Misdemeanor Traffic & Under 18 Years of Age

The County Attorney will consider a number of factors in determining whether or not diversion is appropriate. Generally, a person is eligible to receive a traffic diversion if they have no previous traffic citations, convictions, or diversions for a moving violation within the last year, no more than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years, and no previous DUI citations, convictions, diversions or serious offense citations, convictions, or diversions within the last year.

In addition to the above circumstances, a person will NOT be diversion eligible in the following circumstances:

1. Traffic offenses that result in personal injury of any kind to anyone.
2. Traffic offenses that result in a multi-vehicle accident.
3. Speeding offenses that exceed the legal limit by over 30 mph, or speeds in excess of 100 mph
4. Speeding offenses that occur in a school zone.
5. Speeding offenses that occur in a posted construction zone, even if no workers were present.
6. Driving while suspended (unless license is reinstated) or habitual violator.
7. Fleeing or eluding a police officer.
8. Disobeying a railroad crossing signal. (see K.S.A. 8-1551)
9. Disobeying a railroad crossing stop sign. (see K.S.A. 8-1552)
10. Failing to stop at a railroad crossing. (see K.S.A. 8-1553)
11. Passing a school bus. (see K.S.A. 8-1556)
12. Driving with no liability insurance (unless you now possess six months of coverage).
13. Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. (see K.S.A. 8-1530)
14. Any traffic offense other than a parking violation if the person possesses a commercial driver’s license (CDL) regardless of what type of vehicle the person was driving at the time of the offense. (See K.S.A. 8-2150)
15. Driving while suspended and driving with no liability insurance with one or more prior convictions. 

1. All court appearances must be attended during the application process unless there is prior approval from the Court or the County Attorney to miss a court date. Only the Court, not the County Attorney, can grant a continuance of a court hearing.
2. If the ticket is for Driving While Suspended the defendant MUST submit a letter of reinstatement with the diversion application or the application will be denied.
3. If the ticket is for No Proof of Insurance the defendant MUST submit proof of current liability insurance or non-owner’s insurance or six (6) months with the diversion application or the application will be denied.
4.  If the ticket is related to an accident the defendant MUST submit proof of release of liability from the insurance company documenting that all claims have been satisfied. Applications will not be considered unless the proof of release of liability is included with the application.
5.  The defendant (if Pro Se - representing oneself) or the defendant’s attorney will be notified whether or not the diversion application has been approved or denied.
6.  Full payment must be received upon the filing of the diversion agreement.  
7.  Traffic diversion terms are six (6) months in length with an additional thirty (30) days following the expiration of the diversion to allow the County Attorney’s Office to discover any violations of the diversion which occurred during the term of diversion. If you have not had any violations of the law, including traffic tickets, within the six (6) month diversion period, your case will be dismissed.  
8.  Once granted diversion, you are required to keep the County Attorney’s Office informed of all address changes and any criminal and/or traffic violations committed by you. Failure to inform the County Attorney’s Office of such will result in the County Attorney’s Office filing a Motion to Resume Prosecution in the case, which could ultimately lead to a conviction.
9.  All questions with regard to the diversion should be directed to the County Attorney’s Office.

Franklin County Attorney’s Office
Brandon L. Jones, County Attorney
220 South Beech Street, Suite B
Ottawa, Kansas 66067
785-229-8970
785-229-8971 (facsimile)