Cross Reference — Equipment of taxicabs, see §625.030.
[Code 1962 §18-39; CC 1979 §16-46; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
A. 
No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any highway, road, street or alley in the City during the period from one-half (½) hour after sunset to one-half (½) hour before sunrise, unless such vehicle shall display at least two (2) lighted lamps on the front, one on each side, having a light source of equal power, which shall project either white or yellow light.
B. 
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, such 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 vehicles stands at a distance of seventy-five (75) feet ahead.
C. 
No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any highway, road, street or alley in the City during the period from one-half (½) hour after sunset to one-half (½) hour before sunrise, unless such vehicle is equipped with two (2) lighted lamps on the rear, which shall display a red light visible from the rear for a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet. Either such rear lamps or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration marker and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty (50) feet to the rear. When the rear registration marker is illuminated by an electric lamp other than the required rear lamps, all such lamps shall be turned on or off by the same control switch at all times.
[Code 1962 §18-40; CC 1979 §16-47; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
All motorcycles shall carry one (1) lighted lamp to the front and one (1) lighted red or amber lamp to the rear, in all respects similar to those required of other motor vehicles.
[Code 1962 §18-42; CC 1979 §16-49; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
A. 
Headlamps, when lighted, shall exhibit lights substantially white in color.
B. 
Auxiliary lamps, cowl lamps and spot lamps, when lighted, shall exhibit lights substantially white, yellow or amber in color.
C. 
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.
[Ord. No. 112-2002 §1, 8-20-2002]
A. 
As used in this Section, the term "passenger car" means 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. 
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 front seat passenger of a passenger car manufactured after January 1, 1968, operated on a street or highway in this State, and persons less than eighteen (18) years of age operating or riding in a truck on a street or highway of this State shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt that meets Federal National Highway, Transportation and Safety Act requirements; except that, a child less than four (4) years of age shall be protected as required in Section 210.104, RSMo. No person shall be stopped, inspected or detained solely to determine compliance with this Subsection. 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.
C. 
Each driver of a motor vehicle transporting a child four (4) years of age or more but less than sixteen (16) years of age shall secure the child in a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt.
D. 
Each driver who violates the provisions of Subsection (B) or (C) of this Section is guilty of an infraction 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. In no case shall points be assessed against any person for a violation of this Section.
E. 
If there are more persons than there are seat belts in the enclosed area of a motor vehicle, then the driver and passengers are not in violation of this Section.
Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a horn, directed forward, or whistle in good working order, capable of emitting a sound adequate in quantity and volume to give warning of the approach of such vehicle to other users of the highway and to pedestrians. Such signaling device shall be used for warning purposes only and shall not be used for making any unnecessary noise, and no other sound-producing signaling device shall be used at any time.
[Code 1962 §18-44; CC 1979 §16-51; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
It shall be unlawful to drive a motor vehicle to which is attached a gong, bell, or siren, or to sound such device in any street; provided, that, this Section shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.
[Code 1962 §18-45; CC 1979 §16-52; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
Muffler cutouts and straight pipes shall not be used and no vehicle shall be driven in such manner or condition that excessive and unnecessary noises are made by its machinery, motor, tires, signaling devices or other parts, or by any improperly loaded cargo. The motors of all motor vehicles shall be fitted with properly attached mufflers of such capacity or construction as to quiet the maximum possible exhaust noise. Any cutout or opening in the exhaust pipe, between the motor and the muffler on any motor vehicle, shall be completely closed and disconnected from its operating lever, and shall be so arranged that it cannot automatically open or be opened or operated while such vehicle is in motion.
[Code 1962 §18-46; CC 1979 §16-53; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
Every bus used for the transportation of school children shall bear upon the front and rear thereof a plainly visible sign containing the words "school bus" in letters not less than eight (8) inches in height. Each bus shall have lettered on the rear in plain and distinct type the following: "State Law: Stop while bus is loading and unloading."
[Code 1962 §18-47; CC 1979 §16-54; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
Each school bus shall be equipped with a mechanical and electrical signaling device, approved by the State Board of Education, which will display a signal plainly visible from the front and rear, indicating intention to stop.
[Code 1962 §18-48; CC 1979 §16-55; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
All motor vehicles shall be provided with adequate brakes, which shall at all times be kept in working order.
[Code 1962 §18-49; CC 1979 §16-56; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
All vehicles shall be equipped with a mirror so adjusted as to reveal the street behind the vehicle from the driver's seat.
[Code 1962 §18-50; CC 1979 §16-57; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
When any vehicle is so constructed or equipped that the giving of the arm signals as required by this Chapter is impossible, it shall be equipped with a mechanical or electrical signaling device.
A. 
Every person transporting a child under the age of four (4) years shall be responsible, when transporting such child in a motor vehicle operated by that person on the streets or highways of this City, for providing for the protection of such child. Such child shall be protected by a child passenger restraint system approved by the Department of Public Safety.
B. 
Any person who violates this Section is guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction, may be punished by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and court costs.
C. 
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any public carrier for hire.
[Code 1962 §18-41; CC 1979 §16-48; Ord. No. 973 §1, 10-4-1977]
A. 
Whenever a vehicle is lawfully parked upon a street or highway during the hours between one-half (½) hour after sunset and one-half (½) hour before sunrise, and there is sufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of five hundred (500) feet upon such street or highway, no lights need be displayed upon such parked vehicle.
B. 
Whenever a vehicle is parked or stopped upon a highway or shoulder adjacent thereto, whether attended or unattended, during the hours between one-half (½) hour after sunset and one-half (½) hour before sunrise, and there is not sufficient light to reveal any person or object within a distance of five hundred (500) feet upon the highway, such vehicle shall be equipped with one (1) or more lamps meeting the following requirements: At least one (1) lamp shall display a white or amber light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of the vehicle, and the same lamp or at least one (1) other lamp shall display a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear of the vehicle. The location of such lamps shall always be such that at least one (1) lamp or combination of lamps meeting the requirements of this Subsection is installed as nearly as practicable to the side of the vehicle which is closest to passing traffic. Any lighted headlamp upon a parked vehicle shall be depressed or dimmed.
C. 
The provisions of Subsection (B) shall not apply to motor-driven cycles.