Kansas regulates jaywalking and littering through traffic and public safety statutes, with modest fines for violations that many overlook in daily routines. These rules aim to protect pedestrians and roadways but are rarely strictly enforced unless safety is compromised.
Jaywalking Rules
State law prohibits improper pedestrian crossing outside crosswalks or against signals, classified under K.S.A. 8-1534 with a standard $45 fine. In Kansas City, Kansas, jaywalking tickets were effectively eliminated in 2021 due to biased enforcement patterns, shifting focus to actual hazards rather than routine crossings. Pedestrians must yield to vehicles outside marked areas, though drivers hold primary duty to avoid collisions.
Littering Penalties
Throwing trash from vehicles or onto public/private property violates K.S.A. 21-6205, a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000, community service, or jail time for repeat offenses—often unnoticed in small daily acts like flicking a cigarette butt. Larger dumps can escalate to felonies if over certain weights.​
Everyday Infractions
Other common slips include soliciting rides on roadways (K.S.A. 8-1538, $45 fine) or failing to yield to emergency vehicles as a pedestrian ($45). These carry uniform fines but prioritize education over tickets unless reckless.
