Effective 28 Aug 1996

304.250. Restriction on use of metal-tired vehicles — penalty. — 1. No metal-tired vehicle shall be operated over any of the improved highways of this state, except over highways constructed of gravel or claybound gravel, if such vehicle has on the periphery of any of the road wheels any lug, flange, cleat, ridge, bolt or any projection of metal or wood which projects radially beyond the tread or traffic surface of the tire, unless the highway is protected by putting down solid planks or other suitable material, or by attachments to the wheels so as to prevent such vehicles from damaging the highway, except that this prohibition shall not apply to tractors or traction engines equipped with what is known as caterpillar treads, when such caterpillar does not contain any projection of any kind likely to injure the surface of the road. Tractors, traction engines and similar vehicles may be operated which have upon their road wheels "V" shaped, diagonal or other cleats arranged in such manner as to be continuously in contact with the road surface if the gross weight on the wheels per inch of width of such cleats or road surface, when measured in the direction of the axle of the vehicle, does not exceed eight hundred pounds.

2. No tractor, tractor engine, or other metal-tired vehicle weighing more than four tons, including the weight of the vehicle and its load, shall drive onto, upon or over the edge of any improved highway without protecting such edge by putting down solid planks or other suitable material to prevent such vehicle from breaking off the edges of the pavement.

3. Violation of this section shall be deemed an infraction and any person violating this section, whether operating pursuant to a permit or not, or who shall willfully or negligently damage a highway, shall be liable for the amount of such damage caused to any highway, bridge, culvert or sewer, and any vehicle causing such damage shall be subject to a lien for the full amount of such damage, which lien shall not be superior to any duly recorded or filed chattel mortgage or other lien previously attached to such vehicle; the amount of such damage may be recovered in any action in any court of competent jurisdiction, in the name of the state, by the municipality, county or other civil subdivision or interested party.

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(RSMo 1939 § 8384, A. 1949 S.B. 1113, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1047)

Prior revision: 1929 § 7776