The whole Missouri file

MISSOURI FIELD FILE

Every section, top to bottom.

About this guide — education built from the Revised Statutes of Missouri as the Revisor of Statutes publishes them, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying them to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of October 2026.

Not in the hand. While operating a vehicle on a Missouri highway or on property open to public traffic, a driver may not physically hold or support a phone or other electronic communication device with any part of the body, read or send texts, emails or social media, make calls except hands free, enter letters or numbers in an app, watch video other than navigation, or record or broadcast video.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.822

It does not apply to a driver using the device only through a voice operated or hands free feature, using it while lawfully stopped or parked, reporting an emergency, or using it for navigation or to listen to audio.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.822

Violation	Fine up to
ViolationNo prior conviction in the last twenty four months	Fine up to$150
ViolationOne prior in that time	Fine up to$250
ViolationTwo or more priors, or in a work zone with workers present or a marked school zone	Fine up to$500

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.822

Nobody may be stopped, inspected or detained solely for this, and it may not be used as probable cause for anything else. An officer who stops a driver for it has to say the driver may decline a search of the device. Causing serious injury makes it a class B misdemeanor, and causing a death a class D felony.

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.822

Sources for this section (1)

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 304.822 — Electronic communication device, use of while driving prohibited, when

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Missouri attorney.

MISSOURI FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Being stopped

Marijuana and drugs

Impaired driving

Court and money

Recording

Carrying a firearm

Charges and penalties

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

MISSOURI FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Your Phone Behind The WheelMo. Rev. Stat. § 304.822 — the Siddens Bening Hands Free Law: no holding the phone at all▾

Speed LimitsMo. Rev. Stat. § 304.010 — 75 on rural interstates and freeways, 65 on rural expressways, 60 elsewhere▾

The Highest Degree Of CareMo. Rev. Stat. § 304.012 — careful and prudent driving, and stunt driving barred▾

Seat BeltsMo. Rev. Stat. § 307.178 — driver and front seat, a fine of no more than ten dollars, no points▾

Driving While RevokedMo. Rev. Stat. § 302.321 — a class D misdemeanor first, a class A for a second or third▾

After A CrashMo. Rev. Stat. § 577.060 — stop and give your information, or it is leaving the scene▾

Being stopped

Being Arrested Without A WarrantMo. Rev. Stat. § 544.216 — on view, or on reasonable grounds, for any law including an infraction▾

Reading A Search WarrantMo. Rev. Stat. § 542.276 — particular descriptions, and void if not executed within ten days▾

False ReportsMo. Rev. Stat. § 575.080 — a class B misdemeanor, with a defense for taking it back in time▾

Resisting Or Interfering With ArrestMo. Rev. Stat. § 575.150 — including fleeing a stop, and no defense that the arrest was unlawful▾

When Police Use ForceMo. Rev. Stat. § 563.046 — objectively reasonable force, and deadly force only in narrow cases▾

Marijuana and drugs

Possessing A Controlled SubstanceMo. Rev. Stat. § 579.015 — a class D felony outside the statute's marijuana tiers▾

Impaired driving

The DWI StopMo. Rev. Stat. § 577.010, § 577.012 and § 577.041 — intoxicated or over the limit, and a year's revocation for refusing a test▾

Under 21 And DrivingMo. Rev. Stat. § 302.505 and § 577.020 — two hundredths of one percent is enough under 21▾

Court and money

Getting The Deposit BackMo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 — back within 30 days, or twice the amount wrongfully withheld▾

Being Evicted For RentMo. Rev. Stat. § 535.020 and § 535.040 — rent demanded, a hearing, and paying before judgment▾

Notice To End A TenancyMo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060 — one month's written notice for a month to month tenancy▾

Locked Out By The LandlordMo. Rev. Stat. § 441.233 — removing a tenant without a court order is forcible entry and detainer▾

When The Landlord Will Not Fix ItMo. Rev. Stat. § 441.234 — repair and deduct, after 14 days' notice, up to one month's rent a year▾

