[Ord. No. 2025-029, 5-12-2025]
A. 
Signaling Devices. Every motor vehicle shall be equipped with a horn, directed forward, or whistle in good working order, capable of emitting a sound adequate in quantity and volume to give warning of the approach of such vehicle to other users of the highway and to pedestrians. Such signaling device shall be used for warning purposes only and shall not be used for making any unnecessary noise, and no other sound-producing signaling device shall be used at any time.
B. 
Muffler Cutouts. Muffler cutouts shall not be used and no vehicle shall be driven in such manner or condition that excessive and unnecessary noises shall be made by its machinery, motor, signaling device, or other parts, or by any improperly loaded cargo. The motors of all motor vehicles shall be fitted with properly attached mufflers of such capacity or construction as to quiet the maximum possible exhaust noise as completely as is done in modern gas engine passenger motor vehicles. Any cutout or opening in the exhaust pipe between the motor and the muffler on any motor vehicle shall be completely closed and disconnected from its operating lever, and shall be so arranged that it cannot automatically open, or be opened or operated while such vehicle is in motion.
C. 
Brakes. All motor vehicles, except motorcycles, shall be provided at all times with two (2) sets of adequate brakes, kept in good working order, and motorcycles shall be provided with one (1) set of adequate brakes kept in good working order.
D. 
Mirrors. All motor vehicles which are so constructed or loaded that the operator cannot see the road behind such vehicle by looking back or around the side of such vehicle shall be equipped with a mirror so adjusted as to reveal the road behind and be visible from the operator's seat.
E. 
Projections On Vehicles. All vehicles carrying poles or other objects, which project more than five (5) feet from the rear of such vehicle, shall, during the period when lights are required by this Chapter, carry a red light at or near the rear end of the pole or other object so projecting. At other times a red flag or cloth, not less than sixteen (16) inches square, shall be displayed at the end of such projection.
F. 
Towlines. When one (1) vehicle is towing another, the connecting device shall not exceed fifteen (15) feet. During the time that lights are required by Section 380.010, the required lights shall be displayed by both vehicles. Every towed vehicle shall be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of a safety chain, cable, or equivalent device in addition to the primary coupling device, except that such secondary coupling device shall not be necessary if the connecting device is connected to the towing vehicle by a center-locking ball located over or nearly over the rear axle and not supported by the rear bumper of the towing vehicle. Such secondary safety connecting devices shall be of sufficient strength to control the towed vehicle in the event of failure of the primary coupling device. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to wreckers towing vehicles or to vehicles secured to the towing vehicle by a fifth-wheel type connection.
G. 
The provisions of Subsection (F) of this Section shall not apply to farm implements, or to any vehicle which is not required to be registered.
H. 
Commercial motor vehicles and trailers: When being operated on any right-of-way, road, street, or highway shall be equipped with adequate and proper brakes, lighting equipment, signaling devices, steering mechanisms, horns, mirrors, windshield wipers, tires, wheels, exhaust system, glazing, air pollution control devices, fuel tank, and any other safety equipment required by the state in such condition so as to obtain a certificate of inspection and approval as required by the provisions of Section 307.360, RSMo.
I. 
Devices attached to or towed by motor vehicles for the purpose of transporting hay shall have the protruding parts raised or retracted when not in use to a position which will not cause injury or damage to persons or property in the vicinity of such device when on the highways of this State.
J. 
Violation of this Section shall be deemed an infraction.
[Ord. No. 2025-029, 5-12-2025]
A. 
All motor vehicles, and every trailer and semitrailer operating upon the public rights-of-way, streets, roads, and highways and carrying goods or material or farm products which may reasonably be expected to become dislodged and fall from the vehicle, trailer or semitrailer as a result of wind pressure or air pressure and/or by the movement of the vehicle, trailer or semitrailer shall have a protective cover or be sufficiently secured so that no portion of such goods or material can become dislodged and fall from the vehicle, trailer or semitrailer while being transported or carried.
B. 
Operation of a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer in violation of this Section shall be a Class C misdemeanor, and any person convicted thereof shall be punished as provided by law.
[Ord. No. 2025-029, 5-12-2025]
A. 
No person shall operate any truck, with a licensed gross weight of less than twelve thousand (12,000) pounds on any right-of-way, street, road, or highway when any person under eighteen (18) years of age is riding in the unenclosed bed of such truck. No person under eighteen (18) years of age shall ride in the unenclosed bed of such truck when the truck is in operation. Any person who operates a truck with a licensed gross weight of less than twelve thousand (12,000) pounds in violation of this Section is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
B. 
