Fight Traffic Ticket in Kansas
Wrongly cited? You may have more options than you think.
You can fight your Kansas traffic ticket by pleading not guilty and going to court.
Read below to find out how to contest your KS citation and what you can expect during the process.
Pleading Not Guilty in Kansas
The exact process of contesting a Kansas traffic ticket varies by county. In every case, the first step is informing the court that you are pleading “not guilty" to the violation. The KS judiciary provides a list of district courts, though your ticket should tell you which court you need to report to.
Generally, you should expect to receive a notice to appear in court for your arraignment, where you will have the opportunity to officially plead not guilty in front of a judge.
Once the court accepts your plea, your trial date will be scheduled.
*NOTE: Pleading not guilty means you're officially saying you did not violate the law in question. It's highly recommended to have evidence to back you up before going to court.
Fighting Your KS Traffic Ticket
Kansas does NOT provide court-appointed attorneys for traffic cases, so you will have to represent yourself, unless you hire a KS traffic ticket lawyer.
After your official “not guilty" plea is recorded, the court will schedule a trial. It's not guaranteed that your arraignment and trial will be held on the same day, so plan ahead for the possibility of multiple trips to court.
At your traffic ticket trial, you or your lawyer will get the chance to:
- Argue the law.
- Call witnesses.
- Present other evidence.
- Question a police department representative.
Once both sides have wrapped up, a judicial officer will render a judgment on the case.
Potential Costs
There's more than just your traffic ticket fine at stake when fighting a citation.
Consider all possible financial factors when weighing whether or not to go to court, including:
- Additional court fines if you lose.
- Time off work to attend court.
- Ticket attorney fees.
- A potentially higher auto insurance rate.
Not sure how fighting your ticket relates to your auto insurance rate? Find out more about the process, and how to avoid higher rates if you lose your case.
Consequences of Fighting Your Ticket
Once both sides present their arguments, the judiciary official in charge will decide on whether you should answer for your Kansas traffic ticket.
If you are found not guilty, your case will be dismissed, and you will NOT need to:
- Pay the traffic ticket fine.
- Carry the violation on your driving record.
But, if you lose and are found guilty, the violation will remain on your driving record, and you could have to:
- Pay the original fine.
- Pay additional court fees.
- Face additional penalties.
Depending on how severe the infraction was, losing your case could also result in:
Ask the judiciary official or your traffic ticket attorney about ensuring the process is wrapped up and any other potential consequences of losing your case.
When you go to court, the fate of your driving record hangs in the balance! Make sure the document accurately reflects the outcome of your trial by ordering a copy of your KS driving record for review.
Missing Your Court Date
Missing your court date could lead to even more repercussions than simply losing your case.
If you fail to show up to court, you could be hit with a number of different penalties, including:
- License suspension.
- Points added to your license.
- A warrant issued for your arrest.
- Additional fines and fees.
- The violation going on your record.
It's highly recommended to call the appropriate court as soon as possible and ask to reschedule if you realize you won't be able to make it to your court date.
