Kansas ignition interlock & DUI requirements

What Kansas law requires

Kansas's ignition interlock, SR-22, and reinstatement rules are set by the statute and agency rules cited below. The values in the tables on this page are taken from those sources and are not interpretations of how they apply to any particular case.

Primary source: K.S.A. 8-1014

Ignition interlock requirement

K.S.A. 8-1014(b)(1)(A) and 8-1015(b): on a first test failure or alcohol-related conviction (BAC .08–.149), the Division suspends driving privileges for 30 days and then restricts them to an ignition-interlock-equipped vehicle for 180 days (one year if the record shows certain prior actions, § 8-1015(b)(2)). If BAC is 0.15 or greater, § 8-1014(b)(2)(A): one-year suspension then one-year interlock restriction. First test refusal, § 8-1014(a)(1): one-year suspension then two-year interlock restriction. Under § 8-1015(a) a suspended person may apply ($100 fee) to convert the suspension period to interlock-restricted driving.

Approved interlock providers

Vendors listed here appear on the Kansas licensing agency's approved-device list. Listing order is alphabetical and is not a ranking or endorsement. Installation locations are on each vendor's own locator.

Official approved-vendor list: Kansas agency vendor list

SR-22 requirement

An SR-22 is a certificate an insurer files with the state to confirm that a driver carries the liability coverage the state requires. Some states use an FR-44 or a different form for alcohol-related offenses; where Kansas does, the sources below say so.

K.S.A. 40-3118(d)(1) directs the director of vehicles to require a person to acquire insurance, and the insurer to keep evidence of that insurance on file with the Division of Vehicles for a period of one year, when the person has been convicted in Kansas or another state of any of the violations enumerated in K.S.A. 8-285. K.S.A. 8-285(a)(2) enumerates violating K.S.A. 8-1567 (driving under the influence), and 8-285 states that for that purpose 'conviction' includes a diversion agreement entered in lieu of prosecution. The KDOR Division of Vehicles pages fetched do not use the term 'SR-22'; the KDOR driving-record code sheet (DC-9) carries code FR4, 'Failure to maintain continuous liability insurance or file evidence of insurance – administrative suspension' (the description is split across two columns in the PDF; the evidence quote is the contiguous first part). sr22Years = 1 (the statutory one-year period).

Program costs

Fees set by the state are cited to the fee schedule. Vendor charges vary by vendor and are shown as published ranges with the month they were checked.

Frequently asked questions

Is an ignition interlock required after a first DUI in Kansas?

Yes. Under K.S.A. 8-1014(b)(1)(A) and 8-1015(b)(1), a first test failure or alcohol-related conviction with a BAC of .08 to .149 results in a 30-day suspension followed by a 180-day restriction to driving only a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device. With a BAC of 0.15 or greater, K.S.A. 8-1014(b)(2)(A) imposes a one-year suspension followed by a one-year interlock restriction.

How long is the interlock period for a repeat offense in Kansas?

K.S.A. 8-1014(b)(1)(B) provides that on a second occurrence (BAC .08–.149) the Division suspends driving privileges for one year and then restricts them for one year to an interlock-equipped vehicle; K.S.A. 8-1014(b)(2)(B) provides a one-year suspension then a two-year restriction when BAC is 0.15 or greater.

Can a Kansas driver drive during the suspension period with an interlock?

K.S.A. 8-1015(a) allows a person whose driving privileges were suspended under K.S.A. 8-1014 to apply to the Division of Vehicles to have the suspension period restricted to driving only a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device; the Division assesses a $100 application fee.

What is the Kansas reinstatement fee after an alcohol-related suspension?

The Kansas Department of Revenue's Alcohol Actions Chart lists a $200 reinstatement fee for a first-occurrence chemical test failure or DUI conviction, rising to $400, $600 and $800 for later occurrences, and $600 for a first administrative chemical test refusal.

Who approves ignition interlock devices in Kansas?

K.S.A. 8-1015(d)(1) states that a required ignition interlock device 'shall be approved by the highway patrol and maintained at the person's expense.' The Kansas Highway Patrol's Ignition Interlock Vendor Compliance Program certifies devices every three years and publishes the list of approved manufacturers.

Sources

1. K.S.A. 8-1014 – Suspension and restriction of driving privileges; ignition interlock device (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)
2. K.S.A. 8-1015 – Authorized restrictions; ignition interlock device program (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)
3. K.S.A. 8-1016 – Ignition interlock devices; approval by highway patrol; reduced program costs (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)
4. Kansas Highway Patrol – Approved Ignition Interlock Manufacturers
5. KDOR Division of Vehicles – Alcohol Actions Chart (suspension time, interlock time, fees) (PDF, Rev 05/2022)
6. KDOR Division of Vehicles – Suspended Licenses / Driver Solutions
7. KDOR Division of Vehicles – Revocation or Suspension FAQ
8. KDOR – Kansas Credential Fee Chart (PDF)
9. KDOR form DC-1015 – Application to modify alcohol-related suspension (PDF)
10. K.S.A. 40-3118 – Financial security; insurance company to maintain evidence on file with division after enumerated convictions (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)
11. K.S.A. 8-285 – 'Habitual violator' defined; enumerated violations incl. K.S.A. 8-1567 DUI (Kansas Revisor of Statutes)
12. KDOR Division of Vehicles – Proof of Insurance (registration proof requirements)
13. KDOR Division of Vehicles – How to Read a Driving Record / Driving Record Codes DC-9 (PDF)