What are Kansas Traffic Court Records?

Kansas traffic court records are documents detailing the proceedings of traffic courts within the state's jurisdiction. These records are primarily generated to provide an official account of the court's judicial processes. As such, they feature details of prosecuted road traffic offenses, information regarding the offender, citations issued following the offense, and details of the trial/hearing, including court actions, motions, and judgments.

While Kansas courts are unified under the administrative authority of the state Supreme Court, Municipal courts have primary jurisdiction over traffic offenses. However, verdicts issued by the Municipal Court may be reviewed by the District Court within the same jurisdiction. As part of their administrative functions, Municipal and District courts maintain records of traffic court cases they hear. Kansas public record laws allow interested and eligible persons to access these records, provided they are neither confidential nor sealed by court order.

Kansas Traffic Ticket Lookup

Traffic tickets in Kansas are managed at the county level by the District Courts. The Kansas Judicial Branch provides an online case search system where traffic citations can be looked up by name, case number, or ticket number. This system offers case details, including the nature of the violation, fines, court dates, and payment status. Tickets not available online may be verified directly with the Clerk of the District Court in the county where the violation occurred. Many counties also allow online fine payments through their individual court portals. Unpaid tickets can lead to driver's license suspension, additional fines, or a default judgment entered by the court.

Traffic Violations in Kansas

Traffic offenders in Kansas are usually apprehended by the Kansas Highway Patrol and tried in the state's Municipal and District Traffic Courts. Traffic courts are dedicated to hearing traffic-related cases, including violations committed by vehicle operators and pedestrians. These violations include a vast range of offenses typically categorized based on the nature of the offense and the severity of damage/injury caused. As per U.S. designation, traffic offenses may be moving or non-moving. However, there are three traffic violations of special interest to the KSP. They include speeding, following too closely, and alcohol violations & DUI.

Moving Violations

Kansas state traffic violations can be categorized as moving or non-moving offenses.

Moving violations include offenses committed by vehicle operators while in transit. They include alcohol, DUI, and DWI-related violations, as well as speeding, disregarding traffic signs, reckless driving, distracted driving, and related offenses. These offenses usually pose an imminent threat to road users and are considered especially heinous in comparison to other traffic-related offenses.

Kansas Alcohol Violations & DUI

As described in Kansas state statutes, DUI and DWI are criminal offenses with both administrative and criminal penalties. In addition, the transportation of open (and easily accessible) containers of alcoholic beverages is also considered an alcohol violation and a misdemeanor violation of Kansas state laws. As such, containers of alcoholic beverages may be required to bear the Kansas state tax stamp and a registration tag indicating their purchaser. Additionally, the unauthorized interstate transfer of these items off federal reservations can be deemed a violation of state law.

Following Too Closely

Vehicle operators within the Kansas jurisdiction may be required to follow other vehicles at a safe traveling distance to avoid rear-end collisions. Following too closely is considered an infraction or warning violation with no severe penalty. However, a ticket may be issued when a motive is established or there are similar violations by the same offender.

Non-Moving Violations

Non-moving violations in Kansas usually involve immobile vehicles or offenses unrelated to the movement of a vehicle. They include traffic violations, offenses regarding seat belts and child safety seats, paperwork-related violations, including lack of proper licensing and/or insurance, and non-functional or non-existent car components such as spare tires, fire extinguishers, broken lamps or turn signals, etc. These are usually considered less severe than moving violations, especially if no resulting damage or injury from the offense.

Kansas Criminal and Non-criminal Violations

Kansas traffic violations and infractions are distinguished based on the severity of the offense and penalties, which can be classified as criminal or non-criminal violations. More severe traffic violations resulting in extensive damage to property, injuries, or death are usually prosecuted as criminal offenses. Typically, offenses relating to DUI, DWI, reckless driving, and in some extreme cases, Felony Overspeeding In Kansas, may fall under this category. As such, most moving violations are considered criminal offenses. On the other hand, non-criminal violations rarely pose a threat to life or property, making their penalties less severe. They include most non-moving violations and infractions relating to seat belt use, registration and insurance, car-related equipment, and aesthetics such as snow tires and tinted windows.

