(A) No owner of a motor vehicle registered in this state or required to be registered in this state shall operate the vehicle, or authorize any other person to operate the vehicle register or maintain registration of a motor vehicle, or permit another person to operate such vehicle, upon the streets or the alleys of this city, unless the owner maintains the financial responsibility as required in this section which conforms to the requirements of the laws of this state. 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.
(B) 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 $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident, and, subject to said limit for one person, in the amount of $50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and in the amount of $10,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident.
(C) Proof of financial responsibility may be shown by any of the following:
(1) An insurance identification card issued by a motor vehicle insurer or by the state’s Director of Revenue 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 digits of the vehicle identification number or the word “Fleet” if the insurance policy covers five or more motor vehicles shall be satisfactory evidence of insurance in lieu of an insurance identification card;
(2) A certificate of the State Treasurer of a cash or security deposit according to RSMo. § 303.240; or
(3) A surety bond according to RSMo. § 303.230.
(D) 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.
(Ord. 303, passed 8-1-2000) Penalty, see § 71.999