[R.O. 1996 § 390.010; Code 1985, § 76.870; CC 1990 § 14-131]
No person shall operate any vehicle or trailer on any street of this City without having displayed as provided in the following Sections the license plates or temporary permit issued to the owner of the vehicle by the Director of the Department of Revenue of the State, except any vehicle owned by a non-resident of the State may be operated on any street of this City, provided the vehicle has been duly registered for the current year in the State, country, or other place of which the owner is a resident, and which at all times when operated in the City has displayed upon it the number plate or plates issued for such vehicle in the place of residence of such owner; however, the provisions of this Section shall be operative as to a vehicle owned by a non-resident of this State only to the extent that under the laws of the State, country, or other place of residence of such non-resident owner, like exemptions are granted to vehicles registered under the laws of and owned by residents of this State.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.020; Code 1985, § 76.875; CC 1990 § 14-132]
No person shall operate any vehicle or trailer upon which license plates or temporary permits are required to be displayed by law, unless it shall have displayed thereon the license plate or set of license plates issued by the State Director of Revenue. Each such plate shall be securely fastened to the motor vehicle in a manner so that all parts thereof shall be plainly visible and reasonably clean so that the reflective qualities thereof are not impaired. License plates shall be fastened to all motor vehicles except trucks, tractors, truck-tractors or truck-tractors licensed in excess of twelve thousand (12,000) pounds on the front and rear of such vehicles not less than eight (8) nor more than forty-eight (48) inches above the ground, with the letters and numbers thereon right side up. The license plates on trailers, motorcycles, motortricycles and motorscooters shall be displayed on the rear of such vehicles, with the letters and numbers thereof right side up. The license plate, on trucks, tractors, truck tractors or truck-tractors licensed in excess of twelve thousand (12,000) pounds shall be displayed on the front of such vehicles not less than eight (8) nor more than forty-eight (48) inches above the ground, with the letters and numbers thereon right side up. The license plate or plates when properly attached shall be prima facie evidence that the required fees have been paid.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.030; Code 1985, § 76.880; CC 1990 § 14-133]
No person shall operate a motor vehicle or trailer on which there is displayed on the front or rear thereof a plate, tag, sticker, sign, or placard bearing the words "license lost," "license applied for," or words of similar impact, as a substitute for such plate, tag, sticker, sign, or placard.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.040; Code 1985, § 76.885; CC 1990 § 14-134]
No person shall park upon any street any motor vehicle or trailer not bearing or displaying number or license plates or bearing or displaying number or license plates not specifically issued for such motor vehicle or trailer, except as the same may be authorized by law or regulations of any duly authorized governmental agency issuing such number or license plates; or park upon private property without the consent of the owner, lessee, or person in charge of such property, any motor vehicle or trailer not bearing or displaying number or license plates or park any place within the City any motor vehicle or trailer bearing or displaying number or license plates not specifically issued for such motor vehicle or trailer, except as the same may be authorized by law or regulation of any duly authorized governmental agency issuing such number or license plates; or park, drive, or operate any motor vehicle on the streets of this City bearing or displaying number or license plates issued by the State or any other duly authorized governmental agency, unless such number or license plates are for the current registration period.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.050; Code 1985, § 76.890; CC 1990 § 14-135]
No person shall show, exhibit, display or have in possession for the purpose of sale any motor vehicle bearing or displaying thereon any number or license plates, except those of the dealer or owner so displaying such motor vehicle; provided, however, that where the motor vehicle is placed on consignment with a dealer by the owner thereof, there may be displayed the number or license plate issued to the owner thereof.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.065; Ord. No. 1113 § 1, 6-23-1997]
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.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.070; Code 1985, § 76.900; CC 1990 § 14-137]
It shall be unlawful for any person to buy or sell in this City any motor vehicle or trailer registered under the laws of this State, unless at the time of delivery thereof there shall pass between the parties a certificate of ownership with assignment thereof as provided by law, and the sale of any motor vehicle or trailer registered under the laws of this State, without the assignment of such certificate of ownership shall be fraudulent and void.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.080; Code 1985, § 76.905; CC 1990 § 14-138]
A. 
Upon the transfer of ownership of any motor vehicle or trailer, the certificate of registration and the right of use of the number plates shall expire, and the number plates shall be removed by the owner at the time of the transfer of possession and it shall be unlawful for any person other than the person to whom such number plates were originally issued to have the same in his/her possession, whether in use or not; except that the seller may give the buyer written permission to use such plates for a period of thirty (30) days, in which event the buyer shall have and display on demand of any proper officer such written consent of the previous owner, together with an affidavit or other proof that he/she has made application for registration. At the expiration of this thirty (30) day period, such number plates shall be returned to the original owner.
B. 
