Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 304 - Traffic Regulations
Section 304.022 - Emergency and stationary vehicles — use of lights and sirens — right-of-way — procedure — penalty.

Effective - 28 Aug 2022, 9 histories
304.022. Emergency and stationary vehicles — use of lights and sirens — right-of-way — procedure — penalty. — 1. Upon the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren or while having at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle or a flashing blue light authorized by section 307.175, the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as far as possible to the right of, the traveled portion of the highway and thereupon stop and remain in such position until such emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer.
2. Upon approaching a stationary vehicle displaying lighted red or red and blue lights, or a stationary vehicle displaying lighted amber or amber and white lights, the driver of every motor vehicle shall:
(1) Proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the stationary vehicle, if on a roadway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or
(2) Proceed with due caution and reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be unsafe or impossible.
3. The motorman of every streetcar shall immediately stop such car clear of any intersection and keep it in such position until the emergency vehicle has passed, except as otherwise directed by a police or traffic officer.
4. An "emergency vehicle" is a vehicle of any of the following types:
(1) A vehicle operated by the state highway patrol, the state water patrol, the Missouri capitol police, a conservation agent, or a state or a county or municipal park ranger, those vehicles operated by enforcement personnel of the state highways and transportation commission, police or fire department, sheriff, constable or deputy sheriff, federal law enforcement officer authorized to carry firearms and to make arrests for violations of the laws of the United States, traffic officer, coroner, medical examiner, or forensic investigator of the county medical examiner's office, or by a privately owned emergency vehicle company;
(2) A vehicle operated as an ambulance or operated commercially for the purpose of transporting emergency medical supplies or organs;
(3) Any vehicle qualifying as an emergency vehicle pursuant to section 307.175;
(4) Any wrecker, or tow truck or a vehicle owned and operated by a public utility or public service corporation while performing emergency service;
(5) Any vehicle transporting equipment designed to extricate human beings from the wreckage of a motor vehicle;
(6) Any vehicle designated to perform emergency functions for a civil defense or emergency management agency established pursuant to the provisions of chapter 44;
(7) Any vehicle operated by an authorized employee of the department of corrections who, as part of the employee's official duties, is responding to a riot, disturbance, hostage incident, escape or other critical situation where there is the threat of serious physical injury or death, responding to mutual aid call from another criminal justice agency, or in accompanying an ambulance which is transporting an offender to a medical facility;
(8) Any vehicle designated to perform hazardous substance emergency functions established pursuant to the provisions of sections 260.500 to 260.550;
(9) Any vehicle owned by the state highways and transportation commission and operated by an authorized employee of the department of transportation that is marked as a department of transportation emergency response or motorist assistance vehicle; or
(10) Any vehicle owned and operated by the civil support team of the Missouri National Guard while in response to or during operations involving chemical, biological, or radioactive materials or in support of official requests from the state of Missouri involving unknown substances, hazardous materials, or as may be requested by the appropriate state agency acting on behalf of the governor.
5. (1) The driver of any vehicle referred to in subsection 4 of this section shall not sound the siren thereon or have the front red lights or blue lights on except when such vehicle is responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected law violator, or when responding to, but not upon returning from, a fire.
(2) The driver of an emergency vehicle may:
(a) Park or stand irrespective of the provisions of sections 304.014 to 304.025;
(b) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
(c) Exceed the prima facie speed limit so long as the driver does not endanger life or property;
(d) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.
(3) The exemptions granted to an emergency vehicle pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection shall apply only when the driver of any such 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 lighted lamp displaying a red light or blue light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred feet to the front of such vehicle.
6. No person shall purchase an emergency light as described in this section without furnishing the seller of such light an affidavit stating that the light will be used exclusively for emergency vehicle purposes.
7. Violation of this section shall be deemed a class A misdemeanor.
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(L. 1953 p. 587 § 304.020, A.L. 1969 p. 418, A.L. 1971 H.B. 113, A.L. 1981 H.B. 183, A.L. 1986 S.B. 523 merged with H.B. 1428, A.L. 1991 S.B. 265, A.L. 1995 H.B. 424, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1047 merged with H.B. 1369, A.L. 1997 H.B. 244, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1270 and H.B. 2032, A.L. 2004 S.B. 757 merged with S.B. 788, A.L. 2005 H.B. 353 merged with H.B. 487 merged with H.B. 618, A.L. 2006 S.B. 872, et al., A.L. 2007 S.B. 82 merged with S.B. 352, A.L. 2012 S.B. 470 merged with S.B. 568 merged with S.B. 611, A.L. 2016 S.B. 732, A.L. 2017 S.B. 8 merged with S.B. 222 merged with S.B. 225, A.L. 2021 S.B. 26 merged with S.B. 53 & 60, A.L. 2022 H.B. 1606)
(2006) Section does not abolish, abrogate, provide, or in any way modify common law doctrine of official immunity. Davis v. Lambert-St. Louis Int'l Airport, 193 S.W.3d 760 (Mo.banc).

