NOAH AOC

Is anyone aware of the low vision driving laws and regulations of Missouri and / or know of someone who advocates for low vision drivers in Missouri? My research into the laws on official Missouri websites finds references to a driving observation test administered by the DMV. Other, unofficial sites, refer to ranges of vision and associated 'automatic' restrictions. I'm just trying to figure out what the law is and what my son's rights are so that we can take the proper steps to minimize the restrictions on his license. He has had three different responses at the DMV each time he interacts with the clerks at the local office, with different resulting restrictions despite the same corrected vision and  a 'no restrictions' advice from his eye doctor.

 Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

 Jeff

Hi Jeff-

I may not be able to provide you with any of the answers you are looking for, but perhaps I can give you some information and perspective.

I’m 28. My visual acuity is, at its best, somewhere around 20/60 with my glasses. I was originally licensed in South Carolina at the age of 16 with no restrictions on my license with the exception of being required to use my corrective lenses (of which it seems most Americans are required these days). I went to college at the University of Missouri in Columbia from 1998 to 2002. Still being a legal resident of South Carolina, I kept my South Carolina license. When I graduated and started to work fulltime in Columbia, I couldn’t continue to do that (at least complying with the letter and the spirit of the law). I obtained my Missouri license and was restricted to daylight only and a speed restriction of 45mph or less. It was a royal pain. For as much as I grew to love Missouri in my four years at MU and my subsequent time working there, that was the one thing I hated. I made do with it. I later moved to Illinois where I was subjected to a restriction of daylight-only driving. I now live in Wisconsin where I have an unrestricted license (shows you how much states are funky about this sort of stuff…my vision has remained the same since high school).

It all depends on your son’s acuity (I don’t believe bioptics can be used to pass a vision test in Missouri, but check on that). When I went to the Department of Revenue in Columbia, the agent put my specs from my doc into the computer and it automatically spit out the restrictions. In Wisconsin I have found it is much more left up to the discretion of the eye specialist and what he or she feels the patient can handle.

My suggestion would be to not even bother with the local Department of Revenue folks and go directly to the medical review folks (I believe there is such a board…although I never bothered to pursue it) in Jefferson City.

Again… I know it’s not much, but that’s my advice.

Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.

All the best,

Brendan