In 1933, the Kansas Legislature, Governor Alfred Landon, and Highway Department Attorney Wint Smith acted to halt the rampant bank robberies and crime sprees of the 1920s and 1930s.

They created a force of ten motor vehicle inspectors, forerunners of Kansas troopers. In 1937, the Kansas Highway Patrol was formed and comprised of a superintendent, assistant superintendent, and 45 troopers to reduce accidents by enforcing traffic, vehicle, and license laws.

That same year, the fleet included four motorcycles and 31 automobiles with silver tops and black bodies with gold shields on the doors. In 1955/56, the Patrol began to police the turnpike for the Kansas Turnpike Authority, and Protective Services began with one trooper providing the governor's ground transportation.

In the 1960s, each trooper was assigned a patrol car to improve roadway coverage, as up to that point, troopers always patrolled in pairs.

In 1976, the Patrol gained authority over the Capitol Area Security Patrol, which would become the Capitol Police, or Troop K. In 1988, authority over the Motor Carrier Inspectors passed from the Department of Revenue to the Patrol. Patrol units did not have moving radar until 1972 or video cameras until the 1990s.

The KHP is divided into 3 regions. The East Region encompasses Troops A, B and H. The Central Region encompasses Troops C and F. The West Region encompasses Troops D and E. General HQ is in Topeka, The Turnpike Troop is Troop G. Troop I is Criminal Interdiction, Canine Unit, Motor Vehicle Enforcement and Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. Troop J is Safety Education and Training. Capitol Policing is Troop K and Protective Services is Troop L.

License Plates of the Kansas Highway Patrol

From its inception in 1937 until 1973, the patrol vehicles of the Kansas Highway Patrol sported only regular passenger car license plates. Kansas license plates are issued by county and each county had a designated number assigned to it which later changed to an alphabetical designation. As the state capital was located in Topeka, KHP plates were issued out of the Shawnee County issuance office. From 1930 until 1950, Shawnee County plates were represented by the number 3 which meant that all Shawnee County plates (including KHP plates) began with a 3 prefix followed by a dash and the registration number.
In 1951, the 3 was dropped and replaced with a stacked SN prefix to preface the registration number.

It has been stated that around 1941, the KHP had issued special titled KHP license plates possibly run only on the front of new patrol cars. There is no information on dimensions or materials used. The plate was deemed to be more square than rectangular with KANSAS over (offset) HIGHWAY over (offset) PATROL. The characters were said to be light over a dark background with four small numerals above the bottom left corner of the plate. There has been no confirmation with respect to this issue. Any clarification or photographic eveidence to this effect would be greatly appreciated.

Trooper Jesse Hockett standing next to his County 3 (Shawnee) registered patrol car- 1942.
(Courtesy Jim Aitken) 

Recently-discovered 1947 Kansas Highway Patrol front license plate.
(Courtesy Bob Schluben)

Atchison County- 1948.

1967- Using Shawnee County passenger license plate.

In July of 1973, the state of Kansas commenced issuing new license plates for official/government vehicles. The plates were yellow over brown with the state shape outline as the border around the plate. The state name was embossed along the top and OFFICIAL was embossed along the bottom of the plate. An embossed sunflower occupied the left field of the plate. License plates issued to the KHP commenced at number 300 and issued up to number 999. Numbers from 1000 and higher were used for other state and local government vehicles.
These plates were used until 1981 and two versions of this type are known. The difference is subtle as the dies used for the word OFFICIAL shows the older version as more wide and the circle inside the sunflower, a bit smaller in circumference. Some plates used reflective yellow paint for the raised portions and other issues used non-reflective yellow paint.
When the state recalled the old sunflower plates in 1981, they were summarily folded in half and tossed into a receptacle for sheering and disposal.
A couple of such plates were rescued from this fate and unfolded as shown by plates number 441 and 475 seen below.