Getting a Traffic Ticket in Kansas

Kansas traffic tickets or citations are legal notices that indicate the traffic offense of the recipient and the penalty for the offense, depending on its severity. Tickets issued by law enforcement officials after a traffic violation may be handwritten or computer-generated. They detail the personal information of the offender as well as registration information, the descriptive properties of the offender's vehicle, and general information regarding the offense committed. Traffic tickets serve as notice of a penalty ascribed to a driver and a court summons in specific cases. Usually, tickets indicate penalties ascribed to a driver, including a monetary fine and points added to a driving record. However, where the traffic ticket serves as a summons, the recipient may be required to appear at the traffic court. Upon responding to the summons, the offender may contest a penalty or request a contested hearing in the jurisdiction's traffic court.

Responding to a Traffic Ticket/Citation in Kansas

Offenders who are issued a Kansas traffic ticket/citation are typically required to respond within a specified period, depending on the jurisdiction in which the citation was issued. While some tickets require the recipient to make a court appearance, selected tickets include a specified fine amount, allowing the offender to pay the fines/fees before the indicated court date. Depending on the preference of the offender, they may choose to pay any indicated fines, plead guilty/not guilty to the charges, or contest the ticket in court.

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in Kansas?

In Kansas, the option to pay a fine or fees indicated on a traffic ticket/citation may be considered an inadvertent admission of guilt. However, this is regarded as a less complicated and cheaper alternative to contesting a ticket, even though it might attract additional penalties in the form of penalty points on the offender's driver's license, in addition to possible spikes in auto insurance estimates given the driving history of the alleged offender. Kansas traffic tickets may be paid for in person, via mail, or online. When a traffic court approves, the offender may also pay in installments. However, this requires a court ruling by a Kansas-licensed judge.

To pay a traffic ticket, the offender should acknowledge their guilt or unwillingness to contest the charges, thus waiving their right to a trial and an attorney. Online payments can be made using the Kansas Highway Patrol's approved vendor. This may require providing information regarding the court, the citation or case number, and the offender's birth date. Online payments can be made using a debit or credit card.

To make payments via mail, the offender may proceed to indicate their plea on the back of the traffic ticket, sign and date the ticket, and enclose a personal cheque or money order payment of the indicated fines, which should be sent to the traffic court in the jurisdiction where the ticket was issued.

Tickets can also be paid in person at the courthouse during working hours. Most courts accept cash, money orders, personal cheques, and credit cards. However, depending on the method of payment employed, the payer may be required to present their photo ID.

How do I Request a Contested or Mitigated Hearing in Kansas?

If the offender believes that their ticket has been issued unfairly or without sufficient cause, requests for a contested or mitigation hearing can be made to the traffic court of the jurisdiction. This can be requested by pleading not guilty to the citation and delivering the ticket in person or via mail to traffic court (indicated on the citation). This should be done immediately after the citation's issuance.

Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Kansas

The process of challenging a ticket is typically unique to each court. However, offenders often must post collateral after indicating their not-guilty plea or requesting mitigation.

Kansas Driving Record Check

The Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles maintains driving records in Kansas. These records provide information such as traffic convictions, accidents, license status, suspensions, and reinstatement requirements. Drivers may request either a certified motor vehicle record (MVR) or a non-certified copy. The fee is $16.70 for a non-certified record and $27.50 for a certified record when ordered online. Records can be obtained through the Kansas DMV's official portal, in person at a driver's license office, or by mail.

Mail requests require completion of the Request Form for Motor Vehicle Records (TR/DL 302) and payment by check or money order payable to the Kansas Department of Revenue. The completed form and fee must be mailed to:

Kansas Department of Revenue
Driver Control Bureau
P.O. Box 12021
Topeka, KS 66612-2021

Obtaining Another Person's Driving Record

Access to another person's driving record in Kansas is governed by the Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) and state law. A requester must either have the driver's written consent or qualify under one of the permissible purposes listed in the TR/DL 302 form. These purposes include insurance underwriting, employment verification, and legal proceedings. Employers, insurers, attorneys, and government agencies may obtain records without the driver's consent if the request falls within a statutory exception. Unauthorized access or use of another person's record is strictly prohibited and may result in penalties.

