Mo. Rev. Stat. § 300.580: Procedure of police officers.

Except when authorized or directed under state law to immediately take a person before the municipal judge for the violation of any traffic laws, a police officer who halts a person for such violation other than for the purpose of giving him a warning or warning notice and does not take such person into custody under arrest, shall issue to him a uniform traffic ticket which shall be proceeded upon in accordance with supreme court rule no. 37.