A traffic warrant in Wichita usually starts small: a ticket that was not paid, or a court date that was missed. The court issues a warrant, the license is often suspended for failing to comply, and the next traffic stop becomes an arrest for driving while suspended. Many of these can be handled at a walk in docket. When an arrest does happen, the bond is posted at the Sedgwick County Jail like any other. This page covers both paths.
Case Bail Bonds is at 705 N Broadway, three blocks from the jail. Call (316) 900-1667 and we can check a name for warrants before you get pulled over.
On this page
- Step 1: find out which court has your ticket
- Step 2: use the walk in traffic docket
- Step 3: bring proof that you fixed the problem
- Step 4: if you are arrested, how the bond works
- Driving while suspended in Kansas: the penalties
- Step 5: ask about diversion
- Frequently asked questions
- Call Case Bail Bonds
Step 1: find out which court has your ticket
The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Traffic Division states the rule.
| Who wrote the ticket | Court | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita Police Department | Wichita Municipal Court, 455 N Main | 316-268-4611 |
| Sedgwick County Sheriff or Kansas Highway Patrol | Sedgwick County Courthouse, 525 N Main | 316-660-9150 |
| Derby, Haysville, Maize or another city’s police | That city’s municipal court | See the ticket |
The county side is large. The District Attorney says its traffic unit handles about 24,000 to 25,000 cases a year in District Court, and that the municipal courts handle more than 70,000 more.
Step 2: use the walk in traffic docket
For a county traffic case, the District Attorney runs a docket on the first floor of the courthouse at the northwest corner of Central and Main.
| Days | Docket hours |
|---|---|
| Monday through Wednesday | 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. |
| Thursday and Friday | 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. |
Know what to expect:
- Each docket has 80 to 120 cases, and the District Attorney warns that the wait can reach two hours.
- The docket is meant for tickets handled before the court date. If you already missed your date, the instruction is to come to the morning docket at 8:30 a.m., Monday through Friday.
- The officer who wrote the ticket usually is not there.
- Holidays change the schedule.
If a warrant has already been issued on a TR case, the Sheriff’s instructions say to walk in at the District Attorney’s traffic office on weekdays at 8:30 a.m., or at 1:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and sign in.
For a Wichita city ticket, call Municipal Court at 316-268-4611 and ask about its docket for missed dates. See our Wichita Municipal Court bond guide.
Step 3: bring proof that you fixed the problem
The District Attorney asks people to bring documentation of what they have done. Examples from its page:
- A receipt for a repaired tail light
- Proof of insurance that was in effect at the time of the citation
- Documentation that your driving privileges were reinstated
The Sheriff’s list for traffic warrants adds proof of registration and your driver’s license. Walking in with paperwork changes the conversation.
Step 4: if you are arrested, how the bond works
A traffic warrant can be served anywhere in Kansas. An arrest in Sedgwick County means booking at the Adult Detention Facility, 141 W Elm.
| Way out | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Own recognizance | $0 | For local residents the booking sergeant approves. Less likely on a warrant for a missed date |
| Cash | The full bond | Refunded after the case, less fines and costs |
| Bondsman | At least 10% of the bond | At least half of that is paid before posting |
| Driver’s license deposit | Your license | City traffic ordinance arrests only, K.S.A. 12-4301 |
| Bond | Minimum premium | Minimum due before posting |
|---|---|---|
| $250 | $25 | $12.50 |
| $500 | $50 | $25 |
| $1,000 | $100 | $50 |
| $2,500 | $250 | $125 |
Those minimums come from K.S.A. 22-2809b. On a city case, K.S.A. 12-4213 requires bond to be set within 18 hours of custody.
If you already know about the warrant, do not wait for the stop. A planned surrender with a bond arranged is covered in walk through bonds in Wichita.
Driving while suspended in Kansas: the penalties
K.S.A. 8-262 covers driving while a license is canceled, suspended or revoked.
| Conviction | Class | Jail | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Class B misdemeanor | At least 5 days | Fine of at least $100. Suspension extended 90 days |
| Second or later | Class A misdemeanor | At least 5 days served before any parole | Suspension extended 90 days |
| While suspended for DUI | Same classes | At least 90 days before probation or parole | Fine added on top |
City convictions count toward the number. So a suspended license case in Derby and another in Wichita add up to a second offense.
This is why a traffic warrant is worth clearing early. A person who keeps driving on a suspended license can go from a ticket to mandatory jail time.
Step 5: ask about diversion
The District Attorney has a diversion program for driving while suspended and for no insurance. A completed diversion ends in dismissal. The main requirements:
- No suspended license conviction or diversion in the past 5 years
- No commercial driver’s license
- No more than 4 traffic citations in the past 2 years, and no more than 10 in a lifetime
- The suspension was only for failing to comply with a citation
- No injury accident
The application and a $45 fee are due within 30 days of the initial court date. The term is 12 months. During it you must get your license reinstated, keep liability insurance and complete a driver awareness course.
There is also a general traffic diversion for moving violations, with a $25 application fee. Both are compared in diversion in Sedgwick County.
Frequently asked questions
Can you go to jail for an unpaid traffic ticket in Kansas?
Not for the ticket itself in most cases. Missing court on it can bring a warrant and a license suspension, and driving after that is a crime with mandatory jail.
How do I clear a traffic warrant in Sedgwick County?
For a District Court case, walk in at the District Attorney’s traffic office or the morning traffic docket at 525 N Main. For a city case, contact that city’s court.
Will I be arrested if I go to the traffic docket with a warrant?
The Sheriff’s instructions describe a walk in process for traffic warrants. Each case is decided on its own facts, so having a bond arranged is a sensible backup.
How much is the bond on a traffic warrant?
The court sets it. Through a bondsman, the legal minimum premium is 10% of that figure.
How do I get my license back?
The Kansas Division of Vehicles handles reinstatement. The court clerk can tell you what the court needs first.
Call Case Bail Bonds
We are a family owned company run by Tyson and Rachel Case. We are open 24 hours at 705 N Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214. Call (316) 900-1667. If the stop also led to a DUI charge, read DUI bail bonds in Wichita.
Sources
- Sedgwick County District Attorney, Traffic Division
- Sedgwick County Sheriff, instructions to have a warrant withdrawn
- K.S.A. 8-262, driving while canceled, suspended or revoked, Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes
- Sedgwick County District Attorney, driving while suspended diversion guidelines
- K.S.A. 22-2809b, compensated sureties
Docket times change. Confirm them with the court. This article is general information, not legal advice.