Upon the sale of a motor vehicle or trailer by a dealer, a buyer who has made application for registration, by mail or otherwise, may operate the same for a period of thirty (30) days after taking possession thereof, if during such period the motor vehicle or trailer shall have attached thereto, in the manner required by law, number plates issued to the dealer. Upon application and presentation of satisfactory evidence that the buyer has applied for registration, a dealer may furnish such number plates to the buyer for such temporary use.
C. 
No dealer shall advise any purchaser of a motor vehicle or trailer that such purchaser may drive such motor vehicle or trailer without compliance with the foregoing license requirements.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.090]
A. 
Unless otherwise provided for by law, it shall be unlawful for any person, except those expressly exempted by Section 302.080, RSMo., to:
1. 
Operate any vehicle upon any highway in this City unless the person has a valid license as required by Chapter 302, RSMo., or a temporary instruction permit issued in compliance with Section 302.130, RSMo., or an intermediate driver's license issued in compliance with Section 302.178, RSMo., in his/her possession;
2. 
Operate a motorcycle or motortricycle upon any highway of this City unless such person has a valid license that shows the person has successfully passed an examination for the operation of a motorcycle or motortricycle as prescribed by the Director of Revenue. The Director of Revenue may indicate such upon a valid license issued to such person or shall issue a license restricting the applicant to the operation of a motorcycle or motortricycle if the actual demonstration, required by Section 302.173, RSMo., is conducted on such vehicle;
3. 
Authorize or knowingly permit a motorcycle or motortricycle owned by such person or under such person's control to be driven upon any highway by any person whose license does not indicate that the person has passed the examination for the operation of a motorcycle or motortricycle or has been issued an instruction permit therefor;
4. 
Operate a motor vehicle with an instruction permit, intermediate driver's license or license issued to another person;
5. 
Operate a motor vehicle in violation of the provisions of Sections 302.130 and 302.178, RSMo., regarding accompaniment by a qualified driver or stated hours of operation; or
6. 
Drive a commercial motor vehicle, unless fully licensed in compliance with Chapter 302, RSMo., except when operating under an instruction permit as provided for in Section 302.720, RSMo.
7. 
No person shall operate an autocycle on any highway or street in this City unless the person has a valid driver's license. The operator of an autocycle, however, shall not be required to obtain a motorcycle or motortricycle license or endorsement pursuant to Sections 302.010 to 302.340, RSMo.
[1]
Note: Under certain circumstances this offense can be a felony under state law.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.100]
It shall be unlawful for any person to display or to permit to be displayed, or to have in his/her possession, any license knowing the same to be fictitious or to have been canceled, suspended, revoked, disqualified or altered; to lend to or knowingly permit the use of by another any license issued to the person so lending or permitting the use thereof; to display or to represent as one's own any license not issued to the person so displaying the same, or fail or refuse to surrender to the Clerk of any Division of the Circuit Court or the Director, any license which has been suspended, canceled, disqualified or revoked, as provided by law; to use a false or fictitious name or give a false or fictitious address on any application for a license, or any renewal or duplicate thereof, or knowingly to make a false statement, or knowingly to conceal a material fact, or otherwise commit a fraud in any such application; to authorize or consent to any motor vehicle owned by him/her or under his/her control to be driven by any person, when he/she has knowledge that such person has no legal right to do so, or for any person to drive any motor vehicle in violation of any of the provisions of Sections 302.010 to 302.780, RSMo.; to employ a person to operate a motor vehicle in the transportation of persons or property, with knowledge that such person has not complied with the provisions of Sections 302.010 to 302.780, RSMo., or whose license has been revoked, suspended, canceled or disqualified; or who fails to produce his/her license upon demand of any person or persons authorized to make such demand.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.100; Code 1985, § 76.920; CC 1990 § 14-141]
No person shall cause or knowingly permit his/her child or ward under the age of sixteen (16) years to drive a motor vehicle upon any roadway when such minor is not authorized hereunder or in violation of the traffic laws of the State.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.120; Code 1985, § 76.925; CC 1990 § 14-142]
Any person whose operator's or chauffeur's license and driving privilege as a resident or non-resident has been canceled, suspended or revoked by the State under the provisions of Chapter 302, RSMo., or Chapter 577, RSMo., and who drives any motor vehicle upon the roadways of this City while such license and privilege is canceled, suspended or revoked, and before an official reinstatement notice or termination notice is issued is guilty of violating this Section and on conviction therefor shall be punished as provided by Section 100.110 of this Code.
[R.O. 1996 § 390.130; Code 1985, § 76.810; CC 1990 § 14-108]
Farm tractors when using the streets and roadways in traveling from one (1) farm to another, or to or from places of delivery or repair are exempt from the provisions of the law relating to registration and display of number plates, but shall comply with all the other provisions hereof.