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Structure Missouri Revised Statutes

Missouri Revised Statutes

Title XIX - Motor Vehicles, Watercraft and Aviation

Chapter 304 - Traffic Regulations

Section 304.001 - Definitions for chapter 304 and chapter 307.

Section 304.005 - Autocycle — defined—protective headgear not required — valid driver's license required to operate.

Section 304.009 - Speed limit — violation, penalty.

Section 304.010 - Definitions — maximum speed limits — cities, towns, villages, certain counties, may set speed limit, how set — slower speeds set, when — violations, penalty.

Section 304.011 - Slow speed, regulation of — agricultural implements, slower speeds, when, special permits required — penalties.

Section 304.012 - Motorists to exercise highest degree of care — violation, penalty.

Section 304.013 - All-terrain vehicles, prohibited on highways, rivers or streams of this state, exceptions, operational requirements — special permits — prohibited uses — penalty.

Section 304.014 - Rules of the road to be observed.

Section 304.015 - Drive on right of highway — traffic lanes — signs — violations, penalties.

Section 304.016 - Passing regulations — violations, penalties.

Section 304.017 - Distance at which vehicle must follow, penalty.

Section 304.019 - Hand and mechanical signals, violations, penalty.

Section 304.022 - Emergency and stationary vehicles — use of lights and sirens — right-of-way — procedure — penalty.

Section 304.023 - Passing stopped streetcars, penalty.

Section 304.024 - Crosswalks and parking regulations established — signs — violation, an infraction.

Section 304.025 - Highway and vehicle defined.

Section 304.027 - Spinal cord injury fund created, uses — surcharge imposed, when.

Section 304.028 - Brain injury fund created, moneys in fund, uses — surcharge imposed, when.

Section 304.029 - Operation of low-speed vehicles on highway, permitted when — exemptions.

Section 304.030 - Certain buses and trucks to stop at railroad crossing, when — exception, requirements.

Section 304.031 - Traffic signal preemption system, use of, permitted when — violations, penalty.

Section 304.032 - Utility vehicles, operation on highway and in streams or rivers prohibited — exceptions — passengers prohibited — violations, penalty.

Section 304.033 - Recreational off-highway vehicles, operation on highways prohibited, exceptions — operation within streams and rivers prohibited, exceptions — license required for operation, exception.

Section 304.034 - Municipalities may regulate golf cart and motorized wheelchair usage on streets and highways.

Section 304.035 - Stop required at railroad grade crossing, when — commercial motor vehicles, speed at crossings — penalty.

Section 304.040 - Failure to stop, penalty.

Section 304.044 - Buses and trucks not to follow within three hundred feet — penalty.

Section 304.050 - School buses, drivers to stop for, when — signs required on buses — crossing control arm — bus driver responsibilities — driver identity rebuttable presumption, when (Jessica's Law).

Section 304.060 - School buses and other district vehicles, use to be regulated by board — field trips in common carriers, regulation authorized — violation by employee, effect — St. Louis County buses may use word "special".

Section 304.070 - Violation of section 304.050, penalty.

Section 304.075 - School bus signs to be removed, when — misdemeanor.

Section 304.076 - Head Start buses to bear signs.

Section 304.079 - Use of designated disabled parking spaces, when.

Section 304.080 - Handicapped persons with white cane or dog, driver to take all necessary precautions — cane or dog not required to enforce rights, when.

Section 304.110 - Violation of sections 304.080 to 304.110, penalty.

Section 304.120 - Municipal regulations — owner or lessor not liable for violations, when.

Section 304.125 - Traffic violation citation quota prohibited--exception.

Section 304.130 - Regulation of vehicular traffic — notice, hearings — approval — publication of notice (first class counties).

Section 304.140 - Penalty for violations.

Section 304.151 - Driver's responsibility not to obstruct traffic — written warning, infraction, effective date.

Section 304.152 - Roadside checkpoints and roadblock patterns based on vehicle type prohibited.

Section 304.153 - Tow companies or tow lists, utilization of by law enforcement and state transportation employees—definitions—requirements—unauthorized towing, penalty—inapplicability.

Section 304.154 - Towing truck company requirements—access to towed vehicles by insurance adjusters—notice to vehicle owner of transfer from storage lot or facility—display of tow company address, when.

Section 304.155 - Abandoned motor vehicles on public property, removal — hazards on land and water, removal, limited liability, when — towing of property report to highway or water patrol or crime inquiry and inspection report when, owner liable for...

Section 304.156 - Notice to towing company, owner or lienholder, when — storage charges, when authorized — search of vehicle for ownership documents — petition, determination of wrongful taking — possessory lien, new title, how issued — sale of aband...

