitions. As used in this Section, the following words
and phrases shall have the meanings prescribed herein:
CHILD BOOSTER SEAT
A seating system which meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards set forth in 49 C.F.R. 571.213, as amended, that is designed
to elevate a child to properly sit in a federally approved safety
belt system.
CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM
A seating system which meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards as set forth in 49 CFR 571.213, as amended, and which is
either permanently affixed to a motor vehicle or is affixed to such
vehicle by a safety belt or a universal attachment system.
PASSENGER CAR
Every motor vehicle designed for carrying ten (10) persons
or less and used for the transportation of persons; except that the
term "passenger car" shall not include motorcycles, motorized bicycles,
motortricycles and trucks with a licensed gross weight of twelve thousand
(12,000) pounds or more.
B. Seat Belts Required.
1. Each driver, except persons employed by the United States Postal Service while performing duties for that Federal agency which require the operator to service postal boxes from their vehicles or which require frequent entry into and exit from their vehicles, and each front seat passenger of a passenger car manufactured after January 1, 1968, operated on a street or highway in the City and persons less than eighteen (18) years of age operating or riding in a truck, as defined in Section 301.010, RSMo., on a street or highway in the City shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt that meets Federal National Highway Transportation and Safety Act requirements. No person shall be stopped, inspected or detained solely to determine compliance with this Section. The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to persons who have a medical reason for failing to have a seat belt fastened about their body, nor shall the provisions of this Section be applicable to persons while operating or riding a motor vehicle being used in agricultural work-related activities. Non-compliance with this Subsection shall not constitute probable cause for violation of any other provision of law. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to the transporting of children under sixteen (16) years of age as provided in Subsection
(C) of this Section.
2. Each person who violates Subsection
(B)(1) of this Section is guilty of an offense for which a fine not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) may be imposed. All other provisions of law and court rules to the contrary notwithstanding, no court costs shall be imposed on any person due to a violation of this Section.
3. If there
are more persons than there are seat belts in the enclosed area of
a motor vehicle, then the passengers who are unable to wear seat belts
shall sit in the area behind the front seat of the motor vehicle unless
the motor vehicle is designed only for a front-seated area. Passengers
occupying a seat location referred to in this Subsection for which
there are no seat belts are not in violation of this Section. This
Subsection shall not apply to passengers who are accompanying a driver
of a motor vehicle who is licensed under Section 302.178, RSMo.
C. Child Passenger Restraint Required. Every driver transporting
a child under the age of sixteen (16) years shall be responsible,
when transporting such child in a motor vehicle operated by that driver
on streets or highways in this City, for providing the protection
of such child as follows:
1. A child
less than four (4) years of age, regardless of weight, shall be secured
in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;
2. A child
weighing less than forty (40) pounds, regardless of age, shall be
secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that
child;
3. A child
at least four (4) years of age but less than eight (8) years of age,
who also weighs at least forty (40) pounds but less than eighty (80)
pounds and who is also less than four (4) feet, nine (9) inches tall
shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system or booster
seat appropriate for that child;
4. A child
at least eighty (80) pounds or a child more than four (4) feet, nine
(9) inches in height shall be secured by a vehicle safety belt or
booster seat appropriate for that child;
5. A child
who otherwise would be required to be secured in a booster seat may
be transported in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only
a lap belt if the back seat of the motor vehicle is not equipped with
a combination lap and shoulder belt for booster seat installation;
6. When
a driver is only transporting children in the driver's immediate family
and there are more children than there are seating positions in the
enclosed area of a motor vehicle, each child who is not able to be
restrained by a child safety restraint device appropriate for the
child shall sit in the area behind the front seat of the motor vehicle
unless the motor vehicle is designed only for a front seat area. A
driver transporting children in compliance with this Subsection is
not in violation of this Section. This Subsection shall only apply
to the use of a child passenger restraint system or vehicle safety
belt for children less than sixteen (16) years of age being transported
in a motor vehicle.
D. Penalty. Any driver who violates Subdivisions (1), (2) or (3) of Subsection
(C) of this Section is guilty of an offense and, upon conviction, may be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) and court costs. Any driver who violates Subdivision (4) of Subsection
(C) of this Section shall be subject to the penalty set forth in Subsection
(B)(2) of this Section. If a driver receives a citation for violation Subdivisions (1), (2) or (3) of Subsection
(C) of this Section, the charges shall be dismissed or withdrawn if the driver prior to or at his hearing provides evidence of acquisition of a child passenger restraint system or child booster seat which is satisfactory to the court or the party responsible for prosecuting the driver's citation.
E. Exceptions. The provisions of Subsection
(C) of this Section shall not apply to any public carrier for hire. The provisions of Subsection
(C) of this Section shall not apply to students four (4) years of age or older who are passengers on a school bus designed for carrying eleven (11) passengers or more and which is manufactured or equipped pursuant to Missouri Minimum Standards for School Buses as school buses are defined in Section 301.010, RSMo. The provisions of Subsection
(C) of this Section shall not be applicable to persons who have a medical reason for failing to have a seat belt fastened about their body.
F. Loads In Vehicles.
1. It shall
be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to drive the vehicle when
it is so loaded or when there are in the front seat of the vehicle
such number of persons as to obstruct the view of the operator to
the front or sides or to interfere with the operator's control over
the driving mechanism of the vehicle.
2. It shall
be unlawful for any passenger in a vehicle to ride in such a position
as to interfere with the operator's view ahead or to the sides or
to interfere with the operator's control over the mechanism of the
vehicle.
Every person operating or riding as a passenger on any motorcycle
or motortricycle, as defined in this Title, upon any highway of this
City shall wear protective headgear at all times the vehicle is in
motion. The protective headgear shall meet reasonable standards and
specifications established by the Director.