North Dakota Traffic Laws: Points, Tickets, License Suspension and DUI
North Dakota driving rules: point system, speeding points, traffic school, how to pay or fight a ticket, license suspension, DUI limits and penalties.
Quick answers for North Dakota
- Point system
- Yes. Points are entered on the driving record for each traffic conviction or admitted violation. At 12 or more points, the Department of Transportation notifies the driver it intends to suspend the license, and after a hearing or the chance for one, suspends it: 7 days at 12 points, and… N.D. Cent. Code § 39-06.1-10(1)-(2)
- Points for speeding
- On most roads: 6-10 mph over = 0 points; 11-15 = 1; 16-20 = 3; 21-25 = 5; 26-35 = 9; 36-45 = 12; 46+ = 15. On highways posted above 65 mph: 1-5 mph over = 0; 6-10 = 1; 11-15 = 3; 16-20 = 5; 21-25 = 7; 26-30 = 10; 31-35 = 12; N.D. Cent. Code § 39-06.1-10(3)(a)(30), (33)
- Legal BAC limit
- 0.08 for drivers generally; for commercial motor vehicle drivers, a test result of 0.04 or more triggers commercial-license consequences; 0.02 for drivers under 21 (administrative license suspension). N.D. Cent. Code §§ 39-08-01(1)(a), 39-06.2-10.2, 39-20-04.1
- First-offense DUI penalties
- A first offense within seven years is a class B misdemeanor. The sentence must include a fine of at least $500 and an order for an addiction evaluation. N.D. Cent. Code §§ 39-08-01(3), (5)(a); 39-20-04.1(1)(a)-(b)
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Tickets and points
| Point system | Yes. Points are entered on the driving record for each traffic conviction or admitted violation. At 12 or more points, the Department of Transportation notifies the driver it intends to suspend the license, and after a hearing or the chance for one, suspends it: 7 days at 12 points, and 7 days for each point over 11 at 13 points or more. |
|---|---|
| Points for speeding | On most roads: 6-10 mph over = 0 points; 11-15 = 1; 16-20 = 3; 21-25 = 5; 26-35 = 9; 36-45 = 12; 46+ = 15. On highways posted above 65 mph: 1-5 mph over = 0; 6-10 = 1; 11-15 = 3; 16-20 = 5; 21-25 = 7; 26-30 = 10; 31-35 = 12; 36+ = 15. |
| How long points last | Points do not stay at full value indefinitely. The point total is reduced by one point for each three-month period in which no new points are recorded for a moving violation (counted from the date the last points were entered). After a driver completes a points suspension, the total is reset to 11 points, and another suspension follows if it again reaches 12. The statute addresses point reduction; how long the underlying conviction remains visible on the driving record was not confirmed. |
| Traffic school | A driver can have 3 points taken off the record by completing a driver training course approved by the Department and sending in the certificate. This can be used once in any 12-month period, only for points already on the record, and for no more than 9 points in a three-year period. It does not dismiss the ticket. If the record already has 12 or more points (6 or more for a minor), the reduction is applied after the suspension is served. Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 39-06.1-13(2) |
| Paying or fighting a ticket | Most traffic violations are noncriminal. A person may pay the statutory fee to the designated official at or before the hearing time, or post bond. If bond is posted by mail, it must be sent within 14 days of the citation, and the person marks on the citation whether a hearing is requested; if no hearing is requested within 14 days, the bond is forfeited and the violation is treated as admitted. If a hearing is requested, the court sends a summons with the hearing date. Not responding at all is treated as an admission, and failing to appear after promising to appear is a class B misdemeanor. |
| Paying or looking up a ticket online | For a non-criminal traffic citation, pay the bond/fee on the citation within 14 days to the court in the county where it was issued, in person, by mail, or online through the court system's public search portal (State of North Dakota > Criminal/Traffic > find the case > "Make Payment"; Visa, MasterCard and Discover only). New citations can take up to 4 days to appear, and not every case can be paid online; if there is no "Make Payment" button, contact the clerk of court where the citation was issued. Paying means you admit the violation and waive a hearing; to contest, sign the request for hearing on the citation and return it with the bond to the court within 14 days. If you do not respond, you are deemed to have admitted the violation and your license may be suspended. Citation options: https://www.dot.nd.gov/driver/driver-record-services-and-suspensions/uniform-complaint-and-summons-information |
License suspension
| License suspension | Main grounds include reaching 12 or more points (7 days at 12 points, plus 7 days for each point over 11), a DUI arrest with a test result at or over the legal limit (administrative suspension starting at 91 days), and refusing a chemical test (revocation starting at 180 days). Suspension rules for unpaid tickets and for driving without insurance, and reinstatement fees, were not confirmed from the pages read. |
