Legal Documents of Maryville
Code of Maryville
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Code of Maryville
Title 15 Motor Vehicles, Traffic and Parking
Chapter 1 Miscellaneous
Title 15 Motor Vehicles, Traffic and Parking
Chapter 1 Miscellaneous
Maryville
Title 15 : Motor Vehicles, Traffic and Parking
Chapter 1 : Miscellaneous
15-123 : Operation of motor vehicle without adequate energy absorption system prohibited--alteration of altitude from ground level of passenger car prohibited--exceptions--enforcement.
- No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any road, street, or highway in the City of Maryville unless the vehicle is equipped with a bumper or other energy absorption system with an analogous function.
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- No person shall operate a passenger vehicle, except a four (4) wheel drive recreational vehicle, of a type required to be registered under the laws of this state upon a city highway or street modified by reason of alteration of its altitude from the ground if its bumpers, measured to any point on a load-bearing member on the horizontal bumper bar, are not within the range of fourteen inches (14") to twenty-two inches (22") above the ground, except that no vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground or expose the fuel tank to damage from collision or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation and that no part of the original suspension system be disconnected to defeat the safe operation of the suspension system; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of heavy duty equipment to include shock absorbers and overload springs; and provided further, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent a person from operating a motor vehicle on a public highway with normal wear of the suspension system if normal wear does not affect the control of the vehicle.
- No person shall operate a four (4) wheel drive recreational vehicle of a type required to be registered under the laws of this state upon a city highway or street modified by reason of alteration of its altitude from the ground if its bumpers, measured to any point on a load-bearing member on the horizontal bumper bar, are not within the range of fourteen inches (14") to thirty-one inches (31") above the ground, except that no vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground or expose the full tank to damage from collision or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation and that no part of the original suspension system be disconnected to defeat the safe operation of the suspension system; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of heavy duty equipment to include shock absorbers and overload springs; and provided further, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent a person from operating a motor vehicle on a public highway with normal wear of the suspension system if normal wear does not affect the control of the vehicle. In the case of a four (4) wheel drive vehicle where the thirty-one inches (31") limitation is exceeded, the vehicle will comply with this section if the vehicle is equipped with a drop bumper. Such a drop bumper must be bolted and welded to the frame of the vehicle and be made of a strength equal to a stock bumper.
- This section shall not apply to freight motor vehicles and/or other vehicles which have designs which would intrinsically preclude conformity with this provision. This section also shall not apply to any vehicle which has an unaltered and undamaged stock bumper or energy absorption system as supplied by the manufacturer of the vehicle.
- Any law enforcement officer charged with the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations may stop and inspect motor vehicles which appear to be operated in violation of this section. If, upon inspection, the vehicle is found to be in violation of this section, the operator shall be issued a citation stating the particulars of the violation and, in general, the repairs necessary to bring the vehicle into compliance with this section. The citation shall also state a time and place for appearance in city court, not less than fourteen (14) days from the date of the issuance of the citation.
- If, upon reinspection at such an appearance, the defect is found to have been corrected, or the vehicle is found to be in compliance with this section, and upon payment of the court costs, no further penalties shall be assessed. If, however, the vehicle is found not to be in compliance with this section, the operator shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty clause for this code.
- Nothing in this section shall be construed to establish standards higher than those formulated by the United States Department of Transportation for bumpers on passenger motor vehicles sold within the United States. (1999 Code, § 15-123)
Date Last Updated: 12/22/2025
Codification Date: 06/01/2024
Officials at Date of Last Codification:
Mayor - Andy White
Vice-Mayor - Fred Metz
Council Member - Sarah Herron
Council Member - Tommy Hunt
Council Member - Drew Miles
City Manager - Greg McClain
Assistant City Manager - Kevin Stoltenberg
City Recorder/Financial Services Director - Sherri Phillips
City Attorney - Melanie Davis