What are Kansas Public Traffic Records?
A Kansas traffic record is an official compilation of a driver's traffic history. The record typically contains information on traffic offenses, tickets, and convictions, and they are created and maintained by different government agencies in Kansas. Interested members of the public may access traffic records from the state's courts or the Division of Vehicles under the Kansas Department of Revenue.
Are Traffic Records Public in Kansas?
Yes, traffic records are public information in Kansas.
The Kansas Open Records Act gives all residents the right to preview, obtain, and examine public records in the state. Public records in this context refer to documents generated or kept by a government agency. Traffic records are examples of these records.
Kansas state law presumes that all government records and information are accessible to the public. Individuals may obtain these records without presenting personal information. However, if a record is deemed confidential, public access to that record is limited unless a court order permits access.
Law enforcement, government agencies, insurance companies, employers, and other individuals may request access to a person's traffic records in Kansas. Insurance companies may also request these records to determine the risk attached to providing coverage for a particular driver. Furthermore, potential employers may check a prospective employee's driving record as part of the preliminary employment background check process, especially if the job involves commercial driving. Law enforcement officers will typically access a person's traffic or driving record after the person is pulled over for a moving violation. Then, the courts may access a person's records if the person is involved in a lawsuit that stems from a traffic accident.
What do Kansas Traffic Records Contain?
A typical Kansas traffic record features information pertaining to traffic violations, DUI fines, driver license suspension and revocation, traffic accidents, convictions, and sentences. It also contains the traffic records and history of a motorist. Traffic accidents will appear on a driver's record, regardless of who caused the accident.
Does a Citation Go on Your Record in Kansas?
Whether or not a citation appears on a Kansas driver's record depends on the type of citation in question. Citations or tickets resulting from minor traffic offenses and traffic infractions do not usually appear on an offender's driving record.
The state operates a point system for penalizing traffic offenses and rewarding good driving practices in some states. However, there is no operative demerit points program in Kansas. Hence, traffic citations and moving violations will not cause points to appear on a person's driving record. Regardless, the Kansas Division of Vehicles reports traffic violations on the offenders driving record, even though it does not accrue points on the driver's license.
Traffic offenses like speeding, driving under the influence, driving without insurance, etc., are penalized with traffic tickets, fines, or jail time. Other consequences of traffic offenses in Kansas include:
- The cancellation or revocation of a person's Kansas driver's license
- A Kansas Driver's license suspension
- Fines from the court or Department of Revenue
- Defensive driving or driver improvement courses
Traffic offenses resulting in an immediate license revocation include reckless driving, vehicular homicide, felony traffic offenses, and eluding an officer. Others are refusing to stop or help victims at the scene of an accident, vehicle battery, aggravated vehicular homicide, etc. Under Kansas state law, if a motorist gets three major moving violations within twelve months, their license can be suspended.
Types of Traffic Citations in Kansas
A popular type of traffic citation in Kansas is the parking ticket. Parking tickets are issued for parking violations like double parking, parking in handicap spots, without a zoning permit, on a sidewalk, and unauthorized parking.
Another common traffic ticket in Kansas is an infraction ticket issued for minor traffic violations like speeding, failing to yield or stop, driving a vehicle without proper lighting, seat belt violations, and failing to signal.
Misdemeanor citations or tickets are issued for crimes more serious than infractions and classified as criminal offenses.
Kansas Traffic Citation Lookup
Kansas Municipal courts are responsible for hearing matters involving traffic offenses committed within city limits. It is the first port of call for persons looking for records of traffic citations in the state.
Interested persons may also find Kansas traffic citations by conducting a directory search on the League of Kansas Municipalities website to find municipal courts in any city. Alternatively, the requestor may visit the Division of Vehicles to inquire about citation records.
How to Lookup my Kansas Traffic Records
There are different driving records in Kansas. They include limited driver's license records, certified motor vehicle records, and non-certified motor vehicle records. The Driver Control Bureau under the Department of Revenue manages and oversees these records.
Interested persons may apply to get the records in person, online, or via mail. To apply in person, fill a request form and submit it at any local DMV location. The copies obtained in person are usually certified or non-certified motor vehicle records. Upon arriving at the DMV location of choice, the requestor must provide the agency's staff with a driver's license number and address to facilitate the search.
Certified and non-certified copies can also be obtained by mail. However, this process is likely to take much longer than in-person requests. To request Kansas traffic records via mail, fill the request form and mail it to
The Kansas Department of Revenue,
Driver Control Bureau,
P.O. Box 12021,
Topeka, KS 66612-2021
To obtain driving records online, requesters may visit the Motor Vehicle Records website. On the site, the requesting party will be required to provide relevant information, and the site will display a digital copy of the required driving record. However, these online copies are limited versions of the driver's record.