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| Hardship or restricted license | For a points suspension, the Department may for good cause issue a temporary restricted license after 7 days of the suspension have passed. After a first DUI or test-related suspension, a temporary restricted license may take effect after 30 days of the suspension (14 days if the person is in the 24/7 sobriety program and has no unrelated suspension). |
| Checking and reinstating a license | Check outstanding reinstatement requirements, and pay the fee, through NDDOT's online Pay Reinstatement Fee/Outstanding Requirements system; you are eligible once all requirements are met and the required time is served. Fees: $25 for medical or vision reports or requirements and testing; $50 for failure to appear or post bond, insurance violations, unpaid fines, child support, 12 or more points, or driving under suspension; $100 for over-the-limit BAC, physical control, implied consent or refusal, or driving under revocation. Pay online (full $50 or $100), by phone (701-328-4353 for medical, vision or re-exam suspensions; 701-328-2604 for others), or by check or money order to the Driver License Division, 608 E. Blvd Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505. Requirements/payment system: https://apps.nd.gov/dot/dlts/dlos/reinstatement/search.htm |
DUI / DWI
| Legal BAC limit | 0.08 for drivers generally; for commercial motor vehicle drivers, a test result of 0.04 or more triggers commercial-license consequences; 0.02 for drivers under 21 (administrative license suspension). |
|---|---|
| First-offense DUI penalties | A first offense within seven years is a class B misdemeanor. The sentence must include a fine of at least $500 and an order for an addiction evaluation. If the alcohol concentration was 0.16 or more (an aggravated first offense), the sentence must include a fine of at least $750 and at least two days in jail. The Department suspends the license for 91 days for a test result of 0.08 (0.02 under 21) up to under 0.18, or 180 days for 0.18 or more. The maximum jail and fine for a class B misdemeanor are set in a separate statute that was not read; ignition interlock rules for a first offense were not confirmed. |
| When a DUI is a felony | In North Dakota, a 4th or later DUI (or chemical-test refusal) within 15 years is a class C felony. The 1st and 2nd offenses within 7 years are class B misdemeanors, and a 3rd within 7 years is a class A misdemeanor. A DUI that causes another person's death (criminal vehicular homicide) is a class A felony with at least 3 years' imprisonment. A DUI that causes substantial or serious bodily injury (criminal vehicular injury) is a class B felony with at least 1 year and 1 day. DUI with a minor in the vehicle is a class A misdemeanor, but becomes a class C felony if the person has a prior conviction for that offense. |
| Refusing a breath test | Refusing a chemical test leads to license revocation: 180 days if there is no prior DUI or test-related suspension in the past seven years, two years with one prior, and three years with two or more priors. Refusing a test after being advised of the consequences is also a criminal offense under the DUI statute. |
| DUI lookback period | Seven years for second and third offenses (first or second offense within seven years is a class B misdemeanor; a third within seven years is a class A misdemeanor). A fourth or later offense within 15 years is a class C felony. Source: N.D. Cent. Code § 39-08-01(3) |
| How long a DUI stays on your record | According to the state's transportation FAQ, non-commercial alcohol violations stay on the North Dakota driving record for 7 years, and disqualifying commercial offenses stay for life. On the criminal record, the court must seal a DUI conviction if the person has no later DUI or other criminal offense within 7 years of the first violation. Sealing does not apply to commercial driver's license holders, and prosecutors can still use the prior offense to enhance a later DUI charge. Sealing statute: https://www.ndlegis.gov/cencode/t39c08.pdf |
| Sobriety checkpoints | Legal and used. The North Dakota Highway Patrol, often with county sheriffs, conducts announced sobriety checkpoints at predetermined locations, usually followed by saturation patrols, to deter impaired driving. For example, on September 5, 2025, the NDHP and the Cass County Sheriff's Office ran a checkpoint near Argusville. |
Phones and distracted driving
| Phone and texting laws | A driver of a vehicle in traffic may not use a wireless device to compose, read, or send an electronic message (texts, email, instant messages, web access). Making or receiving phone calls, GPS use, and hands-free use are not covered. Drivers aged 16-17 with a class D license may not use an electronic communication device at all, including to talk, while the vehicle is moving, except for emergencies. |
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Where to get help in North Dakota
Traffic Tickets & DUI FAQ
How does the driver point system work in North Dakota?
