304.665. Riding in open bed of truck prohibited, when, exceptions, penalty.
Riding in open bed of truck prohibited, when, exceptions, penalty.
304.665. 1. No person shall operate any truck, as defined in section301.010, RSMo, with a licensed gross weight of less than twelve thousandpounds on any highway which is part of the state or federal highway systemor when such truck is operated within the corporate limits of any city whenany person under eighteen years of age is riding in the unenclosed bed ofsuch truck. No person under eighteen years of age shall ride in theunenclosed bed of such truck when the truck is in operation. Any personwho operates a truck with a licensed gross weight of less than twelvethousand pounds in violation of this section is guilty of a class Cmisdemeanor.
2. The provisions of this section shall only apply when a truckdescribed in subsection 1 of this section is operated on a highway which ispart of the state or federal highway system or when such truck is operatedwithin the corporate limits of any city. The provisions of this sectionshall not apply to:
(1) An employee engaged in the necessary discharge of the employee'sduties where it is necessary to ride in the unenclosed bed of the truck;
(2) Any person while engaged in agricultural activities where it isnecessary to ride in the unenclosed bed of the truck;
(3) Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck while suchtruck is being operated in a parade, caravan or exhibition which isauthorized by law;
(4) Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truckhas installed a means of preventing such person from being discharged orsuch person is secured to the truck in a manner which will prevent theperson from being thrown, falling or jumping from the truck;
(5) Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truckis being operated solely for the purposes of participating in a specialevent and it is necessary that the person ride in such unenclosed bed dueto a lack of available seating. "Special event", for the purposes of thissection, is a specific social activity of a definable duration which isparticipated in by the person riding in the unenclosed bed;
(6) Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truckis being operated solely for the purposes of providing assistance to, orensuring the safety of, other persons engaged in a recreational activity;or
(7) Any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truckis the only legally titled, licensed and insured vehicle owned by thefamily of the person riding in the unenclosed bed and there is insufficientroom in the passenger cab of the truck to accommodate all passengers insuch truck. For the purposes of this subdivision the term "family" shallmean any persons related within the first degree of consanguinity.
(L. 1997 S.B. 121 § 1)