KANSAS

The first law regulating automobiles was 1903 Chapter 67, passed March 13, 1903, effective April 1, 1903.  While this law did not require registration, Section 8 did give cities the power to pass ordinances regulating automobiles.  At least 59 cities and towns are known to have done so.  Most of Section 1 of this law was repealed in 1908 for reasons which will become clear from this stricken passage:

"Nothing in this section shall be construed as in any way preventing, obstructing, impeding, embarrassing or in any other manner or form infringing upon the prerogative of any political chauffeur to run an automobilious band-wagon at any rate he sees fit compatible with the safety of the occupants thereof; provided, however, that not less than ten nor more than twenty ropes be allowed at all times to trail behind this vehicle when in motion, in order to permit those who have been so fortunate as to escape with their political lives an opportunity to be dragged to death; and provided further, that whenever a mangled and bleeding political corpse implores for mercy, the driver of the vehicle shall, in accordance with the provisions of this bill, 'Throw out the life-line.'"

The political humor of this clause had faded after five years, especially when Kansans realized that the automobile was here to stay.

The first law providing for state registration was 1913 Chapter 65, passed March 15, 1913, effective July 1, 1913, which required annual registration with the Secretary of State, an annual fee of $5 for automobiles ($2.50 after January 1 of each year) or $2 for motorcycles, and an annual state-issued rear plate.  The registration year was July 1 to June 30 each year until 1921, and the plates were undated, with just the position of the "KAN" abbreviation changing from year to year.  The 1913/14 tags were issued in 5 categories, listed below.  Non-residents were allowed 30 days before having to register in Kansas.  This law also prohibited cities from charging license fees or requiring city license plates.

There was some confusion over the effective date of this law.  Section 13 states that "This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book."  Since the law, in Section 2, specifies that "The registration year shall begin July 1, 1913...", the secretary of state was planning on starting issue on that date.  Publication of the statute book on April 30, 1913, caused some automobilists to worry that they were breaking the law, and newspaper articles in early May discussed this discrepancy in the law.

The following table lists the number of registrations issued, and the highest plate numbers known, for the fiscal year July 1, 1913 to June 30, 1914:

1913/14                 PASS.   M/C    LOST   M/C L  DLR.

Registrations issued:  39,889  7,430    ?       ?     ?

Highest plate known:   #39000  #7493  #L100-  #L99  #D1221