JEFFERSON CITY – Several laws related to public safety went into effect August 28, 2025. A synopsis of sections related to public safety follows. The abbreviated descriptions below are intended to make the public aware of some of the new legislation enacted by the Missouri General Assembly which is related to crime and public safety. For a complete description of these newly enacted laws, visit the Missouri House of Representatives or Missouri Senate websites or click on the link provided within this news release.
Enticement of a Child (566.151 RSMo)
The enticement of a child statue has been updated. The age of the victim increased from less than 15 years of age to less than 17 years of age.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=566.151
Sexual Trafficking of a Child – First Degree (566.210 RSMo)
The sexual trafficking of a child statute has been updated. The age of the victim increased from under the age of 12 to under the age of 14.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=566.210
Stealing (570.030 RSMo)
Sections related to “organized retail theft” have been added to this statute. A person commits organized retail theft if they appropriate property, their course of conduct is part of an organized retail theft, and the value of the property taken, combined with any property damage inflicted in such theft, is $750 or more. It is a class C felony if the value of the property taken, combined with any damage inflicted in such theft, is $750 or more but less than $10,000. It is a class C felony if the value of the property taken, combined with any damage inflicted in such theft, is $10,000 or more.
A full definition of organized retail theft is included in the link below.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=570.030
Loads which might become dislodged to be secured – cotton trailers (307.010 RSMo)
This statute establishes all motor vehicles, and every trailer and semitrailer operating upon the public highways of this state properly secure their load so that no portion of such goods or material can become dislodged and fall from the vehicle, trailer or semitrailer while being transported or carried.
The following language specific to cotton trailers has been added:
A cotton trailer, as defined in section 301.010 RSMo, shall not be in violation, provided it travels at speeds less than seventy miles per hour from field to field or from field to market and return, and no portion of such goods or material becomes dislodged and falls from the cotton trailer, and the goods or material is:
Immobilized, such so that it cannot shift or tip to the extent that the vehicle’s stability or maneuverability is adversely affected; transported in a sided vehicle that has walls of adequate strength, such that each article of cargo within the vehicle is in contact with, or sufficiently close to a wall or other articles, so that it cannot shift or tip to the extent that the vehicle’s stability or maneuverability is adversely affected; fully contained within the structure of the vehicle, and firmly immobilized or secured on or within the vehicle by structures of adequate strength, dunnage or dunnage bags, shoring bars, tiedowns, or a combination of these; or otherwise secured in accordance with federal law.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=307.010
Unlawfully Gain Entry Into A Motor Vehicle (569.175 RSM0)
Unlawfully gaining entry into a motor vehicle is a new statute.
A person commits the offense of unlawfully gaining entry into motor vehicles if the person lifts the door handles or otherwise tries the doors and locks of successive motor vehicles, to gain entry for the purpose of committing the offense of stealing. For purposes of this statute, “successive” means lifting the door handles or otherwise trying the doors and locks of one vehicle after another.
The offense of unlawfully gaining entry into motor vehicles is a class A misdemeanor.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=569.175&bid=57258
Interference With A First Responder (574.207 RSMo)
Interference with a first responder is a new statute.
A person commits the crime of interference with a first responder if the person has received a verbal warning not to approach from a person that he or she knows, or reasonably should know to be a first responder; the first responder is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty; and the person knowingly and willfully violates the verbal warning and approaches within twenty feet of the first responder with the intent to:
(a) Impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform his or her legal duty.
(b) Threaten the first responder with physical harm; or
(c) Engage in a course of conduct directed at a first responder which serves no legitimate purpose.
The offense of interference with a first responder is a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense. The definition of a first responder in this statute includes law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, and emergency medical technicians.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=574.207&bid=57650
Motorists To Exercise The Highest Degree Of Care (304.012 RSMo)
The motorist to exercise the highest degree of care (careless and imprudent driving) statute has been updated to include no person operating a vehicle on Missouri roadways shall perform stunt driving. Stunt driving is further defined in 304.145 RSMo.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.012
Stunt Driving Prohibited (304.145 RSMo)
Prohibitions against stunt driving and street takeovers are a new statute.
Except as otherwise permitted by law, no person shall perform stunt driving in connection with a street takeover or perform or participate in a street takeover. Violation of this section shall be a class B misdemeanor for a first offense, a class A misdemeanor for a second offense, and a class E felony for a third or subsequent offense.
This statute shall not apply to events sanctioned by a political subdivision or private entity with responsibility for maintenance and control of the portion of highway or private property on which the motor vehicle operation occurs.
Stunt driving activity includes driving behaviors such as burnouts, wheelies, donuts, and drifting. The statute also provides enhancement and punishment guidelines related to prior offender, persistent offender, aggravated offender, chronic offender, and habitual offender. The link below provides a full list of definitions and punishments.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.145&bid=57694
Authorized Emergency Vehicles (300.100 RSMo) & Emergency and Stationary Vehicles (304.022 RSMo)
The authorized emergency vehicles statue establishes the actions a driver of an emergency vehicle can take. The emergency and stationary vehicles statute establishes the use of emergency lights, sirens, and right-of-way. Both statutes have been updated to allow emergency vehicles operated as a police vehicle to not use their emergency lights or siren in certain circumstances. Police vehicles are not required to use their emergency lights or siren to obtain evidence of a speeding violation on a maintained federal or state highway and where the speed limit is set by state statute; Respond to a suspected crime in progress when use of emergency equipment could reasonably result in the destruction of evidence or escape of a suspect; or to conduct surveillance of a vehicle or the passengers of a vehicle who are suspected of involvement in a crime.
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=300.100
https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=304.022