A.
No owner of a motor vehicle registered
in this State, or required to be registered in this State, shall operate,
register or maintain registration of a motor vehicle, or permit another
person to operate such vehicle, unless the owner maintains the financial
responsibility which conforms to the requirements of the laws of this
State. No non-resident shall operate or permit another person to operate
in this City a motor vehicle registered to such non-resident unless
the non-resident maintains the financial responsibility which conforms
to the requirements of the laws of the non-resident's state of residence.
Furthermore, no person shall operate a motor vehicle owned by another
with the knowledge that the owner has not maintained financial responsibility
unless such person has financial responsibility which covers the person's
operation of the other's vehicle. However, no owner or non-resident
shall be in violation of this Subsection if he/she fails to maintain
financial responsibility on a motor vehicle which is inoperable or
being stored and not in operation.
B.
For purposes of this Section, the term
"financial responsibility" shall mean the ability to respond in damages
for liability on account of accidents occurring after the effective
date of proof of said financial responsibility, arising out of the
ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle, in the amount of
twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) because of bodily injury
to or death of one (1) person in any one (1) accident and, subject
to said limit for one (1) person, in the amount of fifty thousand
dollars ($50,000.00) because of bodily injury to or death of two (2)
or more persons in any one (1) accident and in the amount of ten thousand
dollars ($10,000.00) because of injury to or destruction of property
of others in any one (1) accident.
C.
Proof of financial responsibility may be
shown by any of the following:
1.
A current insurance identification
card issued by a motor vehicle insurer or by the Director of Revenue
of the State of Missouri for self-insurance. A motor vehicle liability
insurance policy, a motor vehicle liability insurance binder, or receipt
which contains the name and address of the insurer, the name and address
of the named insured, the policy number, the effective dates of the
policy and a description by year and make of the vehicle, or at least
five (5) digits of the vehicle identification number or the word "Fleet"
if the insurance policy covers five (5) or more motor vehicles shall
be satisfactory evidence of insurance in lieu of an insurance identification
card; or
2.
A certificate of the State Treasurer
of a cash or security deposit according to Section 303.240, RSMo.;
3.
A surety bond according to Section
303.230, RSMo.; or
4.
A photocopy or an image displayed
on a mobile electronic device as authorized by and subject to the
restrictions of Section 303.024, RSMo.
D.
Proof of financial responsibility shall
be carried at all times in the insured motor vehicle or by the operator
of the motor vehicle if the proof of financial responsibility is effective
as to the operator rather than to the vehicle. The operator of an
insured motor vehicle shall exhibit the insurance identification card
on the demand of any Peace Officer, commercial vehicle enforcement
officer or commercial vehicle inspector who lawfully stops such operator
or investigates an accident while that officer or inspector is engaged
in the performance of the officer's or inspector's duties.
E.
However, no person shall be found guilty
of violating this Section if the operator demonstrates to the court
that he/she met the financial responsibility requirements of Section
303.025, RSMo., at the time the Peace Officer wrote the citation.
F.
Any person who violates any provisions
of this Section shall be guilty of an ordinance violation.
No person shall display evidence
of insurance to a Law Enforcement Officer knowing there is no valid
liability insurance in effect on the motor vehicle as required pursuant
to this Article or knowing the evidence of insurance is illegally
altered, counterfeit or otherwise invalid as evidence of insurance.
If the Law Enforcement Officer issues a citation to a motor vehicle
operator for displaying invalid evidence of insurance, the Officer
shall confiscate the evidence for presentation in court. Any person
convicted of violating this Section is guilty of an ordinance violation.
No person shall alter an invalid
insurance card to make it appear valid. No person knowingly shall
make, sell or otherwise make available an invalid or counterfeit insurance
card. Any person who violates this Section is guilty of an ordinance
violation.