Not Owner / Stolen Vehicle / Sold Before Violation
Missouri ordinance liability follows ownership at the time of the violation. RSMo §301.190 requires title transfers to be filed promptly; RSMo §301.196 governs Notice of Sale (DOR Form 5049). A registered owner who sold the vehicle before the violation and timely filed Form 5049 has a complete defense. Stolen-vehicle defense requires a police theft report dated before the violation and proof the vehicle was not yet recovered. KCMO Code §70-608 and St. Louis Revised Code §17.66.040 expressly enumerate these as dismissal grounds.
Legal basis
RSMo §301.190; RSMo §301.196 (Notice of Sale, DOR Form 5049); KCMO Code §70-608; St. Louis Rev. Code §17.66.040
Sample appeal wording
TO: [City] Parking Violations Bureau RE: Citation [TICKET_NUMBER] — Not Owner Defense I was not the owner of the vehicle ([PLATE], [YEAR/MAKE/MODEL]) on [VIOLATION_DATE]. [Choose one] ☐ Sold/transferred to [BUYER] on [DATE_SOLD]; DOR Form 5049 filed [DATE]. ☐ Vehicle was reported stolen on [REPORT_DATE], [DEPARTMENT] Report #[NUMBER]; not yet recovered as of [VIOLATION_DATE]. Liability does not attach. The citation must be vacated and any lien released. Signed, [FULL_NAME] Date: [DATE]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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- RSMo §301.190
- RSMo §301.196
- DOR Form 5049