Gomez said he would previously drive home to Garden City to see his family. Now, with four citations under his belt, he said he was afraid of going to jail.

“I missed my little sister’s birthday for the first time in 11 years,” he said. “I could have up to six months in jail. There would go my scholarship, my school, my grades.”

Southwest Kansas cities are notoriously short on modes of transportation other than driving. There is no regular public transit or regular cab services that would allow those without licenses to travel around the city.

To circumvent some of those issues, Garden City recently launched a public bus system. Part of the purpose of the bus system, Garden City Manager Bob Halloran said, was to avoid leaving those without licenses without any means of transportation.

Dodge City officials are also reluctant to take similar action because the potential strain so many arrests would put on the jail. With the number of those cited in Dodge City without licenses or insurance — 752 citations were issued for no driver’s license in Dodge City in 2006 — the jail would be stretched beyond its current limits.

Police Chief John Ball said an increase in arrests for no driver’s license and insurance wouldn’t affect the police so much as it would the city’s budget. The city currently pays the county a certain amount of money each day for prisoners housed for violating city codes. that amount could more than double.

“Something obviously has to be done,” Smoll said. “I just don’t know if what Garden is doing is actually practical.”

Mesa said he stood by Garden City’s decision; although he said the ordinance is still too young to see if it is having any positive effect.

The commission is expected to begin discussion of an ordinance at its first December meeting.