MINIMUM MOTOR VEHICLE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (Sections 105.1073, 303.020, 303.022, 303.030, 303.120, 303.190, and 303.240)

This act increases, from ten thousand dollars to twenty-five thousand dollars, the minimum motor vehicle liability coverage a person must carry for others' property when operating a motor vehicle under the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law.

This act similarly amends a statute requiring minimum coverage limits for state-controlled motor vehicles, aircraft, and marine vessels.

This act also amends the total amount required to be deposited with the state to receive a certificate of financial responsibility from the State Treasurer from sixty thousand dollars to seventy-five thousand dollars.

These provisions apply only to policies and certificates issued on or after July 1, 2018.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SB 223 (2017), and similar to provisions in HB 900 (2017).

VEHICLE LENGTH AND WIDTH REQUIREMENTS (Sections 287.020, 287.040, 288.035, 301.010, 301.031, 301.227, 301.550, 304.170, 304.180, and 407.816)

This act changes what entity may designate the roads on which a 14-foot length limit applies; and who shall issue permits for the movement of sludge disposal units, pump trucks, well-driller's equipment, and utility wires, poles, and equipment; from the chief engineer of MODOT to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.

This act also provides that stinger-steered combination automobile transporters up to 80 feet long may be operated on or within 10 miles of interstates, and that automobile transporters may carry cargo on a backhaul so long as it complies with weight limitations for regular tractor-trailers. No towaway trailer transporter combination vehicles operating on the interstate or designated primary highway system shall exceed a length of 82 feet.

This act also prescribes separate weight limits for emergency vehicles, and for vehicles powered by natural gas.

These provisions are similar to SB 399 (2017), and to provisions in CCS/SB 8 (2017), CCS/SB 222 (2017), CCS/HCS/SB 225 (2017), and HCS/HB 542 (2017).

IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE REQUIREMENTS (Section 302.441)

Current law allows repeat DUI offenders required to have an ignition interlock device installed on his or her vehicle to apply for an exemption to allow him or her to operate a vehicle owned by his or her employer. Such variances shall not be granted where the offender is self-employed or owns the business entity that owns the vehicle.

This act specifies that variances shall also not be granted when the offender controls the business entity.

This provision is identical to SB 474 (2017), HB 875 (2017), and to provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 115 (2017), SS/SCS/HB 302 (2017), CCS/SCS#2/SB 128 (2017), and CCS/HCS/SB 225 (2017). This provision is similar to HCS/HB 875 (2017), and to provisions in HCB 1 (2017), and HCB 9 (2017).

AUTOCYCLES (Section 304.005)

This act modifies the definition of "autocycle" to include partially or completely enclosed vehicles with a non-straddle-type seating area.

This act removes statutory requirements for certain safety features, and instead requires that the vehicle meet applicable National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requirements or federal motorcycle safety standards.

These provisions are identical to provisions contained in HB 824 (2017), CCS/SB 222 (2017), and CCS/HCS/SB 225 (2017), and is substantially similar to SB 379 (2017), and to provisions in HCS/HB 576 (2017), and in CCS/SB 8 (2017).

ARTICULATED BUSES (Section 304.170)

This act modifies motor vehicle length regulations to allow for operation of articulated buses of up to sixty feet in length, not including safety bumpers and bicycle storage racks.

This provision is identical to provisions in CCS/SB 8 (2017), CCS/SB 222 (2017), SCS/HB 256 (2017), CCS/HCS/SB 225 (2017), HCS/SCS/SB 399 (2017), and HCS/HB 574 (2017). This provision is similar to HB 409 (2017) and HB 806 (2017), and to provisions in HCS/HB 1732 (2016), SS/HB 1733 (2016), SCS/HB 1745 (2016), HCS/SB 640 (2016), and HCS/SS/SB 659 (2016).

VEHICLE LIGHTING EQUIPMENT (Section 307.005)

This act provides that lamps, lights, and other pieces of vehicle lighting equipment that consist of multiple light-emitting diodes shall be deemed to be operating properly so long as at least seventy-five percent of the light-emitting diodes are operating properly.

This provision is identical to HB 664 (2017), and to provisions in CCS/SB 8 (2017) and CCS/SB 222 (2017).

FLASHING LIGHTS USED BY MOTOR VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT (Section 307.175)

This act removes the requirement that motor vehicles owned by the state highways and transportation commission or by contractors or subcontractors performing work for the Department of Transportation only display amber or white lights when stationary in a work zone where workers are present. This act also extends the authority to display such lights to vehicles that are leased rather than owned.

These provisions contain an emergency clause.

These provisions are similar to provisions in CCS/SB 8 (2017), CCS/SB 222 (2017), CCS/SB 225 (2017), SB 61 (2017), SB 187 (2017), HB 85 (2017), HB 110 (2017), HCS/SB 676 (2016), CCS/HCS/SS/SB 732 (2016), SB 1071 (2016), HB 1449 (2016), and HB 1733 (2016), and HB 241 (2015).

ERIC VANDER WEERD