Bicycle DUI Laws in Kansas
Last reviewed by BikeSize EditorialThis guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change - verify current rules with your state DOT or a licensed attorney before relying on this for any legal matter. Read full disclaimer.
The rule
In Kansas, the DUI statute does not apply to bicyclists — it covers motor-vehicle operators only. K.S.A. § 8-1567 was amended in 2010 to apply only to operators of a 'vehicle,' and the Kansas Court of Appeals held in State v. Howard, 51 Kan. App. 2d 28 (2014), that bicycles are not 'vehicles' for DUI purposes because they are not subject to registration under K.S.A. § 8-126. Cyclists impaired in public may still face public-intoxication or reckless-driving charges, but the DUI penalties - including a mandatory licence suspension - do not attach to bicycle operation. See K.S.A. § 8-1567 (Driving under the influence).
Statute
What this means in practice
A DUI charge isn't on the table for cyclists in Kansas, but that's not a license to ride drunk — public-intoxication, reckless-conduct, and disorderly-conduct charges can still apply, and cycling impaired dramatically raises crash risk.
Ride sharp, ride legal
Run a 60-second pre-ride safety check
DUI, impairment, and distraction laws all assume you are riding a bike that is actually safe to ride. The M-check takes a minute and catches the things that get you hurt.
See the M-check guide