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.
[R.O. 2004 § 390.150]
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.
[R.O. 2004 § 390.160]
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.