Each copy of a driving record attracts a fee of $8.70, payable online, by mail, or in person. Acceptable online payment options include e-check and credit/debit cards. For mail or in-person requests, send a check or money order alongside the request form to the designated address.
Kansas traffic case records may also be available from third-party websites since they are considered public records. Unlike government sources or websites, third-party websites do not have geographical limitations. Hence, interested parties may access these websites from anywhere in the world. However, some third-party websites may require registration or subscription to access traffic record.
Kansas Traffic Violations
A traffic violation in Kansas is any act that contravenes the state's traffic laws. These violations can range from minor infractions, such as speeding or running a red light, to more serious offenses, such as DUI or hit and run. Depending on the severity of the offense, a traffic violation in Kansas can result in a fine, points added to the offender's driving record, or even jail time.
Some of the most common traffic violations in Kansas include:
- Speeding
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Illegal lane changes
- Tailgating
- Failure to yield
- Reckless driving
- Driving without insurance
If cited for a traffic violation in Kansas, offenders will typically have to appear in court to fight the charges. Depending on the circumstances, they may be able to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor.
Kansas License Plate Lookup
Kansas traffic records contain license plate information relevant to identifying a vehicle and its owners. License plate numbers can be used to track down a stolen car or find traffic offenders. To lookup a Kansas license plate, interested persons may use the state's online tools or query the Kansas Department of Revenue in person or via mail. Requestors are typically required to provide the plate number and pay a small fee for this service. Alternatively, the requesting party may use third-party aggregate services, which usually host license plate information and related data on their respective online platforms.
How to View Traffic Case Records for Free in Kansas
To view traffic case records for free in Kansas, interested persons may query the courthouse where the case was heard. Public case records are maintained by the court clerks of the state's courthouses, and each court has local computers dedicated to public searches for case information. Sealed records are exempt from disclosure under the provisions of the Open Records Act.
Kansas Courts have also begun transitioning towards a centralized case management system, per the Kansas eCourt Statewide Rollout Plan. As a result, public records will now be available through an online search portal.
Different judicial districts also provide online access to case information via their websites. Examples include the Third Judicial District Public Access System and the Johnson County Kansas District Court Public Records under the tenth Judicial District, which provide a register of actions at no cost. However, the Sedgwick County Subscriber Access Network in the Eighteenth Judicial District charges a fee to access selected information.
To request a record from a Kansas City Municipal Court, interested persons must download and fill a Records Request Form in English or Spanish. After filling the form, the requestor can submit it via email to court@kcmo.org, send a fax to (816) 513-6782 or call (816) 513-2700, and provide sufficient information to facilitate record searches.
How Long Do Traffic Offenses Remain on a Public Record in Kansas
In Kansas, the duration a traffic offense remains on a public record varies depending on the kind of offense committed. Convictions generally stay on record anytime from three years to a lifetime, and a conviction for a minor offense like speeding will stay on a person's driving record for three years.
Major offenses like driving while suspended will remain on a driver's record for five years, while convictions for offenses like DUIs, and DUI diversions remain on a driver's record for life.
How to Remove Traffic Records from Public Websites in Kansas
Traffic records are part of public records under the Public Records Act because they are created and managed by government agencies in the state. These records are available for public viewing on government-owned websites and databases. However, they may also be displayed on general public access websites owned by data brokerage firms. Most of these sites offer third-party access to government database information.
One way to remove personal information from public sites is to create a P.O. Box address. Not all government-related activities or forms require a person to input a physical address. So, a person can use a post office box instead. However, records like voter registration forms require a physical address when filling in.
Another way to hide personal information from public websites is to have a dedicated number for government forms and official purposes. By doing this, a person's real contact number will not be available on government databases from where these third-party sites get information.
After getting a new P.O. Box and phone number, the person may visit a local county clerk's office to update relevant public records like court records, wills, mortgages, birth certificates, etc with the number and new address. Also, the person may visit the Division of Vehicles to update relevant records with the updated information. Doing this replaces the person's private contact information with the new number and P.O. Box.
Do Motoring Offenses Affect Criminal Records in Kansas?
Motoring offenses can impact an individual's criminal record in Kansas.
While minor traffic offenses and civil infractions do not attract severe penalties and are not reflected on criminal records, criminal traffic violations are permanently included on criminal records unless expunged or redacted by law or court order. As a result, these offenses show up on background checks, public records, and driving record checks.
Having a motoring offense on a criminal record can have varying implications. Oftentimes, employers are hesitant to hire persons with any kind of criminal history. For jobs involving driving, especially those of a commercial nature, a driver's traffic history is important. This is because an offense may impact the driver's ability to drive across state lines and having certain violations on record can increase the cost of insurance coverage for the driver.