Yes. Points are entered on the driving record for each traffic conviction or admitted violation. At 12 or more points, the Department of Transportation notifies the driver it intends to suspend the license, and after a hearing or the chance for one, suspends it: 7 days at 12 points, and 7 days for each point over 11 at 13 points or more.
How many points is a speeding ticket in North Dakota?
On most roads: 6-10 mph over = 0 points; 11-15 = 1; 16-20 = 3; 21-25 = 5; 26-35 = 9; 36-45 = 12; 46+ = 15. On highways posted above 65 mph: 1-5 mph over = 0; 6-10 = 1; 11-15 = 3; 16-20 = 5; 21-25 = 7; 26-30 = 10; 31-35 = 12; 36+ = 15.
How long do points stay on your license in North Dakota?
Points do not stay at full value indefinitely. The point total is reduced by one point for each three-month period in which no new points are recorded for a moving violation (counted from the date the last points were entered). After a driver completes a points suspension, the total is reset to 11 points, and another suspension follows if it again reaches 12.
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in North Dakota?
A driver can have 3 points taken off the record by completing a driver training course approved by the Department and sending in the certificate. This can be used once in any 12-month period, only for points already on the record, and for no more than 9 points in a three-year period. It does not dismiss the ticket. If the record already has 12 or more points (6 or more for a minor), the reduction is applied after the suspension is served.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in North Dakota?
For a non-criminal traffic citation, pay the bond/fee on the citation within 14 days to the court in the county where it was issued, in person, by mail, or online through the court system's public search portal (State of North Dakota > Criminal/Traffic > find the case > "Make Payment"; Visa, MasterCard and Discover only). New citations can take up to 4 days to appear, and not every case can be paid online; if there is no "Make Payment" button, contact the clerk of court where the citation was issued. Paying means you admit the violation and waive a hearing; to contest, sign the request for hearing on the citation and return it with the bond to the court within 14 days. If you do not respond, you are deemed to have admitted the violation and your license may be suspended.
How do I check if my license is suspended and get it reinstated in North Dakota?
Check outstanding reinstatement requirements, and pay the fee, through NDDOT's online Pay Reinstatement Fee/Outstanding Requirements system; you are eligible once all requirements are met and the required time is served. Fees: $25 for medical or vision reports or requirements and testing; $50 for failure to appear or post bond, insurance violations, unpaid fines, child support, 12 or more points, or driving under suspension; $100 for over-the-limit BAC, physical control, implied consent or refusal, or driving under revocation. Pay online (full $50 or $100), by phone (701-328-4353 for medical, vision or re-exam suspensions; 701-328-2604 for others), or by check or money order to the Driver License Division, 608 E. Blvd Ave, Bismarck, ND 58505.
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in North Dakota?
