SB 687 - This act reduces the penalty for certain traffic violations to an infraction. The act also provides that no court shall issue a warrant for failure to appear for any violation classified as an infraction. (Section 304.009.3). Violations reduced to infractions under the act include:• Exceeding the posted speed limit, formerly a Class C misdemeanor, except that the penalty for exceeding the posted speed limit by 20 miles per hour or more is reduced from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.010);
• Operating a vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede traffic, with certain exceptions, formerly an unspecified misdemeanor. (Section 304.011.1);
• Operating a vehicle at a speed less than 40 miles per hour on an interstate, formerly a class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.011.2-3);
• Unlawful operation of an all-terrain or off-road vehicle, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.013);
• Failure to park or drive on the right-hand side of a road or highway as required by law, currently a Class C misdemeanor, except that the penalty when a violation of this provision causes an immediate threat of an accident is reduced from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C misdemeanor, and the penalty when the violation results in an accident is reduced from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor. (Section 304.015);
• Failure to pass another vehicle proceeding in the same direction on the left of that vehicle, at a reasonable distance, and under safe conditions as specified by law, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.016);
• Following behind another vehicle closer than is reasonably safe and prudent, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.017);
• Failure to turn or decrease the speed of a vehicle only when safe to do so, or to give an appropriate signal, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.019);
• Unlawful passing of a streetcar stopped to take in or discharge passengers, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.023);
• Use of a traffic signal preemption system to control traffic by an unauthorized person, formerly a Class B misdemeanor. (Section 304.031);
• Unlawful operation of a utility vehicle, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.032);
• Failure to proceed with caution or stop at a railroad crossing as required by law, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.035);
• Failure of certain vehicles, trucks, or buses to stop at a railroad crossing as required by law, formerly an unspecified misdemeanor. (Section 304.040);
• Any bus or truck following within 300 feet of another such vehicle, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.044);
• Display of signs indicating a vehicle is a school bus when it is not being used for the transportation of school children, formerly a class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.075);
• Failure to properly yield to a person with a disability using a cane or a guide dog, formerly an unspecified misdemeanor. (Section 304.110);
• Failure to make reasonable efforts to clear away sharp objects dropped onto a highway, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.160);
• Failure to obey official traffic control devices or signals, or to yield as required thereby, formerly Class C misdemeanors. (Sections 304.271, 304.281, and 304.301);
• Failure to comply with requirements for making certain turns, or making a prohibited turn, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.341);
• Failure to yield the right-of-way as required by law at an intersection where there is not a form of traffic control other than stop or yield signs, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.351);
• Failure to obey instructions of an official traffic control device, for which no other penalty is specified, formerly an unspecified misdemeanor. (Section 304.361);
• Transportation of hazardous materials through a highway tunnel of at least 100 yards, or parking a vehicle containing hazardous materials within 300 feet of a highway tunnel, except as provided by federal law, formerly a Class B misdemeanor, except that the penalty for a second or subsequent violation of this provision is reduced from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor. (Section 304.373);
• Violation of applicable vehicle equipment regulations for which no other penalty is specified, formerly an unspecified misdemeanor. (Section 304.570);
• Failure to leave a safe distance when passing a bicycle and an accident is involved, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.678); and
• Overtaking or passing another vehicle within an active emergency zone, formerly a Class C misdemeanor. (Section 304.892).
This act is similar to HB 1546 (2020).
ERIC VANDER WEERD