A.
"When lighted lamps are required" means at any time from
a half (½) hour after sunset to a half (½) hour before
sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to
render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at
a distance of five hundred (500) feet ahead. Lighted lamps shall also
be required any time the weather conditions require usage of the motor
vehicle's windshield wipers to operate the vehicle in a careful and
prudent manner as defined in Section 304.012, RSMo. The provisions
of this Section shall be interpreted to require lighted lamps during
periods of fog even if usage of the windshield wipers is not necessary
to operate the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner.
B.
When Lights Required — Violation — Penalty.
1.
No person shall drive, move, park or be in custody of any vehicle
or combination of vehicles on any street or highway during the times
when lighted lamps are required unless such vehicle or combination
of vehicles displays lighted lamps and illuminating devices as hereinafter
in this Article required. No person shall use on any vehicle any approved
electric lamp or similar device unless the light source of such lamp
or device complies with the conditions of approval as to focus and
rated candlepower.
2.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307.120, RSMo., or any
other provision of law, violation of this Section shall be deemed
an infraction and any person who violates this Section as it relates
to violations of the usage of lighted lamps required due to weather
conditions or fog shall only be fined ten dollars ($10.00) and no
court costs shall be assessed.
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.
A.
Except
as hereinafter provided, the headlamps or the auxiliary driving lamp
or the auxiliary passing lamp or combination thereof on motor vehicles
other than motorcycles or motor-driven cycles shall be so arranged
that the driver may select at will between distributions of light
projected to different elevations and such lamps may, in addition,
be so arranged that such selection can be made automatically, subject
to the following limitations:
1.
There shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or composite beam,
so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at
a distance of at least three hundred fifty (350) feet ahead for all
conditions of loading.
2.
There shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or composite beam,
so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles
at a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet ahead; and on a straight
level road under any condition of loading none of the high-intensity
portion of the beam shall be directed to strike the eyes of an approaching
driver.
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.
A.
Every
motor vehicle and every motor-drawn vehicle shall be equipped with
at least two (2) rear lamps, not less than fifteen (15) inches or
more than seventy-two (72) inches above the ground upon which the
vehicle stands, which when lighted will exhibit a red light plainly
visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear. Either
such rear lamp 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 only by the same control switch at all times.
B.
Every
motorcycle registered in this State, when operated on a highway, shall
also carry at the rear, either as part of the rear lamp or separately,
at least one (1) approved red reflector which shall be of such size
and characteristics and so maintained as to be visible during the
times when lighted lamps are required from all distances within three
hundred (300) feet to fifty (50) feet from such vehicle when directly
in front of a motor vehicle displaying lawful undimmed headlamps.
C.
Every
new passenger car, new commercial motor vehicle, motor-drawn vehicle
and omnibus with a capacity of more than six (6) passengers registered
in this State after January 1, 1966, when operated on a highway shall
also carry at the rear at least two (2) approved red reflectors, at
least one (1) at each side, so designed, mounted on the vehicle and
maintained as to be visible during the times when lighted lamps are
required from all distances within five hundred (500) to fifty (50)
feet from such vehicle when directly in front of a motor vehicle displaying
lawful undimmed headlamps. Every such reflector shall meet the requirements
of this Article and shall be mounted upon the vehicle at a height
not to exceed sixty (60) inches nor less than fifteen (15) inches
above the surface upon which the vehicle stands.
D.
Any
person who knowingly operates a motor vehicle without the lamps required
in this Section in operable condition is guilty of an infraction.
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 and 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 (1) 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.
A.
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.
B.
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.
C.
Any person operating an animal-driven vehicle during the hours between sunset and one-half (½) hour before sunrise may, in lieu of the requirements of Subsection (B) of this Section, use lamps or lanterns complying with the rules promulgated by the Director of the Department of Public Safety.
D.
Any
person violating the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of
an ordinance violation.