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 twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) 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.