It has been the custom of Wichita State鈥檚 Police Department to offer verbal warnings to drivers for traffic infractions on campus without real consequences for their bad driving habits.
Effective Nov. 1, however, there will be consequences, and fines will be assessed.
The change is intended to improve safety on campus.
Two violations that were instrumental in making the change are drivers running stop signs and the failure to yield to pedestrians in cross walks. Because of a number of complaints and a near fatal accident in 2016, it has become necessary to change driving behaviors. Written citations are an incentive for good driving practices.
Faculty, staff and students will have one set of citations that can be issued and can be appealed through the Traffic Appeals Committee on campus comprised of representatives of faculty, staff and students.
A second set of citations that can be issued are set in District Court with Sedgwick County, and those can be written to drivers depending on the nature and reoccurrence of the traffic infraction. This gives officers a way to hold drivers who are not connected to the university accountable as well.
The intent is to change the perception that it is OK to commit these driving infractions on campus and to protect people from being involved in unnecessary accidents on campus.
The University Police Department has chosen to release this information in advance of issuing citations so there is transparency in what the department is doing as an agency to help keep our campus safe for everyone.
It is hoped that driving behavior will improve on campus and is in the best interest of everyone鈥檚 safety. It is not intended to be a revenue-generating process.
The monies collected for affiliated citations go to a general fund, while the District Court citations go to the state of Kansas.
For non-emergency questions or concerns, contact the University Police Department at 978-5527 for Captain Guy Schroeder or email police@wichita.edu. The police will respond in a timely manner.