Chapter 320
MISCELLANEOUS DRIVING RULES
Section 320.010. Following Emergency Vehicle Prohibited.
The driver of any vehicle other than one on official business shall not follow any emergency vehicle traveling in response to an emergency call closer than five hundred (500) feet or drive into or park such vehicle within the block where fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
Section 320.020. Crossing Fire Hose.
No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of a Fire Department when laid down on any street or private driveway to be used at any fire or alarm of fire without the consent of the Fire Department official in command.
Section 320.030. Funeral Processions.
A. Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms shall mean:
FUNERAL DIRECTOR — A person licensed as a funeral director pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 333, RSMo.
FUNERAL LEAD VEHICLE or LEAD VEHICLE — Any motor vehicle equipped with at least one (1) lighted circulating lamp exhibiting an amber or purple light or lens or alternating flashing headlamps visible under normal atmospheric conditions for a distance of five hundred (500) feet from the front of the vehicle. A hearse or coach properly equipped may be a lead vehicle.
ORGANIZED FUNERAL PROCESSION — Two (2) or more vehicles accompanying the remains of a deceased person from a funeral establishment, church, synagogue or other place where a funeral service has taken place to a cemetery, crematory or other place of final disposition or a funeral establishment, church, synagogue or other place where additional funeral services will be performed if directed by a licensed funeral director from a licensed establishment.
B. Driving Rules.
1. Except as otherwise provided for in this Section, pedestrians and operators of all other vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle which is a part of an organized funeral procession.
2. Notwithstanding any traffic control device or right-of-way provision prescribed by State or local law, when the funeral lead vehicle in an organized funeral procession lawfully enters an intersection, all vehicles in the procession shall follow the lead vehicle through the intersection. The operator of each vehicle in the procession shall exercise the highest degree of care toward any other vehicle or pedestrian on the roadway.
3. An organized funeral procession shall have the right-of-way at all intersections regardless of any traffic control device at such intersections, except that operators of vehicles in an organized funeral procession shall yield the right-of-way to any approaching emergency vehicle pursuant to the provisions of law or when directed to do so by a Law Enforcement Officer.
4. All vehicles in an organized funeral procession shall follow the preceding vehicle in the procession as closely as is practical and safe under the conditions.
5. No person shall operate any vehicle as part of an organized funeral procession without the flashing emergency lights of such vehicle being lighted.
6. Any person who is not an operator of a vehicle in an organized funeral procession shall not:
a. Drive between the vehicles comprising an organized funeral procession while such vehicles are in motion and have the flashing emergency lights lighted pursuant to Subsection (B)(5) above, except when required to do so by a Law Enforcement Officer or when such person is operating an emergency vehicle giving an audible or visual signal;
b. Join a funeral procession for the purpose of securing the right-of-way; or
c. Attempt to pass any vehicle in an organized funeral procession, except where a passing lane has been specifically provided.
7. When an organized funeral procession is proceeding through a red signal light as permitted herein, a vehicle not in the organized funeral procession shall not enter the intersection unless such vehicle may do so without crossing the path of the funeral procession.
8. No ordinance, regulation or any other provision of law shall prohibit the use of a motorcycle utilizing flashing amber lights to escort an organized funeral procession on the highway.
C. Any person convicted of violating any provision of this Section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).
Section 320.040. Driving in Procession.
Each driver in a funeral or other procession shall drive as near to the right-hand edge of the roadway as practicable and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practicable and safe.
Section 320.050. (Reserved)
Section 320.060. Vehicle Shall Not Be Driven On A Sidewalk.
The driver of a motor vehicle shall not drive within any sidewalk area except on a permanent or temporary driveway.
Section 320.070. (Reserved)
Section 320.080. Riding On Motorcycles — Additional Passenger — Requirements.
A. A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, and such operator shall not carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle unless such motorcycle is designed to carry more than one (1) person, in which event a passenger may ride upon the permanent and regular seat if designed for two (2) persons or upon another seat firmly attached to the rear or side of the operator.
B. The operator of a motorized bicycle shall ride only astride the permanent and regular seat attached thereto and shall not permit more than one (1) person to ride thereon at the same time, unless the motorized bicycle is designed to carry more than one (1) person. Any motorized bicycle designed to carry more than one (1) person must be equipped with a passenger seat and footrests for the use of a passenger.
