Ordinance Reminders From Liberal’s Police Department

The Liberal Police Department would like to remind the public about the local ordinance prohibiting parking on front yards. The ordinance, passed in 2007, prohibits the parking of motor vehicles and trailers on the front yards of residences that have not been improved for parking with gravel, brick, rock, asphalt, concrete, asphaltic concrete or similar material.

The Liberal Police Department conducted two warning campaigns in 2007. The first resulted in 655 warnings. The second resulted in 262 warnings.

After the warning campaigns, the police issued 123 citations for parking on front yards in 2007. Only 14 citations were issued in 2008. Thirty-eight have already been issued in 2009, prompting the police department to remind the public of the ordinance.

The police department wishes to inform the public that the ordinance prohibiting parking on front yards is being enforced throughout the city. Fines for violations range from $50 to $500.

The Liberal Police Department would also like to remind the public about Liberal City Code 14-401 which states:

REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE: Every owner of a motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, trailer or semitrailer intended to be operated upon any highway or street in this city, whether such owner is a resident of this state or another state, or such motor vehicle, motorized bicycle, trailer or semitrailer is based in this state or another state shall, before any such vehicle is operated in this city, apply for and obtain registration in this state under the provisions of K.S.A. 8-126 to 8-149, inclusive, and acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto, except (1) as otherwise provided by law; (2) by any interstate contract, agreement, arrangement or declaration made by the director of vehicles; or (3) any nonresident student enrolled full time at Seward County Community College or Southwest Kansas Technical School.

Any vehicle garaged in this city for more than 90 days must obtain a Kansas tag, unless it meets one of the exemptions above.

The Liberal Police Department wishes to partner with the public to help keep Liberal clean. The police department would like to encourage citizens to report violations of these ordinances by calling 626-0150.