Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Legal Services Department

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Vicki Stanwix, Municipal Court Manager Toni Ramirez Wheeler, Director of Legal Services
CC:	Cynthia Boecker, Diane Stoddard and Jonathan Douglas
Date:	June 19, 2008
RE:	Ordinance No. 8290 Authorizing Fee for 30-Day Notices, SB 366

Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the June 24, 2008 meeting:

• Project/Item Description.  Implementation of a $5.00 fee for mailing written notice that failure to appear in Municipal Court or pay all fines, court costs and penalties within 30 days of the notice will result in a driver’s license suspension by the Division of Vehicles.

• Project Description/History.  Pursuant to K.S.A. 8-2110, when a defendant fails to comply with a traffic citation, the Court shall mail a 30-day notice advising the defendant that failure to appear in court or pay all fines within 30 days will result in a suspension of driving privileges. 

Senate Bill 366 which becomes effective on July 1, 2008, amends K.S.A. 8-2110 by authorizing the Municipal Court to charge a fee of $5.00 for each 30-day notice mailed as required by statute.  In 2007, the Lawrence Municipal Court processed 21,574 traffic citations.  Over 30% of these traffic offenders failed to comply with the terms of the citation, resulting in Municipal Court staff sending over 6,700 30-day notices. 

• Action Request.  Staff recommends adoption of Ordinance No. 8290, as appropriate.