They weren’t meant to be stopped again. But they were—deliberately, routinely, and with surprising consistency.
Kansas Highway Patrol troopers had been trained to swivel mid-conversation, quite literally. After ending a normal halt, they would pause, take a few feet, then loop back for a second discussion. This technique, informally dubbed the Kansas Two-Step, wasn’t only odd. According to federal judges, it was unconstitutional.
In a particularly telling January 2026 opinion, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed what many drivers already feared—being pulled over on Kansas highways often had less to do with traffic laws and more to do with location. Simply possessing an out-of-state plate, particularly from a place like Colorado, made you considerably more likely to be searched. Data showed that although out-of-state drivers made up only 35% of traffic, they accounted for 90% of KHP drug searches. That difference was not fortuitous; it was operational.
Officers provided room for suspicion, whether justified or not, by purposefully re-establishing contact under the pretense of pleasant questioning. This procedural dance wasn’t restricted to solitary incidents. It was trained, homogenized, and systematized. And for many motorists, especially those unfamiliar with their rights, it felt coercive. In hindsight, it definitely was.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Issue | KHP conducted unconstitutional traffic stops, often targeting out-of-state drivers |
| Court Ruling | 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed violations of the Fourth Amendment |
| Tactic | “Kansas Two-Step”: ending stop, re-initiating contact to justify vehicle search |
| Targeted Drivers | Especially from states like Colorado, where marijuana is legal |
| Legal Outcome | Mandatory retraining ordered, $2.3M in damages; broader injunction scaled back |
| Case Filed By | ACLU of Kansas and Spencer Fane LLP in 2020 |
| Notable Quote | “KHP waged war on motorists” – Judge Kathryn Vratil |
| Credible Source | ACLU of Kansas |
During evidence, it revealed that KHP had purposefully avoided putting major court opinions like Vasquez v. Lewis into training materials—despite its direct importance. That 2016 ruling had already made clear that a driver’s place of residency alone cannot support additional detainment. Yet for years, that precedent remained absent from KHP’s curriculum, quietly omitted.
Judge Kathryn Vratil’s criticism was stunningly obvious. She added that KHP had “waged war on motorists,” a statement not used lightly. Her decision was remedial rather than merely punitive. She ordered mandatory retraining, precise paperwork for every search, and a strict deadline for evaluating bodycam footage. Supervisors were given 72 hours to confirm every stop was lawfully executed. The patrol was undergoing reorganization in addition to punishment.
The appellate court did, however, reduce some of those orders. While it sustained the core conclusions, it ruled that most of the injunction was unduly broad. The Kansas Two-Step could not be used as a smokescreen for unwarranted searches, but it was not completely prohibited. The difference now? Officers would need to step significantly more carefully, both figuratively and physically.
Amazingly, opposition to reform is still simmering beneath the surface despite the clarity of the law. Some perceive the retraining need as a gesture rather than a shift. Others fear that without independent scrutiny, old patterns may silently reappear.
The $2.3 million paid in damages is large, but arguably symbolic. It’s not simply money—it’s a message. A official acknowledgment that constitutional infractions were not speculative, but concrete. Real people were unfairly stopped, searched, and humiliated. Many of them were merely crossing state lines with no contraband, no justification to be arrested, and no power to resist.
For those of us who have encountered roadside stops, this verdict lands with particular weight. I remember one time, right outside of Junction City, on I-70. The officer was nice, yet weirdly insistent. After ending the stop and leaving, he came back and asked whether I had anything “unusual” in the car. I now recognize the choreography.
By integrating explicit legal training and reviewing their operations, KHP has an opportunity to demonstrate actual accountability. This isn’t about punishing cops individually—it’s about altering an institutional culture that regarded curiosity as cause and obedience as inevitable.
Law enforcement organizations are silently observing across the nation. The verdict sets precedent not simply in legal terms, but in cultural implications. It challenges law enforcement to reevaluate the subtle presumptions they make at the roadside. It pushes departments to train for transparency, not simply technique. Additionally, it provides civil rights organizations with a unique and difficult validation.
Significantly, the court’s decision does not outlaw interaction. It deserves clarity. A motorist must know when a stop has lawfully ended. A inquiry asked after that point must be truly optional—not inferred under duress. That contrast may seem little, yet it defines the difference between consent and coercion.
The ruling aims to create a very effective feedback loop, where wrongdoing is discovered early rather than after a lawsuit, by placing a strong emphasis on recording and oversight. Yet, the future effectiveness of this technique rests on implementation, not intention.
Kansas today stands at a crossroads—no pun intended. It may decide to strengthen ambiguous legal defenses or set an example by improving the use of authority. The road ahead won’t be simple, but it may be paved with fairness.
And so the Kansas Two-Step continues—but this time, monitored intently, legally constrained, and ideally, guided by constitutional guardrails rather than gut instinct.
