Red light violations by motorcycles or bicycles, affirmative defense, when
If someone rides a motorcycle or bicycle and runs a red light, they have a legal way to fight the ticket if they can prove four things: they fully stopped first, the light stayed red for an unreasonably long time, the light appeared to be broken or failed to detect the motorcycle, and no other vehicles or people were close enough to be a danger.
304.285. Red light violations by motorcycles or bicycles, , when. — Any person operating a motorcycle or bicycle who violates the of section 304.281 or section 304.301 by entering or crossing an controlled by a against a red light shall have an affirmative defense to that charge if the person establishes all of the following conditions:
(1) The motorcycle or bicycle has been brought to a complete stop;
(2) The traffic control signal continues to show a red light for an unreasonable time;
(3) The traffic control is apparently or, if programmed or engineered to change to a green light only after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle, the signal has apparently failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle; and
(4) No motor vehicle or person is approaching on the street or to be crossed or entered or is so far away from the intersection that it does not constitute an .
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Red section numbers link to that law.
Source & history notes
(L. 2009 H.B. 683 merged with S.B. 368)
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.