What are Kansas Traffic Tickets?

Kansas traffic tickets are official notices issued to drivers who have committed a traffic violation within the state. A traffic ticket may be a notice to pay a fine, appear in court, or both. According to the Kansas State Legislature, the offender may opt to pay the required fine or fight the court’s ticket. The KSL governs traffic laws within the state, and the Kansas Highway Patrol is responsible for issuing state traffic tickets to offenders. However, ticket payments are received by the District Courts.

Law enforcement agencies at county and city levels, such as the sheriff’s departments or police departments, also issue traffic tickets to persons that violate municipal traffic laws. The Municipal Court receives the payments of traffic fines. The records of traffic violations across the state are managed by law enforcement agency offices, the District and Municipal Courts, and the Kansas Department of revenue-Division of Vehicles.

Records of traffic violations and all other public records may also be accessed from some third-party websites. Aggregate sites are a convenient alternative for inquirers interested in searching for multiple records across several US districts. To search these databases however, users are typically expected to furnish the search engines with:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the document or person involved

Third-party sites are operated independent of government sources. Consequently, the information provided by these sites should be verified through official custodians.

What Does a Traffic Citation Mean in Kansas?

The terms ‘traffic tickets’ and ‘traffic citations’ technically mean the same thing in Kansas. However, the official word is traffic citations. It contains information about the traffic violation for which the notice was issued. The information contained within each traffic citation typically includes:

• The name of the alleged offender
• Vehicle Information
• Driving License number
• The date, time and place of the event
• Type of traffic offense committed
• Amount of fine to be paid or notice to appear in court
• Address of the court receiving payment
• Deadline for payment the of fines a
• Rights of the ticketed individual

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in Kansas?

The process for paying a traffic ticket in Kansas typically varies with the type of traffic ticket. State-issued traffic tickets are received by the District Court of the county where the violation occurred. According to state law, offenders may be fined double the value for violations that happened in highway construction zones. Also, the driver may be required to pay any resulting court costs incurred during the process. If the traffic citation was issued by a city or county law enforcement agency, the ticket fine should be paid to the Municipal Court listed in the ticket. The state highway patrol also processes online citation payments through a third-party online service provider.

Can You Pay Kansas Traffic Tickets Online?

State issued traffic citations can be paid online at the Kansas Highway Patrol website. However, municipal traffic citations may only be paid to the Municipal Court listed on the ticket. Some Municipal Courts like Wichita accept payments by phone, mail, online, and dropbox. Payers are generally advised to confirm with the court of interest before proceeding. Online payments usually attract convenience fees, also known as service charges.

How Do I Pay a Ticket Online in Kansas?

Interested persons may pay a Kansas traffic ticket by visiting the Kansas Highway Patrol website. Payers should first locate the ‘pay a citation’ tab, which leads to a third-party online service provider website. Usually, the credit card information and details about the ticket are required to complete the transaction. Always verify that the name on the citation matches the one on the site before proceeding to pay.

What is the Kansas Traffic Ticketing System?

The state of Kansas does not operate a driving point system; instead, an individual’s activities are monitored, and tickets are issued accordingly. In Kansas, traffic violations are categorized based on the State Highway Patrol definitions as minor and major traffic violations. There are three main categories under minor and major traffic offenses:

• Alcohol violations and Driving Under Influence
• Tailgating
• Speeding

Persons driving under alcohol or drug influence can face any one of these consequences:

• Arrest and incarceration
• Vehicle impoundment
• Loss of driver’s license
• Face criminal charges
• Mandated to complete a screening assessment
• Incur numerous financial or personal losses

Drivers under 21 and found guilty of alcohol violations while driving may face a 30-day suspension of driving privileges and 330 days of restricted driving rights. A repeat offense may attract a one-year license suspension. Drivers with a Breath Alcohol Concentration of 0.15 or higher are likely to face a:

• One-year suspension
• One-year interlock, and a
• $200 reinstatement fee

Additionally, interlock devices are attached to the driver’s vehicle, which prevents the driver from starting the car engine if the driver’s breath alcohol concentration is above a certain level. Ignition interlock devices have an attached camera to monitor the activities of the individual remotely. Repeat offenses may attract an extra year of suspension, two years of interlock, and double the reinstatement fee. The penalty is the same for a DUI conviction. Suspects who refuse to submit to a chemical test risk a one-year suspension, two-year interlock, and a $600 a statement fee. Repeat offenses typically result in an extra year suspension, an additional year interlock, and an increase in reinstatement fee by $300.

Tailgating is a traffic violation that is taken seriously in Kansas. Tailgating may attract traffic tickets and generate police notes on the driving record of individuals. The same rule applies to speed. Speed limits are enforced based on laid down guidelines at the Kansas highway patrol website, and exceeding the speed limit may attract traffic citations and notes on the driver’s record.

How Do I Know if I Have a Traffic Ticket in Kansas?

Law enforcement officers issue citations to some offenders after they are stopped for a violation. A speeding ticket might be handed to the individual if the patrolling officer finds their actions deserving of a penalty. Otherwise, the individual is notified by mail if the offense was tracked by the city or county’s surveillance camera. Third-party aggregate websites also provide online searches for persons who wish to find out if they have traffic citations. However, these sites may not offer completely accurate information as the state providers of information. Therefore, inquirers are advised to verify traffic citations at the courts or law enforcement agencies in the State.

How Can I Find a Lost Traffic Ticket in Kansas?

A lost traffic ticket in Kansas may result in delayed ticket payment. Failure to pay on time typically attracts additional fines and more points on the offender’s driving record while missing the court attendance date can lead to their arrest. Persons who have lost their tickets should contact the relevant court in the jurisdiction where the ticket was issued, or the court listed on the traffic ticket to inquire about the citation information and an online search option.

How Long Does a Traffic Ticket Stay on Your Record in Kansas?

Minor offenses such as speeding may remain on a driving record of a Kansas driver for three years. Major crimes such as driving while suspended last five years on a driving record. Alcohol violations and DUI’s convictions remain on the driving record permanently. Persons who have their license suspended may be expected to pay a reinstatement fee before they qualify to drive. Inquirers may call (785) 296–3613 to request a driving record.

Is a Summon Worse Than a Ticket in Kansas?

Not necessarily. Technically, a summons means that there is a mandatory notice on a traffic citation to appear in court following the traffic violation. Severe traffic offenses in Kansas may require a mandatory court appearance. There are also minor traffic Appearances that may warrant a compulsory attendance at a court hearing. A summons does not necessarily mean that the traffic citation is for a serious traffic violation.