In 1981, KHP Colonel David Hornbaker had several KHP graphic prototype license plates made-up with his radio number (K) 282 embossed on them. The license plates were silkscreened graphic types with only the assignment number embossed. The state name was silkscreened along the top of the plate between the the upper mounting holes. A highly-detailed depiction of the KHP shirt badge occupied the far center left portion of the plate followed by the embossed radio number up to three digits. The lower portion of the plate read HIGHWAY PATROL and was silkscreened between the lower mounting holes. Colonel Hornbaker had the plate prototypes done in a variety of color combinations (blue, red, green and yellow) for the silkscreened portions of the plate while the embossed numbers remained blue.
The approved design was selected as the all-blue version.
The new blue over reflective white graphic license plates began adorning the front and rear of marked KHP vehicles later that same year. Ranks of Troopers and Sergeants were issued the first batch as Lieutenants and up ran regular Kansas passenger car plates on their vehicles.
Practice at the time was that each KHP trooper was assigned a radio number which remained with them thoughout their career. When their patrol cars got miled-out, the old plates were transferred to the new car. Once that trooper retired, the new trooper who received the retiree's radio number received a new set of plates with that radio number, while the retiree had one of his old plates mounted on a plaque. It is unknown if this practice still continues today.

In 2012, the Kansas Highway Patrol re-plated the fleet with yet another attractive graphic license plate.
The background features a stylized design with blue bands on the top and bottom of the plate.
The same masthead of KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL from the previous issue is still used at the top.
A redesigned KHP eagle-top badge is situated to the left of the embossed number.
The lower legend of the plate has SERVICE-COURTESY-PROTECTION.
The license plates of the KHP Capitol Police and Motor Carrier Enforcement were also issued new distinctive license plates in 2012. The background features a grey-toned enlarged section of a wheat sprig over a reflective white backgound.
The same masthead of KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL from the previous issue is still used at the top.
A stylized rendition of the KHP shoulder patch occupies the left portion of the plate where the background of the emblem showcases a section of the American flag.
The assignment number is embossed to the right, and the bottom of the plate has the legend www.KansasHighwayPatrol.org between the lower mounting holes.
So far this version has been only seen on Capitol Police vehicles.

Late 2016 saw the Kansas Highway Patrol preparing for its upcoming 80th Anniversary celebrations in 2017.
One method of commemorating such an auspicious occasion was to launch yet another attractive graphic license plate for the marked KHP fleet.
The new plates were made of aluminum with an embossed numeral and debossed border. The outline of the plate was white which allowed for a state outline in black and deep blue inside the perimeter of the plate.
STATE TROOPER appeared silkscreened in gold against a black top band spanning the top center of the plate.
Another black band spanning the bottom portion of the plate featured the slogan "Serving Kansas Since 1937" silkscreened in gold.
A gold KHP breast badge appears in full color on the left center field of the plate. The embossed assignment numeral is painted in white and is placed over a wide center field span of textured royal blue in a tight circular mesh motif.
Some have dubbed this style the "Thin Blue Line" design.

Motorcycle License Plates used by Kansas Highway Patrol

The Kansas Highway Patrol utilized motorcycles as a large part of its patrol fleet in the 1930's and phased out in the 1940's. It is unknown as to when motorcycles made a resurgence with the KHP after that time, however there is a circa 1974 KHP Harley Davidson located at the KHP museum. This motorcycle bears a motorcycle-sized license plate in the colors of the 1973-1981 Official Sunflower plates used on KHP cars of the day. The plate is yellow over brown with the state outline as a border. KANSAS occupies the top center of the plate, with CYCLE embossed vertically along the left margin of the plate. The embossed number is 29.
There is a motorcycle version of the 1981-Circa 2000 KHP graphic license plate as well as seen below.

Kansas Highway Patrol- Other Types

The National Troopers Coalition hosted their annual conference in Kansas sometime between 1995 and 2001. A special souvenir license plate was provided to NTC delegates in attendance that had the word TROOPER screened in black on a 1995-2001 Kansas passenger car baseplate.