Johnson County, KS Traffic Ticket & Citation Lawyers/Attorneys

Our law office's attorneys can amend, "fix," or divert most Shawnee traffic and speeding tickets.  Call us at (913)764-5010 to discuss your case with one of our traffic lawyers.

The City of Shawnee Police Department writes thousands of speeding/traffic tickets each year.  These tickets can have a massive negative effect on the insurance rates or the driver's license record of any driver who is unlucky enough to be pulled over by a Shawnee Police Officer.

Avoid rising higher rates:  Just one Shawnee speeding/traffic ticket can cause your insurance premiums to rise by hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year. 

Even drivers with a perfect record will see their insurance rates go up as they will likely lose their "good driver" discount which ranges from 5-40% per year. 

If you have a poor driving record, you could see your insurance premiums double, or you could be dropped altogether. 

The bottom line is clear:  every driver who receives a Shawnee speeding/traffic citation should look into having a Shawnee traffic attorney amend or "fix" the ticket.

Keep the Shawnee ticket off of your driving record:  Different citations have different effects on your driver's license, with the exact effect depending on the citation and your driving record. These effects can range from a warning to a driver's license suspension.

Kansas is not a "points" state (Missouri is), rather there are a number of statutes and regulations which proscribe the penalty for being found guilty of a traffic/speeding infraction.  In some instances, you driver's license can be suspended for one incident in Shawnee or elsewhere in Kansas.  What this means is that it is wise to hire a lawyer to attempt to keep every Shawnee speeding/traffic ticket off of your record.

Learn how our Shawnee Traffic/Speeding Tickets can help you keep your Shawnee ticket off of your record:

Simply paying a traffic/speeding ticket in Shawnee, KS can bring negative effects ranging from the cost and inconvenience of paying to the ticket to higher insurance rates for years to the loss or suspension of your driver's license.

We can amend most Shawnee speeding tickets to non-moving violations such as "illegal parking." This amendment will not reflect negatively on your driving record or your insurance rates, it will simply look like any other parking ticket.

We have seen instances where our clients just paid a ticket and saw their insurance premiums increase by thousands of dollars per year!  We have also had clients simply pay a ticket and suddenly find a letter in their mailbox from the Kansas Department of Revenue informing them that their driver's license has been suspended for 30 days, 90 days, or even 3 years!

If you are like most folks, you need your driver's license to get to work and to care for your loved ones.  The State of Kansas, however, does not care. If your license gets suspended, you cannot ask for a "hardship" license to get to work - they simply expect you to stay home or get a ride.  The conclusion is clear - you want to keep EVERY ticket off of your record!

Other traffic violations in Shawnee can also be amended or "diverted." Diversion is basically a contract between you and the City where you agree to stay out of trouble for a period of time (3, 6, 9, or 12 months), and the City agrees to dismiss the charge if you do so.

The Shawnee Driving While Suspended Statute (DWS):

8-235.   Licenses required; city license, when; appeal from denial of license; vehicles registered under temporary permit; penalty; motorized bicycle driver's license. (a) No person, except those expressly exempted, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless such person has a valid driver's license. No person shall receive a driver's license unless and until such person surrenders or with the approval of the division, lists to the division all valid licenses in such person's possession issued to such person by any other jurisdiction. All surrendered licenses or the information listed on foreign licenses shall be returned by the division to the issuing department, together with information that the licensee is now licensed in a new jurisdiction. No person shall be permitted to have more than one valid license at any time.

      (b)   Any person licensed under the motor vehicle drivers' license act may exercise the privilege granted upon all streets and highways in this state and shall not be required to obtain any other license to exercise such privilege by any local authority. Nothing herein shall prevent cities from requiring licenses of persons who drive taxicabs or municipally franchised transit systems for hire upon city streets, to protect the public from drivers whose character or habits make them unfit to transport the public. If a license is denied, the applicant may appeal such decision to the district court of the county in which such city is located by filing within 10 days after such denial, a notice of appeal with the clerk of the district court and by filing a copy of such notice with the city clerk of the involved city. The city clerk shall certify a copy of such decision of the city governing body to the clerk of the district court and the matter shall be docketed as any other cause and the applicant shall be granted a trial of such person's character and habits. The matter shall be heard by the court de novo in accordance with the code of civil procedure. The cost of such appeal shall be assessed in such manner as the court may direct.

      (c)   Any person operating in this state a motor vehicle, except a motorcycle, which is registered in this state other than under a temporary thirty-day permit shall be the holder of a driver's license which is classified for the operation of such motor vehicle, and any person operating in this state a motorcycle which is registered in this state shall be the holder of a class M driver's license, except that any person operating in this state a motorcycle which is registered under a temporary thirty-day permit shall be the holder of a driver's license for any class of motor vehicles.

