Starting today, Kansans will pay a little more to get married, file a case in court or get a vehicle VIN inspection.

Some new laws and fees go into effect today, and in most cases that means higher costs. It’s not all bad news; the fine for an adult driving without a seat belt in Great Bend drops from $30 to $10 today, to stay in compliance with state statutes. And, people who drive on rural stretches of Kansas freeways such as the Interstates and Kansas Turnpike may be able to save a little time, or perhaps the price of a speeding ticket, because the speed limit has been raised from 70 to 75 mph.

Effective today, there are new court costs in district courts statewide. These reflect an increase in surcharges, which are added to docket fees, and will be passed along by the Barton County District Court and elsewhere.

Marriage licenses will now cost $85.50 instead of $80, for example. Filing a small claims case will cost 50 cents more, whether it’s a case under $500 ($51.50), or one over $500 but less than $4,000 ($71.50).

Fees for other types of filings include:

• Divorce, from $175.50 to $178

• Domestic, post decree motions, from $59.50 to $64

• Civil, Chapter 60, from $175.50 to $178

• Mechanic’s lien, from $31.50 to $36

• Felony, from $192.50 to $195

• Murder/manslaughter, from $202 to $204.50

• Driver’s license reinstatement, from $95.50 to $98

Also today, the Kansas Highway Patrol has raised the rates for VIN inspections from $10 to $15 for out-of-state vehicles, and inspections for salvage vehicles are now $20.