The provisions of this Section shall only apply when a truck described in Subsection (A) of this Section is operated on a right-of-way, street, road, or highway. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to:
1. 
An employee engaged in the necessary discharge of the employee's duties where it is necessary to ride in the unenclosed bed of the truck;
2. 
Any person while engaged in agricultural activities where it is necessary to ride in the unenclosed bed of the truck;
3. 
Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck while such truck is being operated in a parade, caravan or exhibition which is authorized by law;
4. 
Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truck has installed a means of preventing such person from being discharged or such person is secured to the truck in a manner which will prevent the person from being thrown, falling or jumping from the truck;
5. 
Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truck is being operated solely for the purposes of participating in a special event and it is necessary that the person ride in such unenclosed bed due to a lack of available seating. "Special event," for the purposes of this Section, is a specific social activity of a definable duration which is participated in by the person riding in the unenclosed bed;
6. 
Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truck is being operated solely for the purposes of providing assistance to, or ensuring the safety of, other persons engaged in a recreational activity; or
7. 
Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truck is the only legally titled, licensed and insured vehicle owned by the family of the person riding in the unenclosed bed and there is insufficient room in the passenger cab of the truck to accommodate all passengers in such truck. For the purposes of this subdivision the term "family" shall mean any persons related within the first degree of consanguinity.
C. 
As used in this Section, the term "passenger car" means every motor vehicle designed for carrying ten (10) persons or less and used for the transportation of persons; except that, the term "passenger car" shall not include motorcycles, motorized bicycles, motor tricycles, and trucks with a licensed gross weight of twelve thousand (12,000) pounds or more.
D. 
Each driver, except persons employed by the United States Postal Service while performing duties for that Federal agency which require the operator to service postal boxes from their vehicles, or which require frequent entry into and exit from their vehicles, and front seat passenger of a passenger car manufactured after January 1, 1968, operated on a right-of-way, street, road, or highway, and persons less than eighteen (18) years of age operating or riding in a truck on a right-of-way, road, street or highway shall wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt that meets federal National Highway, Transportation and Safety Act requirements. No person shall be stopped, inspected, or detained solely to determine compliance with this Subsection. The provisions of this Section and Section 380.170 shall not be applicable to persons who have a medical reason for failing to have a seat belt fastened about their body, nor shall the provisions of this Section be applicable to persons while operating or riding a motor vehicle being used in agricultural work-related activities. Noncompliance with this Subsection shall not constitute probable cause for violation of any other provision of law. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to the transporting of children under sixteen (16) years of age, as provided in Section 380.170.
E. 
Each driver of a motor vehicle transporting a child less than sixteen (16) years of age shall secure the child in a properly adjusted and fastened restraint under Section 380.170.
F. 
In any action to recover damages arising out of the ownership, common maintenance or operation of a motor vehicle, failure to wear a safety belt in violation of this Section shall not be considered evidence of comparative negligence. Failure to wear a safety belt in violation of this Section may be admitted to mitigate damages, but only under the following circumstances:
1. 
Parties seeking to introduce evidence of the failure to wear a safety belt in violation of this Section must first introduce expert evidence proving that a failure to wear a safety belt contributed to the injuries claimed by plaintiff;
2. 
If the evidence supports such a finding, the trier of fact may find that the plaintiff's failure to wear a safety belt in violation of this Section contributed to the plaintiff's claimed injuries, and may reduce the amount of the plaintiff's recovery by an amount not to exceed one percent (1%) of the damages awarded after any reductions for comparative negligence.
G. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law of the contrary, Subsection (D) of this Section shall not apply to any action arising out of the design, construction, manufacture, distribution, or sale of a motor vehicle, factory-equipped with a safety belt. In such actions arising out of the design, construction, manufacture, distribution, or sale of a motor vehicle, a plaintiff's failure to wear a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt shall be admissible as evidence of comparative negligence or fault, causation, absence of a defect or hazard, and failure to mitigate damages.
H. 
Except as otherwise provided for in Section 380.170, each person who violates the provisions of Subsection (B) of this Section is guilty of an infraction for which a fine not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) may be imposed. All other provisions of law and court rules to the contrary notwithstanding, no court costs shall be imposed on any person due to a violation of this Section.
