A.Â
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.Â
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 ten thousand
dollars ($10,000.00) because of injury to or destruction of property
of others in any one (1) accident.
C.Â
Proof of financial responsibility
may be shown by any of the following:
1.Â
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.Â
A certificate of
the State Treasurer of a cash or security deposit according to Section
303.240, RSMo.;
3.Â
A surety bond according
to Section 303.230, RSMo.; or
4.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
Any person who violates any
provisions of this Section shall be guilty of an ordinance violation.
[R.O. 2009 § 375.150]
No person shall display evidence
of insurance to a Law Enforcement Officer knowing there is no valid
liability insurance in effect on the motor vehicle as required pursuant
to this Article or knowing the evidence of insurance is illegally
altered, counterfeit or otherwise invalid as evidence of insurance.
If the Law Enforcement Officer issues a citation to a motor vehicle
operator for displaying invalid evidence of insurance, the officer
shall confiscate the evidence for presentation in court. Any person
convicted of violating this Section is guilty of an ordinance violation.
[R.O. 2009 § 375.160]
No person shall alter an invalid
insurance card to make it appear valid. No person knowingly shall
make, sell or otherwise make available an invalid or counterfeit insurance
card. Any person who violates this Section is guilty of an ordinance
violation.