Section 304.157 - Vehicles left unattended or improperly parked on private property of another, procedure for removal and disposition — violation of certain required procedure, penalty.

Section 304.158 - Notice to owner of abandoned property — duty of real property owner — liability of towing company — recovery for damages to real property, when — liability of real property owner for towing charges, when — information to be displaye...

Section 304.159 - Municipality may prohibit storage of certain vehicles, exceptions.

Section 304.160 - Glass, tacks, injurious substances, duty to remove from highway, when — penalty.

Section 304.170 - Regulations as to width, height and length of vehicles — inapplicability, when — implements of husbandry defined — sludge disposal units.

Section 304.172 - Fire-fighting equipment exempt from size restrictions.

Section 304.174 - Size and load restrictions not applicable to wreckers, tow trucks, rollbacks and car carriers, when.

Section 304.180 - Regulations as to weight — axle load, tandem axle defined — transport of specific items, total gross weight permitted — requirements during disasters — specific vehicles, maximum weight.

Section 304.181 - Buses, axle weight limits.

Section 304.184 - Transportation of solid waste, weight restrictions for trucks and tractor-trailers.

Section 304.190 - Height and weight regulations (cities of 75,000 or more) — commercial zone defined.

Section 304.200 - Special permits for oversize or overweight loads — rules for issuing — when valid.

Section 304.210 - Reduction of maximum weight by highways and transportation commission — notice.

Section 304.220 - Weight limits on county roads and bridges reduced, when — penalty for violation.

Section 304.230 - Enforcement of load laws — commercial vehicle inspectors, powers.

Section 304.232 - Municipal law enforcement officers, state highway patrol to approve certification procedures — fees — requirements — random roadside inspections prohibited, when — rulemaking authority.

Section 304.235 - Commercial vehicles licensed for eighteen thousand pounds or less not to stop at weigh station or be otherwise identified — confidentiality rules do not apply to commercial vehicle enforcement officers, when — penalty for evading we...

Section 304.240 - Violation of load law a misdemeanor — penalty — local log truck and local log truck tractor, violation, penalty.

Section 304.250 - Restriction on use of metal-tired vehicles — penalty.

Section 304.260 - Tractors exempt — designation of truck routes by commission.

Section 304.271 - Observance of traffic-control devices — presumptions — penalty.

Section 304.281 - Rules for traffic where controlled by light signals — right turn on red light, when — violations, penalty.

Section 304.285 - Red light violations by motorcycles or bicycles, affirmative defense, when.

Section 304.289 - Timing of signals, minimum interval times to be established.

Section 304.291 - Rules for pedestrians controlled by special signs.

Section 304.301 - Rules for vehicular traffic controlled by flashing signals — violation, penalty.

Section 304.311 - Observance of lane — direction — control signals.

Section 304.321 - Unauthorized signal devices prohibited — trafficway not to be used for signs — nuisances declared.

Section 304.331 - Alteration or removal of traffic-control devices prohibited.

Section 304.341 - Turns at intersection — violation, penalty.

Section 304.351 - Right-of-way at intersection — signs at intersections — violation, penalty — additional penalties — definitions — order of suspension, contents, appeal.

Section 304.361 - Penalty for violation of sections 304.271 to 304.351.

Section 304.373 - Hazardous materials, requirements for transportation — violations, penalties.

Section 304.570 - Penalty for violations.

Section 304.580 - Definitions.

Section 304.582 - Fines for moving violations — fines for violations in work or construction zones — signs required for assessing fines — penalty for passing in work or construction zones — not applicable to court costs.

Section 304.585 - Endangerment of a highway worker defined — fine, points assessed — aggravated endangerment of a highway worker, fine, points assessed — offense not applicable in absence of workers in zone — no citation or conviction, when — revocat...

Section 304.590 - Travel safe zone defined — doubling of fine for violation in — signage required.

Section 304.665 - Riding in open bed of truck prohibited, when, exceptions, penalty.

Section 304.670 - Collection and maintenance of certain information regarding traffic law enforcement, analyses to be conducted.

Section 304.678 - Distance to be maintained when overtaking a bicycle — violation, penalty.

Section 304.705 - Certain trucks not to drive in far left lane of certain interstate highways (St. Charles and Jefferson counties).

Section 304.725 - Veterans displaying special license plates or certain military medal recipients may park without charge in metered parking — windshield placard for veterans and certain military medal recipients — exceptions.

Section 304.820 - Text messaging and using a hand-held mobile device while operating a motor vehicle prohibited, when — exceptions — definitions — violation, penalty.

Section 304.890 - Definitions.

Section 304.892 - Violations, penalties.

Section 304.894 - Offense of endangerment of an emergency responder, elements — penalties — revocation of driver's license, when.

Section 304.900 - Personal delivery devices, authority to operate — definitions — requirements — insurance — lighting equipment required, when — personally identifiable likeness, sale of prohibited.