Section 320.090. Riding Bicycle On Sidewalks — Limitations — Motorized Bicycles Prohibited.
A. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
B. No person shall ride a motorized bicycle upon a sidewalk.
Section 320.100. All-Terrain Vehicles — Operation Under An Exception — Prohibited Uses — Penalty.
A. A person operating an all-terrain vehicle on a street or highway pursuant to an exception covered in this Section shall have a valid license issued by a State authorizing such person to operate a motor vehicle but shall not be required to have passed an examination for the operation of a motorcycle, and the vehicle shall be operated at speeds of less than thirty (30) miles per hour. When operated on a street or highway, an all-terrain vehicle shall have a bicycle safety flag, which extends not less than seven (7) feet above the ground, attached to the rear of the vehicle. The bicycle safety flag shall be triangular in shape with an area of not less than thirty (30) square inches and shall be dayglow in color.
B. No person shall operate an all-terrain vehicle:
1. In any careless way so as to endanger the person or property of another;
2. While under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance; or
3. Without a securely fastened safety helmet on the head of an individual who operates an all-terrain vehicle or who is being towed or otherwise propelled by an all-terrain vehicle.
C. No operator of an all-terrain vehicle shall carry a passenger, except for agricultural purposes.
D. A violation of this Section shall be an ordinance violation.
Section 320.110. Riding Bicycles, Sleds, Roller Skates By Attaching To Another Vehicle Prohibited — Pulling A Rider Behind Vehicle Prohibited.
No person riding upon any bicycle, motorized bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself/herself to any vehicle upon a roadway. Neither shall the driver of a vehicle knowingly pull a rider behind a vehicle.
Section 320.120. Distance At Which Vehicle Must Follow.
The driver of a vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonably safe and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the roadway. Vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, shall be so operated, except in a funeral procession or in a duly authorized parade, so as to allow sufficient space between each such vehicle or combination of vehicles as to enable any other vehicle to overtake or pass such vehicles in safety. This Section shall in no manner affect Section 304.044, RSMo., relating to distance between trucks traveling on the highway.
Section 320.130. Text Messaging While Operating A Motor Vehicle Prohibited — Exceptions — Definitions — Violation, Penalty.
A. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no person twenty-one (21) years of age or younger operating a moving motor vehicle upon the highways of this City shall, by means of a hand-held electronic wireless communications device, send, read, or write a text message or electronic message.
B. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no person shall operate a commercial motor vehicle while using a hand-held mobile telephone.
C. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no person shall operate a commercial motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device to send, read or write a text message or electronic message.
D. The provisions of Subsections (A) through (C) of this Section shall not apply to a person operating:
1. An authorized emergency vehicle; or
2. A moving motor vehicle while using a hand-held electronic wireless communications device to:
a. Report illegal activity;
b. Summon medical or other emergency help;
c. Prevent injury to a person or property; or
d. Relay information between a transit or for-hire operator and that operator’s dispatcher, in which the device is permanently affixed to the vehicle.
E. Nothing in this Section shall be construed or interpreted as prohibiting a person from making or taking part in a telephone call, by means of a hand-held electronic wireless communications device, while operating a non-commercial motor vehicle upon the highways of this City.
F. As used in this Section, “electronic message” means a self-contained piece of digital communication that is designed or intended to be transmitted between hand-held electronic wireless communication devices. “Electronic message” includes, but is not limited to, electronic mail, a text message, an instant message, or a command or request to access an internet site.
G. As used in this Section, “hand-held electronic wireless communications device” includes any hand-held cellular phone, palm pilot, blackberry, or other mobile electronic device used to communicate verbally or by text or electronic messaging, but shall not apply to any device that is permanently embedded into the architecture and design of the motor vehicle.
H. As used in this Section, “making or taking part in a telephone call” means listening to or engaging in verbal communication through a hand-held electronic wireless communication device.
I. As used in this Section, “send, read, or write a text message or electronic message” means using a hand-held electronic wireless telecommunications device to manually communicate with any person by using an electronic message. Sending, reading, or writing a text message or electronic message does not include reading, selecting, or entering a phone number or name into a hand-held electronic wireless communications device for the purpose of making a telephone call.
