301.260. State and municipally owned motor vehicles--public schools and colleges courtesy or driver training vehicles--regulations. - Missouri Statutes

State and municipally owned motor vehicles--public schools andcolleges courtesy or driver training vehicles--regulations.

301.260. 1. The director of revenue shall issue certificates for allcars owned by the state of Missouri and shall assign to each of such carstwo plates bearing the words: "State of Missouri, official car number...................." (with the number inserted thereon), which platesshall be displayed on such cars when they are being used on the highways.No officer or employee or other person shall use such a motor vehicle forother than official use.

2. Motor vehicles used as ambulances, patrol wagons and fireapparatus, owned by any municipality of this state, shall be exempt fromall of the provisions of sections 301.010 to 301.440 while being operatedwithin the limits of such municipality, but the municipality may regulatethe speed and use of such motor vehicles owned by them; and all other motorvehicles owned by municipalities, counties and other political subdivisionsof the state shall be exempt from the provisions of sections 301.010 to301.440 requiring registration, proof of ownership and display of numberplates; provided, however, that there shall be displayed on each side ofsuch motor vehicle, in letters not less than three inches in height with astroke of not less than three-eighths of an inch wide, the name of suchmunicipality, county or political subdivision, the department thereof, anda distinguishing number. Provided, further, that when any motor vehicle isowned and operated exclusively by any school district and used solely fortransportation of school children, the commissioner shall assign to each ofsuch motor vehicles two plates bearing the words "School Bus, State ofMissouri, car no. ................" (with the number inserted thereon),which plates shall be displayed on such motor vehicles when they are beingused on the highways. No officer, or employee of the municipality, countyor subdivision, or any other person shall operate such a motor vehicleunless the same is marked as herein provided, and no officer, employee orother person shall use such a motor vehicle for other than officialpurposes.

3. For registration purposes only, a public school or college shallbe considered the temporary owner of a vehicle acquired from a new motorvehicle franchised dealer which is to be used as a courtesy vehicle or adriver training vehicle. The school or college shall present to thedirector of revenue a copy of a lease agreement with an option to purchaseclause between the authorized new motor vehicle franchised dealer and theschool or college and a photocopy of the front of the dealer's vehiclemanufacturer's statement of origin, and shall make application for and begranted a nonnegotiable certificate of ownership and be issued theappropriate license plates. Registration plates are not necessary on adriver training vehicle when the motor vehicle is plainly marked as adriver training vehicle while being used for such purpose and such vehiclecan also be used in conjunction with the activities of the educationalinstitution.

4. As used in this section, the term "political subdivision" isintended to include any township, road district, sewer district, schooldistrict, municipality, town or village, sheltered workshop, as defined insection 178.900, RSMo, and any interstate compact agency which operates apublic mass transportation system.

(RSMo 1939 § 8374, A.L. 1941 p. 446, A.L. 1986 H.B. 1153, A.L. 1991 H.B. 39 & 41, A.L. 2001 S.B. 244)

Prior revision: 1929 § 7767

(1951) This section and § 304.010 do not impose liability upon a city for injury caused by a municipally owned motor vehicle when engaged in a governmental function. Hayes v. City of Kansas City. 362 Mo. 368, 241 S.W.2d 888.