      (d)   No person shall drive any motorized bicycle upon a highway of this state unless: (1) Such person has a valid driver's license which entitles the licensee to drive a motor vehicle in any class or classes; (2) such person is at least 15 years of age and has passed the written and visual examinations required for obtaining a class C driver's license, in which case the division shall issue to such person a class C license which clearly indicates such license is valid only for the operation of motorized bicycles; or (3) such person has had their driving privileges suspended, for a violation other than a violation of K.S.A. 8-1567 or 8-1567a, and amendments thereto, and has made application to the division for the issuance of a class C license for the operation of motorized bicycles, in accordance with paragraph (2), in which case the division shall issue to such person a class C license which clearly indicates such license is valid only for the operation of motorized bicycles.

      (e)   Violation of this section shall constitute a class B misdemeanor.
 

Frequently asked questions about a driver's license suspension Shawnee or elsewhere in Kansas:

How exactly can my driver's license get suspended in Kansas?

These are the infractions that will result in the suspension of your Kansas driver's license:

• Conviction of three or more moving violations within a specified time period.  The State does not care if the violations were collected in Shawnee, elsewhere in Kansas, or even in another state - they will still suspend your driver's license for too many violations!

• Refusal to submit to a chemical test to determine your BAC

• Failing to appear for court date or failing to pay a ticket from Shawnee or other jurisdiction.  We see this one all too often - folks either can't afford to pay a ticket or forget all about it.  When the Court date is missed, the City or County will suspend that person's driver's license and issue a warrant for your arrest.  If you have missed your Court date, call us immediately!  We can often enter an appearance on your behalf, get the warrant recalled, and take steps to get your driver's license back in good standing.

• Failing to maintain continuous liability insurance on your vehicle.  If you drive your car without insurance, you can be suspended for a very lengthy period of time - even if you haven't been in an accident.  Do not drive without insurance in Shawnee or elsewhere!  If you do let your insurance lapse and a ticket is issued, call us immediately so we can help you avoid a driver's license suspension for the charge.

• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or having a BAC level of .08% or above.  Almost everyone charged with a DUI will also be subject to a driver's license suspension ranging from 30 days to life, depending on their driving history.  If you have been charged with DUI in Shawnee or elsewhere in Kansas you only have 10 days from the date of your arrest to request an administrative hearing with the State or your license will be automatically suspended for a period ranging from 30 days to life!  If you have been charged with DUI in Shawnee or elsewhere in Kansas, call us immediately so we can file the correct documents to preserve your driving privileges!

• Transporting an open container of liquor or cereal malt beverage (3.2 beer)

Can I get a hardship driver’s license?
Kansas laws do not allow the issuance of a hardship license, that would allow a person to drive during the length of their suspension, revocation, cancellation or
disqualification period.

I went through a period of time where I racked up a bunch of tickets.  This is hurting my ability to get a license.  Is there anything a Shawnee traffic law office can do to help me get my driving privileges back?

In many cases, the answer is yes - we can help you get your Kansas driver's license.  We specialize in "hard cases" that other traffic attorneys in Shawnee and Johnson County are unwilling to take.  We can help you in several ways. 

First, if there are tickets that haven't been paid, we can enter appearances on those cases and attempt to amend or "fix" any moving violations you have pending. 

Second, if past tickets are going to be or are the cause of a driver's license suspension, then we may be able to vile a "motion to withdraw plea," where we can actually "undo" the tickets you've paid in the past.  

Are you looking for a Johnson County DUI attorney to represent you on a Shawnee, KS Driving Under the Influence charge?

We also handle driving under the influence (DUI) charges in Shawnee Municipal Court and Johnson County DIstrict Court.

Every Shawnee (and every Kansas) DUI charge will have 2 components:  (1)The criminal proceedings in Shawnee Municipal Court or Johnson County District Court; and (2) the administrative proceeding where the State is trying to suspend your driving privileges.

Shawnee DUI charges and your driver's license:  If you have been charged with a DUI in Shawnee, Johnson County, or elsewhere in Kansas, you need to take action immediately!  In most Shawnee (and Kansas) DUI cases, you only have 10 days from the date of your arrest to request an administrative hearing or your license will be automatically suspended for a period between 30 days and life, depending on the circumstances.

Once a hearing is properly requested, your driving privileges will remain valid until a hearing is held, usually 8-12 weeks from the date of your arrest.  The administrative  hearing for your license will take place with the Kansas Department of Revenue.  Contact us today to schedule a no-cost consultation.  If you retain this law firm for your Shawnee DUI, we will request a hearing on your behalf.  

The criminal proceedings from a Shawnee DUI charge:  Every Shawnee DUI conviction also carries a mandatory jail sentence - even for first time offenders!  

Shawnee DUI charges are prosecuted under the provisions of KSA 8-1567 (available HERE: KSA 8-1567).  This statute not only calls for the mandatory jail time, but also requires a 12 month probation for almost every conviction, as well as a fine and the requirement that the defendant complete court ordered treatment.

Visit our DUI webpage for more in depth information about Shawnee DUI charges and more information on retaining a Shawnee, KS DUI lawyer: http://www.johnsoncountydui.com/Practice-Areas/ShawneeDUI.shtml/

You may also contact us directly at (913)764-5010.