Kansas Criminal Procedure Code
Article 39 - Abatement of Common Nuisances
Current Through end of 2013 legislative session
22-3901 Scope.
22-3902 Procedure.
22-3903 Proceedings in rem.
22-3904 Judgment.
22-3905 Maintenance of a common nuisance; penalties.
The following unlawful activities and the use of real or personal property in maintaining and carrying on such activities are hereby declared to be common nuisances:
(a) Commercial gambling;
(b) dealing in gambling devices;
(c) possession of gambling devices;
(d) promoting obscenity;
(e) the sale of sexual relations;
(f) commercial sexual exploitation of a child;
(g) violations of any law regulating controlled substances;
(h) habitual violations of any law regulating the sale or exchange of alcoholic liquor; or cereal malt beverages, by any person not licensed pursuant to chapter 41 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto;
(i) habitual violations of any law regulating the sale or exchange of cigarettes or tobacco products, by any person not licensed pursuant to article 33 of chapter 79 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto;
(j) any felony committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote, further or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members. As used in this subsection, ‘‘criminal street gang’’ means any organization, association or group whether formal or informal
(1) Consisting of three or more persons;
(2) having as one of its primary activities the commission of one or more person felonies, person misdemeanors, felony violations of K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-36a01 through 21-36a17, prior to their transfer, article 57 of chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, any felony violation of any provision of the uniform controlled substances act prior to July 1, 2009, or the comparable juvenile offenses, which if committed by an adult would constitute the commission of such felonies or misdemeanors;
(3) which has a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, and
(4) whose members, individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in the commission, attempted commission, conspiracy to commit or solicitation of two or more person felonies, person misdemeanors, felony violations of K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-36a01 through 21-36a17, prior to their transfer, article 57 of chapter 21 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, any felony violation of any provision of the uniform controlled substances act prior to July 1, 2009, or the comparable juvenile offenses, which if committed by an adult would constitute the commission of such felonies or misdemeanors, or any substantially similar offense from another jurisdiction; or
(k) use of pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices or pyrotechnic materials in violation of K.S.A. 2005 Supp. 31-170, and amendments thereto.
Any real property used as a place where any such activities are carried on or permitted to be carried on and any effects, equipment, paraphernalia, fixtures, appliances, musical instruments or other personal property designed for and used on such premises in connection with such unlawful activities are subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 22-3902, 22-3903 and 22-3904, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3901; L. 1990, ch. 114, § 1; L. 2002, ch. 18, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 1, § 4; L. 2006, ch. 194, § 11; L. 2009, ch. 32, § 43, L. 2010, ch. 74, § 10; L. 2012, ch. 150, § 44; L. 2013, ch. 120, § 28; July 1.
(1) Unless otherwise provided by law, proceedings under K.S.A. 22-3901 through 22-3904, and amendments thereto, shall be governed by the provisions of the Kansas code of civil procedure relating to the abatement of common nuisances.
(2)(A) In addition to the procedure established by this section, if a person is arrested for an unlawful act listed in K.S.A. 22-3901, and amendments thereto, the attorney general, city, county or district attorney may petition the court for a hearing to determine whether an unlawful activity is or has been occurring on such owner's property. Except as provided by paragraph (B),The owner of the property on which such person is or was committing an unlawful activity may be given notice of such hearing. A hearing shall be held before the court within 30 days of the notification. If the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that an unlawful act occurred, such act shall render void any lease under which a tenant holds possession, and shall cause the right of possession to revert to the owner who may evict the tenant. If the owner does not commence eviction proceedings against the tenant within 30 days of the court determination, the attorney general or the city, county or district attorney may proceed to file a petition pursuant to subsection (3). The provisions of this subsection are in addition to any remedy provided pursuant to the residential landlord and tenant act.
(B) In the case of a violation of subsection (k) of K.S.A. 22-3901, and amendments thereto, a hearing shall be held before the court within five days of the notification.
(3) Proceedings under K.S.A. 22-3901 through 22-3904, and amendments thereto, shall be instituted only in the name of the state of Kansas upon the petition of the attorney general or the city, county or district attorney to enjoin a nuisance within the city, county or district.
(4) The petition shall describe any real estate alleged to be used or to have been used as a place where such common nuisance is or was maintained or permitted and shall identify the owner or person in charge of such real estate. It shall describe any effects, equipment, paraphernalia, fixtures, appliances, musical instruments or other personal property designed for and used in such unlawful activity. It shall pray for the particular relief sought with respect to such property.
(5) The petition for injunction may include or be accompanied by an application for an order for the seizure of the effects, equipment, paraphernalia, fixtures, appliances, musical instruments or other personal property described in the petition. If the court finds that there is probable cause to believe that the personal property described is or has been used for any of the unlawful purposes set forth in K.S.A. 22-3901 and amendments thereto, the court may order the sheriff or other law enforcement officer to seize such personalty and to hold it in custody pending further order of the court. An order for seizure shall particularly describe the personal property to be seized.
(6) An order for seizure of materials alleged to be obscene shall not be issued until after a hearing at which evidence in support of the application for such order has been heard. At least seven days notice of such hearing shall be given to the owner or person in possession of such material. Pending such hearing, the court may make an order prohibiting the owner or person in possession from removing such material from the jurisdiction of the court.
