Cass County, MO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)

720, Obstructing Public Places, defines a public place broadly as any place the general public has a right of access to for business, entertainment or other lawful purpose, expressly including the front or immediate area of a store, shop, restaurant or tavern, and public grounds, areas and parks. The operative prohibition has three parts. First, a person may not stand or remain idle, alone or with others, in a public place so as to obstruct a public street, highway, sidewalk or other public place or building by hindering or impeding, or tending to hinder or impede, the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicles, traffic or pedestrians.

Second, the same conduct is barred when it obstructs or interferes with the free and uninterrupted use of property or with a lawfully conducted business fronting on the street, highway or sidewalk. Third, a person may not obstruct the entrance to a business establishment without a lawful purpose if doing so is contrary to the express wishes of the owner, lessee, managing agent or person in control of the premises. The section builds in a mandatory warning step before a citation issues: a Police Officer or other Law Enforcement Officer must first order the person causing the obstruction to stop and to move on or disperse, and only a person who fails or refuses to obey that order is guilty of violating the section. 00, with each day of continued obstruction a separate offense.