Columbia Moving vehicle from parked position ordinance (§ 14-297)
Chapter 14: Motor Vehicles and Traffic · Article V. Stopping, Standing and Parking
In short: Drivers leaving a parking spot must yield to moving traffic and only pull out when it can be done safely without interfering with other vehicles. Angle-parked cars must back out at that angle until clear of other parked vehicles, then go in the direction they are most nearly headed.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) Angle parked vehicles. A vehicle parked at an angle to the curb on any street in the city shall be backed out at that angle until it has cleared other parked vehicles. The driver of such vehicle shall then proceed in the direction in which such person is most nearly headed, provided that no vehicle shall be moved
from such parked position unless such movement can be made with reasonable safety and without interfering with other traffic upon such street. The driver moving a vehicle from such parked position shall yield the right-ofway to all vehicles which are in motion upon such street.
(b) Parallel parked vehicles. The driver of a vehicle parked parallel to the curb shall not move such vehicle from such parked position unless such movement can be made with reasonable safety and without interfering with other traffic upon such street. A driver moving a vehicle from such parked position shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles which are in motion on such street.
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 14-297
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.