Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Attorney’s Office

TO:	Diane Stoddard, Interim City Manager
FROM:	Maria Kaminska
DATE:	August 19, 2015
CC:	Toni Wheeler, City Attorney
RE:	2015 STO

Background

Each year, the City of Lawrence adopts the most recent version of the Standard Traffic Ordinance (STO) prepared by the League of Kansas Municipalities. The STO is a model traffic code based upon Kansas state law, and its adoption allows for the prosecution of most traffic violations in our municipal court. New editions are required annually in order to respond to the changes made to the traffic laws each legislative session. Ordinance 9149 adopts the 2015 version.

Amendments

This year’s edition makes amendments to the provisions listed below, and changes are summarized after the Section number. All changes will be reviewed with the police department.

• Section 1 (Definitions)

Definitions have been added for: Autocycle, Interstate System, Motor Home, Samples, Security Agreement, Security Interest.

Definitions for the following have been amended: Alley, All-Terrain Vehicle, Authorized Emergency Vehicle, Church Bus, Day Care Program Bus, House Trailer, Motorcycle, Motorized Bicycle, Railroad, Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle, Residence District, Revocation of Driver’s License, School Crossing Guard, Toxic Vapors, Work-Site Utility Vehicle.

The following definitions have been deleted: Christian Science Practitioner, Commission or State Highway Commission, Double Parking, Explosives, Flammable Liquid, Lightweight Roadable Vehicle, Low Power Cycle, Road Tractor.

• Section 23 (Accident Involving Death or Personal Injuries; Duties of Drivers, Reports; Penalties.) Rearranged language regarding penalties. There is no substantive change.

• Section 25 (Duty of Driver to Give Certain Information after Accident; Failure to Provide Proof of Liability Insurance or Financial Security; Duty to Render Aid after Accident; Proof of Liability Insurance or Financial Security by Electronic Means, Restrictions.) The title was expanded to be a more inclusive summary of the section.

• Section 30 (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs; Penalties.) Removes the definition of “Alcohol Concentration.”

• Section 30.1 (Driving Commercial Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs; Penalties). Removes the definition of “Alcohol Concentration.”

• Section 30.2.1 (Refusal to Submit to Alcohol or Drug Test.) Non-substantive changes to statutory references, like saying subsection (a)(3) of K.S.A. Supp. 21-5405 instead of K.S.A. 21-5405(a)(3), concerning previous violations that are taken to account at sentencing.

• Section 138 (Riding on Motorcycles.) Clarifies that a subsection concerning the proper way to sit on a motorcycle does not apply to autocycles.

• Section 142 (Equipment for Motorcycle Operator or Rider.) Clarifies that certain requirements for helmets and eye-protection do not apply to the operation of autocycles.

• Section 171 (Lighting Equipment and Warning Devices on Church Buses and Day Care Program Buses.) Removes language referring to religious organizations and now refers only to “any church bus or day care program bus.”

• Section 182 (Child Passenger Safety Restraining System.) Requires child safety restraining systems in autocycles as well as passenger cars.

• Section 182.1 (Seat Belts.) Requires persons traveling in an autocycle to wear a seat belt just as they would in a passenger car. 

• Section 193 (Driver’s License in Possession.) Allows persons charged with not having their driver’s license in their possession to show that they did have one at the time of citation to either the court or the police department.

• Section 198 (Vehicle License; Illegal Tag.) Creates a 10-day grace period for persons registering their car online, if they can show a printed payment receipt or electronic payment receipt from an online electronic payment processing system for the current 12-month registration period.

• Section 200 (Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance.) Non-substantive change replacing the previous reference to “this act” to the “Kansas Automobile Injury Reparations Act.”

Action Requested:

Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 9149, “2015 Standard Traffic Ordinance, Edition 2015.”