Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.020 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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  307.020.  Definitions. — As used in sections 307.020 to 307.120, unless the context requires another or different construction:

  (1)  "Approved" means approved by the director of revenue and when applied to lamps and other illuminating devices means that such lamps and devices must be in good working order;

  (2)  "Auxiliary lamp" means an additional lighting device on a motor vehicle used primarily to supplement the headlamps in providing general illumination ahead of a vehicle;

  (3)  "Headlamp" means a major lighting device capable of providing general illumination ahead of a vehicle;

  (4)  "Mounting height" means the distance from the center of the lamp to the surface on which the vehicle stands;

  (5)  "Multiple-beam headlamps" means headlamps or similar devices arranged so as to permit the driver of the vehicle to use one of two or more distributions of light on the road;

  (6)  "Reflector" means an approved device designed and used to give an indication by reflected light;

  (7)  "Single-beam headlamps" means headlamps or similar devices arranged so as to permit the driver of the vehicle to use but one distribution of light on the road;

  (8)  "Vehicle" means every device in, upon or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks;

  (9)  "When lighted lamps are required" means at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet ahead.  Lighted lamps shall also be required any time the weather conditions require usage of the motor vehicle's windshield wipers to operate the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner as defined in section 304.012.  The provisions of this section shall be interpreted to require lighted lamps during periods of fog even if usage of the windshield wipers is not necessary to operate the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner.

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(L. 1941 p. 438 § 8386c, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1233, et al.)

(1953) Instruction submitting issue as to unlighted vehicle on highway held proper in case where motor vehicle collided with rear of unlighted truck. Arky v. Kessels (A.), 262 S.W.2d 357.

(1957) Court took judicial notice of fact that sun sets before 8:00 p.m. on May 17. State v. Powell (Mo.), 306 S.W.2d 531.

(1958) Permitting car to remain on roadway without lights at time lights were required by law held negligence per se. Glenn v. Offutt (A.), 309 S.W.2d 366.

(1976) Motorized wheelchair is a "vehicle" and subject to highway regulations. Vanasse v. Plautz (A.), 538 S.W.2d 928.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1973–2019 · leading case: Vanasse v. Plautz, 538 S.W.2d 928 (Mo. Ct. App. 1976).
Vanasse v. Plautz, 538 S.W.2d 928 (Mo. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 25× “First appellant contends that respondent’s motorized wheelchair constituted a “vehicle” as defined in paragraph (8) of Section 307.020, RSMo 1969, the obtaining statutory definition of “vehicle” in force at the time of the collision in question with respect to Sections 307.”
Horneyer v. City of Springfield, 98 S.W.3d 637 (Mo. Ct. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “” § 307.020(9), RSMo Supp.1999. Appellant brought this action against the City, alleging that the intersection was “unreasonably dangerous and hazardous” and that “at the time of the .”
Penn v. Columbia Asphalt Co., 513 S.W.2d 679 (Mo. Ct. App. 1974). · cites it 4× “The introductory paragraph of § 307.020 expressly provides, however, that the definitions of that section apply to §§ 307.”
Coyle v. Dir. of Revenue, 88 S.W.3d 887 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002). “on any street or highway [at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, § 307.020(9),] unless such vehicle ... displays lighted lamps and illuminating devices .”
Larrea v. Ozark Water Ski Thrill Show, Inc., 562 S.W.2d 790 (Mo. Ct. App. 1978). “” § 307.020(9), V.A.M.S. Consequently, we may confidently assume it was daylight at the time concerned.”
State v. Jackson, 436 S.W.3d 576 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “]” We relied upon sections 307.020(9) and 307.040, which required a vehicle to “display ‘lighted lamps’ ‘at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise,’ ” in holding that the defendant’s “operation of his vehicle, however brief, without headlights at…”
Burt v. Becker, 497 S.W.2d 411 (Mo. 1973). · cites it 2× “Home Oil & Gas Co., 48 S.W.2d 113 (Mo.App.1932), “devices moved by human power,” bicycles, are exempted by the statutory definition of “vehicles” to which “light regulations” are applicable.”
Wood v. Wooten (E.D. Mo. 2019). “It further provides that “[a]t the times when lighted lamps are required, at least two lighted lamps shall be displayed, one on each side of the front of every motor vehicle…” Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.105.1 . The term “‘when lighted lamps are required’ means at any time from a…”
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.020(8) — 2 cases
Penn v. Columbia Asphalt Co., 513 S.W.2d 679 (Mo. Ct. App. 1974). “The introductory paragraph of § 307.020 expressly provides, however, that the definitions of that section apply to §§ 307.”
Burt v. Becker, 497 S.W.2d 411 (Mo. 1973). “Home Oil & Gas Co., 48 S.W.2d 113 (Mo.App.1932), “devices moved by human power,” bicycles, are exempted by the statutory definition of “vehicles” to which “light regulations” are applicable.”
— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.020(9) — 4 cases
Horneyer v. City of Springfield, 98 S.W.3d 637 (Mo. Ct. App. 2003). “” § 307.020(9), RSMo Supp.1999. Appellant brought this action against the City, alleging that the intersection was “unreasonably dangerous and hazardous” and that “at the time of the .”
Coyle v. Dir. of Revenue, 88 S.W.3d 887 (Mo. Ct. App. 2002). “on any street or highway [at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise, § 307.020(9),] unless such vehicle ... displays lighted lamps and illuminating devices .”
Larrea v. Ozark Water Ski Thrill Show, Inc., 562 S.W.2d 790 (Mo. Ct. App. 1978). “” § 307.020(9), V.A.M.S. Consequently, we may confidently assume it was daylight at the time concerned.”
State v. Jackson, 436 S.W.3d 576 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013). “]” We relied upon sections 307.020(9) and 307.040, which required a vehicle to “display ‘lighted lamps’ ‘at any time from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise,’ ” in holding that the defendant’s “operation of his vehicle, however brief, without headlights at…”
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