Most traffic violations are noncriminal. A person may pay the statutory fee to the designated official at or before the hearing time, or post bond. If bond is posted by mail, it must be sent within 14 days of the citation, and the person marks on the citation whether a hearing is requested; if no hearing is requested within 14 days, the bond is forfeited and the violation is treated as admitted. If a hearing is requested, the court sends a summons with the hearing date. Not responding at all is treated as an admission, and failing to appear after promising to appear is a class B misdemeanor.
What gets your license suspended in North Dakota?
Main grounds include reaching 12 or more points (7 days at 12 points, plus 7 days for each point over 11), a DUI arrest with a test result at or over the legal limit (administrative suspension starting at 91 days), and refusing a chemical test (revocation starting at 180 days).
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in North Dakota?
0.08 for drivers generally; for commercial motor vehicle drivers, a test result of 0.04 or more triggers commercial-license consequences; 0.02 for drivers under 21 (administrative license suspension).
What is the penalty for a first DUI in North Dakota?
A first offense within seven years is a class B misdemeanor. The sentence must include a fine of at least $500 and an order for an addiction evaluation. If the alcohol concentration was 0.16 or more (an aggravated first offense), the sentence must include a fine of at least $750 and at least two days in jail. The Department suspends the license for 91 days for a test result of 0.08 (0.02 under 21) up to under 0.18, or 180 days for 0.18 or more.
What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer in North Dakota?
Refusing a chemical test leads to license revocation: 180 days if there is no prior DUI or test-related suspension in the past seven years, two years with one prior, and three years with two or more priors. Refusing a test after being advised of the consequences is also a criminal offense under the DUI statute.
How long does a DUI count as a prior offense in North Dakota?
Seven years for second and third offenses (first or second offense within seven years is a class B misdemeanor; a third within seven years is a class A misdemeanor). A fourth or later offense within 15 years is a class C felony.
Can you get a hardship license in North Dakota?
For a points suspension, the Department may for good cause issue a temporary restricted license after 7 days of the suspension have passed. After a first DUI or test-related suspension, a temporary restricted license may take effect after 30 days of the suspension (14 days if the person is in the 24/7 sobriety program and has no unrelated suspension).
Is it illegal to hold your phone while driving in North Dakota?
A driver of a vehicle in traffic may not use a wireless device to compose, read, or send an electronic message (texts, email, instant messages, web access). Making or receiving phone calls, GPS use, and hands-free use are not covered. Drivers aged 16-17 with a class D license may not use an electronic communication device at all, including to talk, while the vehicle is moving, except for emergencies.
Is a DUI a felony in North Dakota?
In North Dakota, a 4th or later DUI (or chemical-test refusal) within 15 years is a class C felony. The 1st and 2nd offenses within 7 years are class B misdemeanors, and a 3rd within 7 years is a class A misdemeanor. A DUI that causes another person's death (criminal vehicular homicide) is a class A felony with at least 3 years' imprisonment. A DUI that causes substantial or serious bodily injury (criminal vehicular injury) is a class B felony with at least 1 year and 1 day. DUI with a minor in the vehicle is a class A misdemeanor, but becomes a class C felony if the person has a prior conviction for that offense.
How long does a DUI stay on your record in North Dakota?
According to the state's transportation FAQ, non-commercial alcohol violations stay on the North Dakota driving record for 7 years, and disqualifying commercial offenses stay for life. On the criminal record, the court must seal a DUI conviction if the person has no later DUI or other criminal offense within 7 years of the first violation. Sealing does not apply to commercial driver's license holders, and prosecutors can still use the prior offense to enhance a later DUI charge.
Are DUI checkpoints legal in North Dakota?
Legal and used. The North Dakota Highway Patrol, often with county sheriffs, conducts announced sobriety checkpoints at predetermined locations, usually followed by saturation patrols, to deter impaired driving. For example, on September 5, 2025, the NDHP and the Cass County Sheriff's Office ran a checkpoint near Argusville.
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