The state of Missouri has passed a new law that every driver must know. From this fall, ‘’stunt driving’’ will officially appear in their record of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if they get caught doing it. This means if you do any dangerous driving or stunt driving with your vehicle on the road, it will be now considered a criminal offense and it will be registered on your driving record.
The main goal of this is to improve road safety in Missouri and reduce dangerous behavior when driving. So, let’s learn more about this new law.
Why Missouri?
The Missouri State Highway Patrol introduced 9 new legal updates related to road safety. One of the most important ones was the incorporation of stunt driving as a reportable traffic offense. But, what’s exactly ‘’stunt driving’’? It’s driving a vehicle in a dangerous way or with the intention to catch attention like: spinning your car in circles, drifting, doing burnouts, or slamming on the brakes.
The reason behind this measure is simple: Missouri has received many complaints about drivers who do these types of things in urban areas. Authorities fear these actions can cause serious accidents, injuries, or even deaths; so they have decided to take actions before it’s too late.
What happens if you get caught?
If you happen to get caught doing stunt driving in Missouri, you will face serious consequences. According to the new law, four points will be added to that driver’s DMV record. This might not sound like much, but in Missouri’s Department of Revenue point system, four points is considered a serious penalty.
That’s not all! If a driver in Missouri collects 18 points, their license can be suspended. On top of that, insurance companies look at your driving record. So, having stunt driving on your record will likely cause your insurance rates to go up.
Wait! We have more to say: there are also fines involved: first-time offenders can be fined up to $1,000, while repeat offenders could face even higher fines or even jail time. The exact punishment depends on what happened during the stunt because if it caused property damage or hurt someone, the penalties will be much worse.
Applying the new law
To make sure everybody understands the new rules, the state of Missouri has started public awareness campaigns to teach drivers what stunt driving is and what are the consequences of doing it. Also, the police are paying attention to areas known for illegal street racing or car meetups because these places are where stunt driving happens the most.
The Missouri government explains that the purpose is not to punish, but to have safe roads for everybody: drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and families. Authorities believe these consequences will help prevent dangerous driving and save lives.
Safer road future in Missouri
According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, the addition of stunt driving is part of a larger group of new laws passed this year. These updates are meant to modernize traffic regulations and respond to the changing habits of drivers. Lawmakers have recognized Missouri needed to update its laws, especially now that many drivers use social media to record and share videos of their dangerous stunt driving. However, with this new law, Missouri shares a clear message: stunts and dangerous driving will no longer be tolerated. So, if drivers want to keep their licenses (and money), they must understand well how this new law works.
Remember: before bragging about doing stunts with your car, think about the fact that you can be ruining someone’s life or even yours. It’s not worth it.