J. A violation of this Section shall be deemed an ordinance violation.
K. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to:
1. The operator of a vehicle that is lawfully parked or stopped;
2. Any of the following while in the performance of their official duties: a law enforcement officer; a member of a fire department; or the operator of a public or private ambulance;
3. The use of factory-installed or aftermarket global positioning systems (GPS) or wireless communications devices used to transmit or receive data as part of a digital dispatch system;
4. The use of voice-operated technology;
5. The use of two-way radio transmitters or receivers by a licensee of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service.
Section 320.140. Endangerment of An Emergency Responder, Elements.
A. Definitions. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the meanings set out herein:
ACTIVE EMERGENCY — Any incident occurring on a highway, as the term “highway” is defined in Section 302.010, RSMo., that requires emergency services from any emergency responder.
ACTIVE EMERGENCY ZONE — Any area upon or around any highway, which is visibly marked by emergency responders performing work for the purpose of emergency response, and where an active emergency, or incident removal, is temporarily occurring. This area includes the lanes of highway leading up to an active emergency or incident removal, beginning within three hundred (300) feet of visual sighting of:
1. Appropriate signs or traffic control devices posted or placed by emergency responders; or
2. An emergency vehicle displaying active emergency lights or signals.
EMERGENCY RESPONDER — Any law enforcement officer, paid or volunteer firefighter, first responder, emergency medical worker, tow truck operator, or other emergency personnel responding to an emergency on a highway.
B. Offense Of Endangerment Of An Emergency Responder, Elements.
1. A person commits the offense of endangerment of an emergency responder for any of the following offenses when the offense occurs within an active emergency zone:
a. Exceeding the posted speed limit by fifteen (15) miles per hour or more;
b. Passing in violation of Subsection (C)(3) of this Section;
c. Failure to stop for an active emergency zone flagman or emergency responder, or failure to obey traffic control devices erected, or personnel posted, in the active emergency zone for purposes of controlling the flow of motor vehicles through the zone;
d. Driving through or around an active emergency zone via any lane not clearly designated for motorists to control the flow of traffic through or around the active emergency zone;
e. Physically assaulting, attempting to assault, or threatening to assault an emergency responder with a motor vehicle or other instrument; or
f. Intentionally striking, moving or altering barrels, barriers, signs or other devices erected to control the flow of traffic to protect emergency responders and motorists unless the action was necessary to avoid an obstacle, an emergency, or to protect the health and safety of an occupant of the motor vehicle or of another person.
2. Except for the offense established under Subsection (B)(1)(f) of this Section, no person shall be deemed to have committed the offense of endangerment of an emergency responder except when the act or omission constituting the offense occurred when one or more emergency responders were responding to an active emergency.
3. No person shall be cited for, or found guilty of, endangerment of an emergency responder or aggravated endangerment of an emergency responder, for any act or omission otherwise constituting an offense under Subsection (B)(1) of this Section, if such act or omission resulted in whole or in part from mechanical failure of the person’s vehicle, or from the negligence of another person or emergency responder.
C. Violations, Penalties.
1. Upon the first conviction, finding of guilt or plea of guilty by any person for a moving violation, as the term “moving violation” is defined in Section 302.010, RSMo., or any offense listed in Section 302.302, RSMo., other than a violation described in Subsection (C)(2) of this Section, when the violation or offense occurs within an active emergency zone, the court shall assess a fine of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) in addition to any other fine authorized by law. Upon a second or subsequent conviction, finding of guilt, or plea of guilty, the court shall assess a fine of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) in addition to any other fine authorized by law.
2. Upon the first conviction, finding of guilt or plea of guilty by any person for a speeding violation under either Section 304.009 or 304.010, RSMo., or Chapter 320 of this Code, or a passing violation under Subsection (C)(3) of this Section, when the violation or offense occurs within an active emergency zone and emergency responders were present in such zone at the time of the offense or violation, the court shall assess a fine of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) in addition to any other fine authorized by law. Upon a second or subsequent conviction, finding of guilt or plea of guilty, the court shall assess a fine of three hundred dollars ($300.00) in addition to any other fine authorized by law. However, no person assessed an additional fine under this Subsection shall also be assessed an additional fine under Subsection (C)(1) of this Section.
3. The driver of a motor vehicle shall not overtake or pass another motor vehicle within an active emergency zone.
4. The additional fines imposed by this Section shall not be construed to enhance the assessment of court costs.