Columbia Opening and closing vehicle doors ordinance (§ 14-174)
Chapter 14: Motor Vehicles and Traffic · Article IV. Operation
In short: You may not open a vehicle door on the side facing moving traffic until it's reasonably safe, and you may not leave that door open any longer than needed to load or unload passengers.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a motor vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 14-174
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.