Chapter 310: ENFORCEMENT AND OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

Section 310.010. Authority of Police and Fire Department Officials.

A. It shall be the duty of the officers of the Police Department or such officers as are assigned by the Chief of Police to enforce all street traffic laws of the City and all of the State vehicle laws applicable to street traffic in the City.

B. Officers of the Police Department or such officers as are assigned by the Chief of Police are hereby authorized to direct all traffic by voice, hand, or signal in conformance with traffic laws; provided that, in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or to safeguard pedestrians, officers of the Police Department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of the traffic laws.

C. Officers of the Fire Department, when at the scene of a fire, may direct or assist the Police in directing traffic thereat or in the immediate vicinity.

Section 310.020. Obedience to Police and Fire Department Officials.

No person shall willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of a Police Officer or Fire Department Official.

Section 310.030. Persons Propelling Push Carts or Riding Animals or Driving Golf Carts to Obey Traffic Regulations. [Ord. No. 786 §1, 7-17-2001]

Every person propelling any golf cart, push cart or riding an animal upon a roadway, and every person driving any animal-drawn vehicle or golf cart, shall be subject to the provisions of this Title applicable to the driver of any vehicle, except those provisions of this Title which by their very nature can have no application.

Section 310.040. Use of Coasters, Roller Skates and Similar Devices Restricted.

No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk and when so crossing such person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians. This Section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street as authorized by ordinance of the City.

Section 310.050. Public Employees to Obey Traffic Regulations.

The provisions of this Title shall apply to the driver of any vehicle owned by or used in the service of the United States Government, this State, County, or City and it shall be unlawful for any said driver to violate any of the provisions of this Title, except as otherwise permitted in this Title.

Section 310.060. Authorized Emergency Vehicles.

A. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this Section, but subject to the conditions herein stated.

B. The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:

Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of this Title;
Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he/she does not endanger life or property; and
Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.

C. The exemptions herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle shall apply only when the driver of any said vehicle while in motion sounds audible signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one (1) lighted lamp displaying a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle.

D. The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his/her reckless disregard for the safety of others.

Section 310.070. Operation of Vehicles on Approach of Authorized Emergency Vehicles.

A. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of the laws of this State, or of a Police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible signal only, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway clear of any intersection and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a Police Officer.

B. This Section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.

Section 310.080. Sirens and Flashing Lights Emergency Use, Persons Authorized — Violation, Penalty.

Motor vehicles and equipment, not otherwise defined in this Title as an authorized emergency vehicle, which are operated by any member of an organized Fire Department, ambulance association, or rescue squad, whether paid or volunteer, may be operated on streets and highways in this City as an emergency vehicle under the provisions of Section 304.022, RSMo., while responding to a fire call or ambulance call or at the scene of a fire call or ambulance call and while using or sounding a warning siren and while using or displaying thereon fixed, flashing or rotating blue lights, but sirens and blue lights shall be used only in bona fide emergencies. Permits for the operation of such vehicles equipped with sirens or blue lights shall be in writing and shall be issued and may be revoked by the Chief of an organized Fire Department, organized ambulance association, or rescue squad and no person shall use or display a siren or rotating blue lights on a motor vehicle, fire, ambulance, or rescue equipment without a valid permit authorizing the use. Permit to use a siren or lights as heretofore set out does not relieve the operator of the vehicle so equipped with complying with all other traffic laws and regulations. Violation of this Section constitutes a misdemeanor.

Section 310.090. Immediate Notice of Accident.

The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or more to one (1) person shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of such accident to the Police Department if such accident occurs within the City.

Section 310.100. Written Report of Accident.

The driver of a vehicle which is in any manner involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury to or death of any person or total property damage to an apparent extent of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or more to one (1) person shall, within five (5) days after such accident, forward a written report of such accident to the Police Department. The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable when the accident has been investigated at the scene by a Police Officer while such driver was present thereat.

Section 310.110. When Driver Unable to Report.

A. Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving immediate notice of an accident as required in Section 310.090 and there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of doing so, such occupant shall give, or cause to be given, the notice not given by the driver.

B. Whenever the driver is physically incapable of making a written report of an accident as required in Section 310.100 and such driver is not the owner of the vehicle, then the owner of the vehicle involved in such accident shall within five (5) days after the accident make such report not made by the driver.

Section 310.120. Public Inspection of Reports Relating to Accidents.

A. All written reports made by persons involved in accidents or by garages shall be without prejudice to the individual so reporting and shall be for the confidential use of the Police Department or other governmental agencies having use for the records for accident prevention purposes, except that the Police Department or other governmental agency may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when such identity is not otherwise known or when such person denies his/her presence at such accident.

B. No written reports forwarded under the provisions of this Section shall be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident except that the Police Department shall furnish upon demand of any party to such trial, or upon demand of any court, a certificate showing that a specified accident report has or has not been made to the Department in compliance with law, and if such report has been made, the date, time and location of the accident, the names and addresses of the drivers, the owners of the vehicles involved, and the investigating officers.

Section 310.130. Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Accident.

A. A person commits the offense of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident when being the operator or driver of a vehicle on the highways, streets or roads of the City or on any publicly or privately owned parking lot or parking facility, within the City, generally open for use by the public and knowing that an injury has been caused to a person or damage has been caused to property, due to his/her culpability or to accident, he/she leaves the place of the injury, damage or accident without stopping and giving his/her name, residence, including City and street number, motor vehicle number and driver's license number, if any, to the injured party or to a Police Officer, or if no Police Officer is in the vicinity, then to the nearest Police Station or judicial officer.

