Restoring it can require a three-year wait. With enough offenses, a driver may have their license revoked. First-time violators usually spend around two hours in jail for only driving on a suspended license, said Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter. Sedgwick County Jail booked 2,502 people for driving with a suspended license last year. A third and each subsequent arrest for driving on a suspended license brings a mandatory 90-day jail sentence. A subsequent arrest can result in Class A misdemeanors, which carry penalties of up to one year in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. In Kansas, driving on a suspended license can result in being charged with a Class B misdemeanor, which carries up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Which leaves people with suspended licenses facing a choice between breaking the law – and the consequences that brings – or continuing to work or get food. And around 100,000 Wichitans live at least a mile away from a reliable source of food, so they may need to drive to get groceries and other basic necessities. Public transportation is available, but requires long commutes. Most Wichitans drive to get to and from work. In Kansas and Wichita, driving is a practical necessity. Why traffic fines lead to license suspensionsĪround 71 percent of license suspensions in Kansas are a result of a driver not being able to pay a fine, according to Kansas Legal Services. ![]() In 2021, another bill put forward by Faust-Goudeau made some progress by repealing the $25 fee needed for someone to apply for a restricted license. It’s currently in the Senate Committee on Judiciary with no discussion since Feb. Oletha Faust-Goudeau (D-Wichita) proposed a bill that would help an estimated 3,300 Kansans out of this pipeline by letting more people apply for a restricted license that may be used when a driver’s regular license has been suspended. Restriction from driving or detention in jail can both lead to job loss, further exacerbating the challenge of paying for what you can’t afford to pay for.Ĭhanges in law are being sought in the Kansas Legislature, but with limited success.Įarlier this year, Sen. Driving with a suspended license or failing to appear in court can lead to bench warrants and arrests on the next traffic stop. ![]() Unpaid fines can lead to court appearances and suspended driver’s licenses. These investigative stops combined with processes and fines associated with minor traffic infractions create a ticket-to-jail pipeline for people unable to afford fines.
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