§ 15-6. Operation of motor vehicle without proper license prohibited; motorcycles; special license; protective headgear.

(a)

Unless otherwise provided for by law, it shall be unlawful for any person, except those expressly exempted by section 15-8, to:

(1)

Operate any vehicle upon any highway in the city unless they have a valid intermediate driver's license or driver's license.

(2)

Operate a motorcycle or motortricycle upon any highway of this state unless such person has a valid license that shows he has successfully passed an examination for the operation of a motorcycle or motortricycle as prescribed by the director. The director may indicate such upon a valid license issued to such person, or shall issue a license restricting the applicant to the operation of a motorcycle or motortricycle if the actual demonstration, required by RSMo 302.173, is conducted on such vehicle.

(3)

Authorize or knowingly permit a motorcycle or motortricycle owned by him or under his control to be driven upon any highway by any person whose license does not indicate that the person has passed the examination for the operation of a motorcycle or motortricycle or has been issued an instruction permit therefor.

(4)

Operate a motor vehicle with an instruction permit or license issued to another person.

(5)

Operating a motor vehicle with an intermediate driver license between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a person described in subsection 1 of RSMo 302.130 except the licensee may operate a motor vehicle without being accompanied if the travel is to or from a school or educational program or activity, a regular place of employment or in an emergency situation as defined by state regulations. Each intermediate driver license shall be restricted by requiring that the driver and all passengers in the licensee's vehicle wear safety belts at all times.

(6)

For the first six months after issuance of the intermediate driver's license, the holder of the license shall not operate a motor vehicle with more than one passenger who is under the age of 19 who is not a member of the holder's immediate family. As used in this subsection, an intermediate driver's license holder's immediate family shall include brothers, sisters, stepbrothers or stepsisters of the driver, including adopted or foster children residing in the same household of the intermediate driver's license holder. After the expiration of the first six months, the holder of an intermediate driver's license shall not operate a motor vehicle with more than three passengers who are under 19 years of age and who are not members of the holder's immediate family. The passenger restrictions of this subsection shall not be applicable to any intermediate driver's license holder who is operating a motor vehicle being used in agricultural work-related activities.

(7)

Operate any vehicle upon any highway in the city while the operator's license or driving privilege is cancelled, suspended or revoked. A person commits the crime of driving while revoked if such person operates a motor vehicle on a highway when such person's license or driving privilege has been cancelled, suspended, or revoked under the laws of this state or any other state and acts with criminal negligence with respect to knowledge of the fact that such person's driving privilege has been cancelled, suspended, or revoked. Any person convicted of driving while revoked is guilty of a misdemeanor. A first violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed $300.00. A second or third violation of this section shall be punishable by imprisonment for a term not to exceed one year and/or a fine not to exceed $1,000.00.

(b)

Every person operating or riding as a passenger on any motorcycle or motortricycle, as defined in RSMo 301.010, upon any highway of this city shall wear protective headgear at all times the vehicle is in motion. The protective headgear shall meet reasonable standards and specifications established by the state director of revenue acting directly or through his authorized officers and agents.

(Code 1973, § 14-7(a); Ord. No. 01-48, § 1, 7-23-01; Ord. No. 06-56, § 1, 10-9-06; Ord. No. 12-46, § 1, 12-10-12)

State law reference

Operation of vehicle without proper license prohibited, RSMo 302.020.