(7) No bond or other security shall be required for any restraining order, order for seizure or injunction issued under K.S.A. 22-3901 through 22-3904, and amendments thereto, in an action brought by the attorney general or city, county or district attorney.
(8) The provisions of K.S.A. 22-3901 through 22-3904, and amendments thereto, shall not limit nor otherwise affect proceedings under K.S.A. 60-908 and amendments thereto, but shall be supplemental and in addition to, and not in lieu of, the remedy provided by that statute.
(9) The attorney general or the city, county or district attorney shall give notice of proceedings under K.S.A. 22-3901 through 22-3904 and amendments thereto by sending a copy of the petition to enjoin a nuisance by certified mail, return receipt requested, to each person having ownership of or a security interest in the property if: (a) The property is of a type for which title, registration or deed is required by law; (b) the owner of the property is known in fact at the time of seizure; or (c) the property is subject to a security interest perfected in accordance with the uniform commercial code. The attorney general or the city, county or district attorney shall be obligated only to make diligent search and inquiry as to the owner of the property and if, after diligent search and inquiry, the attorney general or city, county or district attorney is unable to ascertain the owner, the requirement of actual notice by mail with respect to persons having perfected security interest in the property shall not be applicable.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3902; L. 1990, ch. 114, § 2; L. 1994, ch. 271, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 1, § 5; L. 2010, ch. 135, § 33; July 1.
The real or personal property against which the order of abatement is sought may be named as a party defendant in a proceeding under this article. In such case, summons shall be served on the owner or person in possession of such property. Any person claiming an interest in the property shall, upon application be permitted to intervene as a party defendant.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3903; July 1.
(1) Upon final judgment that any real property is being or has been used as a place where any of the unlawful activities set forth in K.S.A. 22-3901 and amendments thereto are carried on or permitted to be carried on, the court may order that any house, room, building, or other structure located on such real estate be closed and padlocked for a period of not more than two years, subject to modification in the manner provided by K.S.A. 60-910 and amendments thereto, if the court finds that the owner of the property knew or should have known under the circumstances of the maintenance of a common nuisance on the property and did not make a bona fide attempt to abate such nuisance under the circumstances. The court may require, as part of the judgment, that the owner, lessee, tenant or occupant enter into a bond to the state of Kansas, in such amount and with security as the court may require, conditioned that such owner, lessee, tenant or occupant will not within a period of two years use or permit the use of such real estate in violation of law. If any condition of such bond is violated, the whole amount may be recovered as a penalty. In addition, the court may assess a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 against any or all defendants, based upon the severity of the nuisance and its duration. Such penalty shall be paid into the county treasury, if recovered by a county or district attorney, and into the city treasury, if recovered by a city attorney.
(2) Upon final judgment that any effects, equipment, paraphernalia, fixtures, appliances, musical instruments or other personal property are designed for and have been used in carrying on any of the unlawful activities set forth in K.S.A. 22-3901 and amendments thereto, the court may order that such effects, equipment, paraphernalia, fixtures, appliances, musical instruments and other personal property be publicly destroyed by the sheriff or other law enforcement officer or that such personal property be sold in the manner provided for sales in execution of judgment.
(3) The proceeds of any sale of personal property pursuant to subsection (2) shall be applied as follows:
(a) First, to the fees and costs of the abatement or removal of the nuisance and the sale.
(b) Second, to the costs of closing the structure and keeping it closed.
(c) Third, to payment of the costs of the action.
(d) Fourth, to payment of any civil penalty imposed pursuant to this section or any fine imposed for contempt in the proceedings.
(e) Fifth, to the owner of the personal property.
(4) Subject to the provisions of subsection (3), upon final judgment for the state the court shall adjudge that any defendant who was maintaining the common nuisance pay all costs, including a reasonable fee, fixed by the court, to be paid to the prosecuting attorney. Such costs shall be a lien upon any real property against which an order of abatement is obtained, if the court finds that the owner of such property knew or should have known under the circumstances of the maintenance of the common nuisance on the property and did not make a bona fide attempt to abate such nuisance under the circumstances.
(5) For purposes of this section, evidence of a bona fide attempt to abate such nuisance by the owner of the property shall include, but not be limited to, the filing of a written report, by such owner or at such owner's direction, to the local law enforcement agency that the property is suspected by the owner of the property of being used in maintaining and carrying on any of the unlawful activities set forth in K.S.A. 22-3901 and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1970, ch. 129, § 22-3904; L. 1990, ch. 114, § 3; L. 2004, ch. 1, § 6; July 1.
22-3905. Maintenance of a common nuisance; penalties.
(a) Maintenance of a common nuisance is maintaining or assisting in the maintenance of a common nuisance as described by K.S.A. 22-3901, and amendments thereto.
(b) Maintenance of a common nuisance is a class A, nonperson misdemeanor. In addition to the sentence authorized by law, the defendant may be fined in an amount not exceeding $25,000.
(c) This section shall be part of and supplemental to article 39 of chapter 22 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 2011, ch. 30, § 1; July 1.