FAQs • Liberal, KS • CivicEngage

I have questions about defenses that I may have. Can I speak with an attorney?: The court clerks are not attorneys. Neither the clerks, nor the municipal judge, can give you legal advice. You may wish to perform an internet search or search the yellow pages for an attorney. You may also apply for a court appointed attorney.

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Municipal Court FAQs

1. Can I provide insurance verification without coming to court?: You may provide insurance verification either during your regularly scheduled hearing or before the hearing. You will be required to fill out and sign a Request for Continuance of Insurance charge. You may provide those to the Municipal Court Clerk's Office at any time the office is open (generally Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m). You may also fax the insurance verification to the clerk's office at (620) 626-0569. If the insurance verification is provided, the insurance charge will be continued for a period of 90 days. The verification must actually be an insurance verification card or the equivalent displayed on a cellular phone or portable electronic device. If the clerk is unable to read the information on the phone or electronic device, you may provide this to the judge at your scheduled court date. Insurance applications, account statements, payment due notices and other documents related to an insurance policy will not be accepted. The clerk's office will not be required to call insurance agencies to verify whether insurance policies were in effect.

2. Can I recover civil damages for an automobile accident in Municipal Court?: Municipal Court has no jurisdiction over damages caused by an auto accident. Settlement of damage is a matter for a civil court to decide. To recover damages you will have to file a separate civil suit in another court.

3. I have been cited with a car seat or booster seat violation. Can those charges be dismissed?: You may provide car seats and/ or booster seats either during your regularly scheduled court hearing or before the hearing. Prior to the hearing, you may bring those to the front window at any time the office is open(generally Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) The court clerk or warrant officer will notate that the car seat. booster seat, or both, has been provided in the file and the charge is dismissed.

4. I have been charged with an equipment violation. Can those charges be dismissed?: You may bring your vehicle for inspection either during your regularly scheduled court hearing or before the hearing. Prior to the hearing, you may bring the vehicles at any time the office is open. The warrant officers will review the file for the equipment violation listed and inspect the vehicle. They will note in the file if the violation has been corrected. If the violation has been corrected, the charge will be dismissed. In the event that it is not clear that the infraction is corrected, the warrant officers will not indicate that the infraction is corrected or dismissed. You will be required to attend court to address the charge. Copies of estimates or invoices will not be accepted. The vehicle must actually be inspected by an officer.

5. I have been cited with having an expired tag. I had purchased tags but I didn't have the registration on the vehicle. Can the citation be dismissed?: You may bring in your registration for your vehicle either during your regularly scheduled court hearing or before the hearing. Prior to the hearing, you may bring your registration to the front window at any time the office is open (generally Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). The court clerk will notate that the registration was provided and was valid at the time of the citation and will indicate that the charge is dismissed.

6. I had an expired tag, but I have now purchased new tags.: If this is your first offense, you may bring in proof of renewed vehicle registration either during your regularly scheduled court hearing or prior to your scheduled court hearing during our office hours of Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. and Fridays 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. The court clerk will notate the registration was provided, and the charge will be dismissed.

7. I have questions about defenses that I may have. Can I speak with an attorney?: The court clerks are not attorneys. Neither the clerks, nor the municipal judge, can give you legal advice. You may wish to perform an internet search or search the yellow pages for an attorney. You may also apply for a court appointed attorney.

8. How can I obtain a copy of my driving record?: You can obtain a copy of your driving record by contacting the Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles at (785) 296-3671. KS Vehicles Connect App now Available for Free. From the app, customers will be able to access WebTags and vehicle registration information, check their driver’s license status, find directions to the nearest driver licensing or tag office, and get in line remotely for the six largest driver licensing offices. Search KS Vehicles Connect in your app store to download for free.

9. When am I supposed to appear for court?: A court date will be stated on your citation or on your bond if you were arrested. If you are scheduled to appear on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, you can generally appear on a First Appearance/Review docket before your scheduled appearance. The doors to the courtroom are locked ten (10) minutes after court is scheduled to start. You will not be allowed to enter after that point.

10. I would like to talk to someone about having my charges amended. Who can I speak with?: Neither the court clerk nor the municipal judge can agree to amend your charges. The city prosecutor has the authority to agree to amendments of the charges against you. If approved, the fine amount will be doubled. If you are issued a citation while operating a commercial vehicle, the fine amount will be quadrupled. You may contact the city prosecutor at 620-604-5004.