Points, tickets and licence suspension in Kansas

By the end of this topic you can

• You can explain how Kansas decides to suspend a license without a points system.
• You can list offenses that can lead to suspension or revocation.
• You can describe how tickets and crashes affect a restricted license or farm permit.
• You can explain how to ask for a hearing after a suspension notice.

What you need to know and understand

• Three or more moving traffic violations on separate occasions within 12 months can lead to suspension, restriction or revocation.
• Failing to keep continuous liability insurance leads to suspension.
• Failing to appear in court or respond to a traffic ticket can lead to suspension.
• Reckless driving, fleeing a police officer, vehicular homicide, failing to stop and render aid after an injury crash and felonies involving a vehicle can lead to revocation.
• Any violation of permit or restricted license restrictions leads to suspension.
• Two or more crashes chargeable to a restricted license or farm permit holder mean suspension, with no reinstatement for one year.
• You generally have 30 days after a notice is mailed to request a hearing.

How a Kansas record adds up

Every moving violation conviction goes on your driving record. If you collect three on separate occasions within any 12-month period, KDOR may act against your privileges. A paid ticket counts as a conviction, so paying one is not the same as making it go away. Kansas law says a child restraint ticket is not treated as a moving violation for this purpose.

Extra rules for teen drivers

• Breaking any permit or restricted license restriction: suspension.
• Breaking a passenger limit: counts as a moving traffic violation.
• Two or more moving violations on separate occasions before 16 (restricted license at 15): no unrestricted license until 17.
• Two or more moving violations between 16 and 17: no unrestricted license until 18.
• Two or more chargeable crashes: suspension, with no reinstatement for one year.
• A 16-year-old applying for a first license after three or more juvenile traffic adjudications can be refused an unrestricted license until 17.

If a suspension notice arrives

1. Read the notice carefully and note the date it was mailed.
2. If you believe it is wrong, send a written request for a hearing, or for administrative review when it is based on a court conviction, within 30 days.
3. Do not drive while suspended; a moving violation committed while suspended is itself grounds for further action.
4. Follow the reinstatement steps and fees listed by KDOR before you drive again.

Alcohol-related suspensions

Test refusals, test failures and DUI convictions bring separate suspensions with ignition interlock periods. The impaired driving page explains these in detail.

Common mistakes

• Paying a ticket without realizing it is a conviction that counts toward the three-in-12-months rule.
• Letting car insurance lapse. Kansas suspends for failing to keep continuous liability insurance.
• Ignoring a court date. Failure to appear can trigger suspension.
• Driving a second friend home on a restricted license. One passenger violation can add to your record.

Test yourself: Points, tickets and licence suspension in Kansas

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Kansas 50 Hour Supervised Driving Affidavit
• Kansas Driving Test and the Driver’s Ed Waiver
• Kansas Farm Permit for Teen Drivers