Traffic Law

Traffic infractions are violations that may require you to pay a fine but do not carry jail time, such as speeding tickets, equipment violations, lane change violations, and signal violations. These infractions do not carry criminal penalties but usually result in monetary fines, an increase in your car insurance premium, and the potential suspension of your driver’s license if you have too many “moving” violations. While “non-moving” traffic infractions, such as a cracked windshield, are not reported to the Kansas Department of Revenue Driver Control, they will not affect your license status. Because of this, you will want any moving violations to be amended to non-moving violations.

A criminal traffic case occurs when serious violations take place, requiring the immediate assistance of an experienced traffic law attorney. When charged with a criminal traffic violation, you will face significant fines, the suspension of your driver’s license, and jail time. Common examples of criminal defense violations may include reckless driving, hit and run accidents, driving on a suspended license, no proof of insurance, Driving Under the Influence (DUI), and leaving the scene of an accident. Because Kansas keeps a record of any “moving” traffic infractions and criminal traffic violations, these can also affect your insurance premium and license status.

The standard penalties for traffic tickets in Kansas include fines and license suspension. Kansas traffic fines start at $45 for minor offenses such as low-level speeding, with the highest possible fine reaching $315 for improper passing of a school bus. Should you be ticketed and challenge the violation, the court may impose a higher fine at its discretion. Kansas also issues license suspensions for serious or repeated violations, including the following:

• Three moving violations within 12 months
• Driving Under the Influence or failing to submit to chemical DUI testing
• Failing to appear in court on a traffic citation
• Failing to report an accident
• Failing to maintain insurance

Crossing state lines will not void your traffic ticket, and ignoring a ticket issued in another state could result in the loss of your license or additional criminal charges. The Driver License Compact, a framework that gives states a simple standard for reporting, tracking, and punishing traffic violations, will uphold your charges and notify your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of any traffic infractions.

If you are pulled over and asked to sign a traffic citation, you should do what is requested. While there are many myths surrounding traffic tickets, signing the ticket is not considered an admission of guilt but simply confirms that you are aware of the ticket you have received. Once signed, you can still decide between paying the associated fines and contesting the citation in court. Should you refuse to sign a traffic ticket, it can create hostility with the officer and escalate the situation further. Our traffic law attorneys at the McConnell Law Firm recommend signing the ticket so that you can move on with your day.