Section 307.075

Title XIX MOTOR VEHICLES, WATERCRAFT AND AVIATION

Chapter 307

Effective - 28 Aug 2013   

  307.075.  Taillamps, reflectors — violations, penalty. — 1.  Every motor vehicle and every motor-drawn vehicle shall be equipped with at least two rear lamps, not less than fifteen inches or more than seventy-two inches above the ground upon which the vehicle stands, which when lighted will exhibit a red light plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear.  Either such rear lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration marker and render it clearly legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear.  When the rear registration marker is illuminated by an electric lamp other than the required rear lamps, all such lamps shall be turned on or off only by the same control switch at all times.

  2.  Every motorcycle registered in this state, when operated on a highway, shall also carry at the rear, either as part of the rear lamp or separately, at least one approved red reflector, which shall be of such size and characteristics and so maintained as to be visible during the times when lighted lamps are required from all distances within three hundred feet to fifty feet from such vehicle when directly in front of a motor vehicle displaying lawful undimmed headlamps.  A motorcycle may be equipped with a means of varying the brightness of the vehicle's brake light for a duration of not more than five seconds upon application of the vehicle's brakes.

  3.  Every new passenger car, new commercial motor vehicle, motor-drawn vehicle and omnibus with a capacity of more than six passengers registered in this state after January 1, 1966, when operated on a highway, shall also carry at the rear at least two approved red reflectors, at least one at each side, so designed, mounted on the vehicle and maintained as to be visible during the times when lighted lamps are required from all distances within five hundred to fifty feet from such vehicle when directly in front of a motor vehicle displaying lawful undimmed headlamps.  Every such reflector shall meet the requirements of this chapter and shall be mounted upon the vehicle at a height not to exceed sixty inches nor less than fifteen inches above the surface upon which the vehicle stands.

  4.  Any person who knowingly operates a motor vehicle without the lamps required in this section in operable condition is guilty of an infraction.

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(L. 1941 p. 438 § 8386q, A.L. 1965 p. 494, A.L. 1976 H.B. 1514, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1047, A.L. 2013 H.B. 715 merged with S.B. 282)

(1967) Subject to the exception stated in the first paragraph of section 304.450, RSMo, the lighting requirements imposed by sections 304.310 and 304.380, RSMo, are applicable to a vehicle parked at the curb on a city street. Walker v. Massey (A.), 417 S.W.2d 14.