Drivers Hardship License Law – General – Kansas
1. Does the agency (motor vehicle/DOT) law provide for hardship licenses?
No, current law does not provide anyone the authority to either reduce the length of a suspension or change the type of sanction that is mandated by Kansas Statute on a conviction or administrative action on driving privileges. However, restricted licenses may be ordered by a court under § 8-292.
A district or municipal court may enter an order restricting the person’s driving privileges to driving only under the following circumstances:
(1) In going to or returning from the person’s place of employment or schooling;
(2) in the course of the person’s employment;
(3) during a medical emergency;
(4) in going to and returning from probation or parole meetings, drug or alcohol counseling or any place the person is required to go to attend an alcohol and drug safety action program as provided in K.S.A. 8-1008, and amendments thereto;
(5) at such times of the day as may be specified by the order; and
(6) to such places as may be specified by the order
2. How does a requirement to install an ignition interlock device affect my employment?
Under § 8-1014, dealing with suspension and restriction of driving privileges for test refusal, test failure or alcohol or drug-related conviction; and ignition interlock devices, any person whose license is restricted to operating only a motor vehicle with an ignition interlock device installed may operate an employer’s vehicle without an ignition interlock device installed during normal business activities, provided that the person does not partly or entirely own or control the employer’s vehicle or business.
3. Does a lifetime or mandatory revocation make you ineligible for restricted driving privileges?
No, §8-254, dealing with the mandatory revocation of driver’s licenses states that in lieu of revoking a person’s driving privileges as provided by subsection (a), the court in which the person is convicted or adjudicated may place restrictions on the person’s driving privileges as provided by K.S.A. 8-292, and amendments thereto, unless the violation was committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in K.S.A. 8-2,128.
Driving privileges are to be automatically revoked if the violation which leads to the subsequent conviction occurs in a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in K.S.A. 8-2,128.