Free DMV Driving Records in Kansas

Kansas does not provide free official driving records. Every request submitted through the Kansas DMV requires payment of the statutory fee, whether made online, in person, or by mail. Although the Kansas Judicial Branch may allow free online viewing of specific traffic case details, this does not constitute an official driving record.

What to Expect in a Kansas Traffic Court

If acquitted, the amount paid in collateral may be refunded to the alleged offender, and charges may be dropped. On the other hand, where the court reaches a guilty verdict, the judge may include the indicated fines, license suspension, driving record points, additional fines, or jail time. In summary, tickets should be contested only if sufficient legal proof exists to exonerate the alleged offender.

What is Included in a Kansas Traffic Court Record?

Kansas traffic court records feature information regarding the judicial processes of traffic courts within the jurisdiction of the state. Unlike driving records, these are generated by the state judiciary and contain:

• Details of court proceedings, including the traffic violation being prosecuted.
• The personal information of the offender.
• Court citations.
• Actions and motions.
• Affidavit statements as well as the court's final verdict.

On the other hand, the Kansas Department of Revenue maintains driving and motor vehicle records, and typically features information regarding individuals' citation history and driving information/history. These records may not be alternated with each other.

Where to Find Kansas Traffic Court Records

Given that the Kansas municipal court is tasked with hearing traffic cases and related offenses committed within city limits, the municipal court clerks' office manages and distributes traffic court records. These records can be obtained by querying the court clerk's office in person or via mail, and information regarding Kansas cities and their corresponding municipal courts can be obtained using the League of Kansas Municipalities Website.

Requesters may be required to provide the information needed to facilitate record searches. This includes the full name of the person(s) involved in the case, the citation number of the traffic summons, the date and place of the ticket and hearing, and the case file number of the record (if known). In some cases, the requesting party may also be charged a nominal fee to cover search/copy costs.

Additionally, publicly available records are accessible from some third-party websites. These websites offer the benefit of not being limited by geographical record availability and can serve as a starting point when researching a specific or multiple records. To find a record using the search engines on these sites, interested parties may be required to provide:

• The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile
• The assumed location of the record in question, such as a city, county, or state name

Third-party sites are not government-sponsored websites; record availability may differ from official channels.

How Do I Look Up My Kansas Driving Record?

Kansas state driving records usually feature a lifetime summary of the subject's driving activity, including citations, points accrued, and related information. These records also contain driver license information, status, and issue dates, as well as personal and identifying information regarding the subject of the record.

As per Kansas state law, driving records can be accessed by various persons, including law enforcement, insurance companies, prospective employers, and government entities, unless a court rules otherwise.

To obtain a Kansas driving record, interested and eligible persons may query the state Department of Revenue's Driver Control Bureau online, in person, or via mail. Requests require that the requesting party provide the subject's driver's license number and address.

Online requests can be made on the Kansas Motor Vehicle Record website. However, in-person or mail requests require that the requester download and complete the driving record request form, which can be submitted at a local Kansas DMV or the Driver Control Bureau at:

Kansas Department of Revenue
Driver Control Bureau
P.O. Box 12021
Topeka, KS 66612–2021

How to Recover Lost Traffic Tickets in Kansas

If a Kansas-issued traffic ticket or citation is lost or destroyed, the ticket owner may retrieve the ticket by contacting the court that is overseeing the case. In Kansas, this may be a Municipal or District Court, depending on whether the ticket was city or state-issued. To narrow the search, the owner must locate the traffic court presiding over the jurisdiction where the ticket was issued. Since Kansas does not provide online repositories to search for state-wide tickets, queries should be made directly to the municipal or district court handling the traffic ticket. However, upon verifying the jurisdiction in which the ticket was issued, the offender may search the individual website of the municipal or district court for information regarding the ticket.

How to Prepare for Traffic Court in Kansas

Kansas traffic court proceedings require individuals to be well-versed in the state's traffic laws and regulations, including rules regarding speeding, reckless driving, and other common violations. Kansas offers a diversion program for traffic offenders, allowing them to attend a driver improvement course in exchange for dismissing the citation. Certain counties may have specific procedures for contesting traffic citations, including the option for a trial by judge or jury.