Alcohol Violations & DUI

Alcohol Violations

Transporting open containers of alcoholic beverages where they are accessible to the driver or passengers is a misdemeanor violation of state law. For a complete list of penalties see K.S.A. 8-1014 on www.KSLegislature.org.

All containers of alcoholic beverages in Kansas must bear a state tax stamp. Interstate transportation of alcoholic beverages and transportation of alcohol off federal reservations are prohibited. All beer kegs must bear a state registration tag that identifies the purchaser.

Driving Under the Influence

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood or breath alcohol and/or drug concentration (BAC) of .08 or more, or if the influence or drugs and/or alcohol render the driver incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle.

If you are charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (DUI), under Kansas law you could:

  • Be arrested and booked into jail.
  • Have your vehicle towed.
  • Lose your driver’s license.
  • Face criminal charges.
  • Be required to complete a screening assessment for placement in an intervention program at your expense.
  • Incur numerous personal and financial losses.

DUI offenders face criminal and administrative penalties. See the charts below for the penalties, as described in Kansas statutes.

Facts

  • The loss of lives to impaired driving is preventable. There are alternatives to impaired driving, which include:
    • Designate a sober driver.
    • Take a taxi or call a safe ride program.
    • Arrange to spend the night where you are.
  • Impaired driving is a chronic problem that will affect one in three Americans in their lifetime. Nearly 42,000 people die in motor vehicle crashes each year, and about 16,000 of these are alcohol-related. Every day of the year, alcohol-related crashes account for one death every 33 minutes and one person injured every 2 minutes.
  • Kansas has zero tolerance for drivers under 21 years old who choose to drink and get behind the wheel. Drivers under 21 who are found to have a BAC of .02 or greater face a 30-day suspension of driving privileges followed by a 330-day period of restricted privileges. Also, any person under 21 convicted of consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages will have his/her driver’s license suspended for 30 days under Kansas law.