I. 
If there are more persons than there are seat belts in the enclosed area of a motor vehicle, then the passengers who are unable to wear seat belts shall sit in the area behind the front seat of the motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle is designed only for a front-seated area. The passenger or passengers occupying a seat location referred to in this Subsection is not in violation of this Section. This Subsection shall not apply to passengers who are accompanying a driver of a motor vehicle who only has an intermediate driver's license under Section 302.178, RSMo.
[Ord. No. 2025-029, 5-12-2025]
A. 
As used in this Section, the following terms shall mean:
CHILD BOOSTER SEAT
A seating system which meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.213, as amended, that is designed to elevate a child to properly sit in a federally approved safety belt system.
CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM
A seating system which meets the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.213, as amended, and which is either permanently affixed to a motor vehicle or is affixed to such vehicle by a safety belt or a universal attachment system.
DRIVER
A person who is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle.
B. 
Every driver transporting a child under the age of sixteen (16) years shall be responsible, when transporting such child in a motor vehicle operated by that driver on the rights-of-way, roads, streets or highways, for providing for the protection of such child as follows:
1. 
Children less than four (4) years of age, regardless of weight, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;
2. 
Children weighing less than forty (40) pounds, regardless of age, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system appropriate for that child;
3. 
Children at least four (4) years of age but less than eight (8) years of age, who also weigh at least forty (40) pounds but less than eighty (80) pounds, and who are also less than four (4) feet, nine (9) inches tall, shall be secured in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat appropriate for that child;
4. 
Children at least eighty (80) pounds or children more than four (4) feet, nine (9) inches in height shall be secured by a vehicle safety belt or booster seat appropriate for that child;
5. 
A child who otherwise would be required to be secured in a booster seat may be transported in the back seat of a motor vehicle while wearing only a lap belt if the back seat of the motor vehicle is not equipped with a combination lap and shoulder belt for booster seat installation;
6. 
When transporting children in the immediate family when there are more children than there are seating positions in the enclosed area of a motor vehicle, the children who are not able to be restrained by a child safety restraint device appropriate for the child shall sit in the area behind the front seat of the motor vehicle unless the motor vehicle is designed only for a front seat area. The driver transporting children referred to in this Subsection is not in violation of this Section.
This Subsection shall only apply to the use of a child passenger restraint system or vehicle safety belt for children less than sixteen (16) years of age being transported in a motor vehicle.
C. 
Any driver who violates Subsection (A), (B), or (C) of Subsection (B) of this Section is guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction, may be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) and court costs. Any driver who violates Subsection (B)(4) of Subsection (B) of this Section shall be subject to the penalty in Subsection 6 of Section 307.178, RSMo. If a driver receives a citation for violating Subsection (B)(1), (2), or (3) of Subsection (B) of this Section, the charges shall be dismissed or withdrawn if the driver prior to or at his or her hearing provides evidence of acquisition of a child passenger restraint system or child booster seat which is satisfactory to the court or the party responsible for prosecuting the driver's citation.
D. 
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any public carrier for hire. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to students four (4) years of age or older who are passengers on a school bus designed for carrying eleven (11) passengers or more and which is manufactured or equipped pursuant to Missouri Minimum Standards for School Buses as school buses are defined in Section 301.010, RSMo.
[Ord. No. 2025-029, 5-12-2025]
A. 
Except as may be otherwise permitted by the Missouri Director of the Department of Public Safety, any person may operate a motor vehicle with front sidewing vents or windows located immediately to the left and right of the driver that have a sun-screening device, in conjunction with safety glazing material, that has a light transmission of thirty-five percent (35%) or more plus or minus three percent (3%) and a luminous reflectance of thirty-five percent (35%) or less plus or minus three percent (3%).
B. 
This Section shall not prohibit labels, stickers, decalcomania, or informational signs on motor vehicles or the application of tinted or solar screening material to recreational vehicles as defined in Section 700.010, RSMo., provided that such material does not interfere with the driver's normal view of the road. This Section shall not prohibit factory-installed tinted glass, the equivalent replacement thereof or tinting material applied to the upper portion of the motor vehicle's windshield which is normally tinted by the manufacturer of motor vehicle safety glass.
C. 
Any person who violates the provisions of this Section is guilty of a Class C misdemeanor.
D. 
Any vehicle licensed with a historical license plate shall be exempt from the requirements of this Section.