Ottawa adopts 2026 Uniform Public Offense Code and Standard Traffic Ordinance

The Ottawa City Commission voted to adopt ordinances incorporating the 2026 editions of the Uniform Public Offense Code (UPOC) and the Standard Traffic Ordinance (STO) for Kansas cities.

Chief staff presenting the update said the annual revisions keep the city's ordinances aligned with state statutes and current case law and cited language cleanups. "So this code update just says all of those things that are on the license plate must be visible," the chief said, describing a change prompted by case law about obstructed tags.

The chief told the commission that failing to adopt the UPOC would require the city to refer many municipal cases to the Franklin County District Court and would leave the municipal code out of step with current statutory and case law. After discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The commission also approved adopting the 2026 STO in a separate motion.

Staff said the municipal court budgets for the manuals and online access and that adopting the updates keeps municipal enforcement aligned with current legal standards. The ordinances were approved on voice votes during the meeting.