COMMITTEE
HCS HB 479, 430, 218, 136, 599, 715, 708 & 839 -- MOTOR VEHICLES
SPONSOR: Sheldon
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Motor
Vehicle and Traffic Regulations by a vote of 9 to 1.
This substitute requires all emergency vehicles to be safety
inspected. The superintendent of the Missouri State Highway
Patrol will promulgate rules to prescribe the time and
procedures for the inspection of emergency vehicles. This
provision will not apply to vehicles owned or used by fire
protection districts comprised exclusively of volunteers until
July 1, 1998.
After January 1, 2000, each school bus purchased, leased,
obtained, or operated by or on behalf of any school district
must have seat backs which extend at least 28 inches from the
bottom to the top of such backs and must also be equipped with a
sufficient number of safety belts for passengers and the driver.
In any action against a school district, no evidence can be
offered relative to whether or not safety belts were used by the
driver or passengers on a school bus at the time of an accident.
Beginning January 1, 1999, this substitute requires all motor
vehicle license plates to contain a county designation which is
the domicile of the vehicle owner.
Motor vehicle headlamps will be required to be used any time
when rain, snow, fog or other atmospheric conditions require the
use of windshield wipers.
The operation period for temporary motor vehicle permits or
plates will be 30 days instead of the current 20 days.
Only motorcyclist under 21 years of age will be required to wear
protective headgear.
Members of the fraternal order of police will be allowed to
receive a special license plate bearing the emblem of the
fraternal order of police. The substitute spells out the
procedure and fee to obtain the emblem-use authorization and
registration. This provision has an effective date of January
1, 1998.
The substitute also requires that the additional fee charged for
purple heart plates will only have to be paid once and that one
time will be at the original time of the application.
Presently, the additional fee is charged each time at
registration.
FISCAL NOTE: Not available at time of printing.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that such legislation is common
sense legislation that will be helpful to Missouri citizens.
Testifying for HB 479 were Representative Scheve; and Missouri
Council of Fire Fighters for HB 479; Representative O'Toole for
HB 430; Representative Ross for HB 218; Representative Kauffman
for HB 136; Representative Kennedy; and Missouri Auto Dealers
Association for HB 599; Representative Lograsso; and Freedom of
Road Riders for HB 715; Representative Foley for HB 708; and
Representative Farnen for HB 839.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that motorcyclists who
do not wear helmets and are involved in crashes have twice as
many head injuries as those wearing helmets and from 3 to 9
times as many fatalities.
Testifying against HB 715 were Nancy Koeing, Mother of a
motorcycle victim; Missouri State Highway Patrol; Jason Jaruis,
motorcycle accident victim; Missouri Safety Council; and
Missouri Advocacy Council.
Robert Triplett, Research Analyst