Orders Of ProtectionMo. Rev. Stat. § 455.020 — for domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault, valid statewide▾

Getting Paid When A Job EndsMo. Rev. Stat. § 290.110 — due the day of discharge, with wages continuing up to sixty days▾

Minimum WageMo. Rev. Stat. § 290.502 — $15.00 an hour from January 1, 2026▾

Unemployment After Quitting Or Being FiredMo. Rev. Stat. § 288.050 — quitting without good cause attributable to the work▾

Hurt At WorkMo. Rev. Stat. § 287.420 — written notice to the employer within thirty days▾

Getting Public RecordsMo. Rev. Stat. § 610.023 — acted on by the end of the third business day▾

Small Claims CourtMo. Rev. Stat. § 482.305 — claims up to five thousand dollars▾

What A Creditor Cannot TakeMo. Rev. Stat. § 513.430 and § 525.030 — household goods, a vehicle, tools, and at least three quarters of a paycheck▾

Old Debts And Time LimitsMo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120 and § 516.110 — five years for most contracts and injuries, ten for a writing to pay▾

Deceptive Business PracticesMo. Rev. Stat. § 407.020 — the Merchandising Practices Act▾

Door To Door SalesMo. Rev. Stat. § 407.705 — until midnight of the third business day▾

The Lemon LawMo. Rev. Stat. § 407.567 and § 407.571 — four repairs or thirty working days in the first year▾

Getting DivorcedMo. Rev. Stat. § 452.305 — ninety days' residence, thirty days after filing, and irretrievably broken▾

Dividing PropertyMo. Rev. Stat. § 452.330 — marital property divided as the court finds just▾

MaintenanceMo. Rev. Stat. § 452.335 — only when the spouse lacks enough property and cannot support themselves▾

Custody And Parenting TimeMo. Rev. Stat. § 452.375 — best interests, with a presumption of equal or about equal time▾

Discrimination At WorkMo. Rev. Stat. § 213.055 and § 213.075 — a complaint to the commission within one hundred eighty days▾

Housing DiscriminationMo. Rev. Stat. § 213.040 — the protected traits in selling and renting▾

Dog BitesMo. Rev. Stat. § 273.036 — strict liability for an unprovoked bite▾

Jury Duty And A JobMo. Rev. Stat. § 494.460 — no firing or discipline, and no forced use of leave▾

Changing A NameMo. Rev. Stat. § 527.270 — a verified petition to the circuit court where the person lives▾

Recording

Recording A CallMo. Rev. Stat. § 542.402 — one party's consent is enough, unless it is for a crime or tort▾

Carrying a firearm

Carrying A WeaponMo. Rev. Stat. § 571.030 — where a weapon may not go, and what is unlawful use▾

Charges and penalties

What An Offense Class MeansMo. Rev. Stat. § 558.011 and § 558.002 — the term and the fine for each class▾

The Stealing LadderMo. Rev. Stat. § 570.030 — under $150 a class D misdemeanor, $750 a class D felony▾

AssaultMo. Rev. Stat. § 565.054 and § 565.056 — third degree a felony, fourth degree usually a class A misdemeanor▾

Clearing A RecordMo. Rev. Stat. § 610.140 — three years after a felony, one year after a misdemeanor▾

How you carry yourself

Self DefenseMo. Rev. Stat. § 563.031 — reasonable belief, deadly force only against grave harm, and no duty to retreat▾

Harassment And StalkingMo. Rev. Stat. § 565.090, § 565.091 and § 565.225 — emotional distress, and stalking as a felony▾

TrespassMo. Rev. Stat. § 569.140 and § 569.150 — knowing entry is a misdemeanor, simple entry an infraction▾

Peace DisturbanceMo. Rev. Stat. § 574.010 — a class B misdemeanor first, class A after▾

Under 21 With AlcoholMo. Rev. Stat. § 311.325 — buying, possessing or being visibly intoxicated under 21▾

Walk it through