B. For the purposes of this Section, all Peace Officers shall have jurisdiction, when invited by an injured person, to enter the premises of any such privately owned parking lot or parking facility for the purpose of investigating an accident and performing all necessary duties regarding such accident.

Chapter 315: TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

Section 315.010. Authority to Install Traffic Control Devices.

The City Traffic Engineer shall place and maintain traffic control signs, signals, and devices when and as required under the traffic ordinances of the City to make effective the provisions of said ordinances, and may place and maintain such additional traffic control devices as he/she may deem necessary to regulate traffic under the traffic ordinances of the City or under State law or to guide or warn traffic.

Section 315.020. Manual and Specifications for Traffic Control Devices.

All traffic control signs, signals and devices shall conform to the manual and specifications approved by the State Highways and Transportation Commission or resolution adopted by the Board of Aldermen of the City. All signs or signals required hereunder for a particular purpose shall so far as practicable be uniform as to type and location throughout the City. All traffic control devices so erected and not inconsistent with the provisions of this Title shall be official traffic control devices.

Section 315.030. Obedience to Traffic Control Devices.

The driver of any vehicle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device applicable thereto placed in accordance with the provisions of this Title, unless otherwise directed by a traffic or Police Officer, subject to the exceptions granted the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle in this Title.

Section 315.040. When Official Traffic Control Devices Required for Enforcement Purposes.

No provision of this Title for which official traffic control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular Section does not state that official traffic control devices are required, such Section shall be effective even though no devices are erected or in place.

Section 315.050. Official Traffic Control Devices — Presumption of Legality.

A. Whenever official traffic control devices are placed in position approximately conforming to the requirements of this Title, such devices shall be presumed to have been so placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.

B. Any official traffic control device placed pursuant to the provisions of this Title and purporting to conform to the lawful requirements pertaining to such devices shall be presumed to comply with the requirements of this Title, unless the contrary shall be established by competent evidence.

Section 315.060. Traffic Control Signal Legend — Right Turn on Red Light, When.

A. Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one (1) at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red and yellow shall be used except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

1. Green indication.

a. Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.

b. Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

c. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 315.070, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk.

2. Steady yellow indication.

a. Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection.

b. Pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 315.070 are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.

3. Steady red indication.

a. Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until a green indication is shown except as provided in Paragraph (b) of this Subsection.

b. The driver of a vehicle which is stopped as close as practicable at the entrance to the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then at the entrance to the intersection in obedience to a red signal, may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection, except that the State Highways and Transportation Commission with reference to an intersection involving a State highway, and local authorities with reference to an intersection involving other highways under their jurisdiction, may prohibit any such right turn against a red signal at any intersection where safety conditions so require, said prohibition shall be effective when a sign is erected at such intersection giving notice thereof.

c. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 315.070, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the roadway.

4. In the event an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this Section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.

Section 315.070. Pedestrian Control Signals.

A. Whenever special pedestrian control signals exhibiting the words "Walk" or "Don't Walk" are in place such signals shall indicate as follows:

"WALK": Pedestrians facing such signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right-of-way by the drivers of all vehicles.
"WAIT" or "DON'T WALK": No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his/her crossing on the walk signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety zone while the wait signal is showing.

Section 315.080. Flashing Signals.

A. Whenever an illuminated flashing red or yellow signal is used in a traffic sign or signal it shall require obedience by vehicular traffic as follows:

Flashing red (stop signal), when a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a limit line when marked, or if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed shall be subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
Flashing yellow (caution signal), when a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, drivers of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.

B. This Section shall not apply at railroad grade crossings. Conduct of drivers of vehicles approaching railroad grade crossings shall be governed by the rules as set forth in Section 335.090 of this Title.

Section 315.090. Lane Direction Control Signals.

When lane direction control signals are placed over the individual lanes of a street or highway, vehicular traffic may travel in any lane over which a green signal is shown, but shall not enter or travel in any lane over which a red signal is shown.

Section 315.100. Display of Unauthorized Signs, Signals or Markings.

No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway an unauthorized sign, signal, marking or device which purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles an official traffic control device or railroad sign or signal, or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic, or which hides from view or interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal.

Section 315.110. Interference With Official Traffic Control Devices or Railroad Signs or Signals.

No person shall without lawful authority, attempt to or in fact alter, deface, injure, knock down or remove any official traffic control device or any railroad sign or signal or any inscription, shield or insignia thereon, or any other part thereof.

Section 315.120. Authority to Establish Play Streets.

The City Traffic Engineer shall have authority to declare any street or part thereof a play street and to place appropriate signs or devices in the roadway indicating and helping to protect the same.

Section 315.130. Play Streets.

Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating any street or part thereof as a play street, no person shall drive a vehicle upon any such street or portion thereof except drivers of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area, and then any said driver shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion thereof.

Section 315.140. City Traffic Engineer to Designate Crosswalks and Establish Safety Zones.

A. The City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized:

To designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks, or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where in his/her opinion there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such other places as he/she may deem necessary.
To establish safety zones of such kind and character and at such places as he/she may deem necessary for the protection of pedestrians.

Section 315.150. Traffic Lanes.

A. The City Traffic Engineer is hereby authorized to mark traffic lanes upon the roadway of any street or highway where a regular alignment of traffic is necessary.

B. Where such traffic lanes have been marked, it shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to fail or refuse to keep such vehicle within the boundaries of any such lane except when lawfully passing another vehicle or preparatory to making a lawful turning movement.