Traffic Tickets in North Dakota
SUMMARY: North Dakota Traffic Tickets
Depending on the county you received your traffic ticket, you may be able to pay your fine online or by mail. To fight your ticket, you'll need to request a hearing by mail and appear in court.
Continue reading this page to learn more about responding to a traffic ticket in North Dakota.
NOTE: Be sure to respond to your traffic citation within 14 days to avoid additional fines/penalties.
ND Traffic Ticket Fines and Penalties
North Dakota traffic ticket fines vary depending on the severity of the violation.
Check your traffic ticket for the total fine amount you must pay. If you do not have your ND traffic ticket, you'll need to contact the relevant ND county court or municipal court for more details.
Driving Record Points
When you're convicted of a traffic violation, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) will add points to your ND driving record. The number of points you receive will depend on the severity of your offense.
Your North Dakota driver's license will be suspended if you're:
- 18 years old or older and accumulate 12 points or more.
- Younger than 18 years old and collect 6 points or more.
See our DMV Point System page for more information.
Dismiss Your Traffic Ticket
Depending on your violation, the NDDOT may allow you to complete a defensive driving course (also known as traffic school) in order to:
- Dismiss your traffic ticket.
- Remove 3 points from your driving record every 12 months.
- Avoid an auto insurance rate increase.
To find out if you're eligible, refer to your traffic ticket or contact the relevant ND county or municipal court. For more information, visit our Defensive Driving in North Dakota page.
Pay a Traffic Ticket in North Dakota
Payment must be made within 14 days of receiving your traffic ticket. Failure to do so may result in additional penalties and fines.
In North Dakota, you can pay your traffic ticket :
- Online.
- By mail.
NOTE: Some traffic tickets require a court appearance in order to be resolved.
For more information, visit the ND Highway Patrol website.
Fight a ND Traffic Ticket
To fight your traffic ticket in North Dakota, you'll need to:
- Sign and date the appropriate section on your ticket to request a court hearing.
- Mail your ticket and bond to the listed address within 14 days.
- Use the bond envelope provided.
If the court finds you not guilty, your bond will be returned.
For more information, visit the ND Highway Patrol website.
NOTE: If you fail to appear in court or respond to your ticket, the court will issue a warrant for your arrest and the NDDOT may suspend your driver’s license.
Lost Your Traffic Ticket?
If you lost your ND traffic ticket, you may be able to search for it online.
You can also get in touch with the court handling your case for specific ticket information.
- Call the district court for tickets issued by the Highway Patrol or Sheriff Department.
- Call the municipal court for tickets issued by your local Police Department.
Be sure to request information about your ticket fines and court costs, due dates, and payment methods.
Fines & Penalties for Commercial Drivers
If you are a commercial driver, you must inform your employer that you've been found guilty of a traffic violation within 30 days of conviction. This applies even if you weren't driving a commercial vehicle.
If you commit any of the following major offenses, you risk losing your CDL for 1 year:
- Operating a commercial vehicle when you have been disqualified.
- Operating a commercial vehicle when your CDL has been cancelled, revoked or suspended.
- Driving a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% or higher.
- Leaving the scene of an accident involving commercial vehicle.
- Refusing submit to a BAC test.
- Driving while under the effects of a controlled substance.
- Causing a fatality when your commercial vehicle was operated negligently.
- Committing a felony offense by making, dispensing and/or distributing a controlled substance or any other felony offense.
For more information, visit our CDL Suspensions in ND page.
North Dakota Traffic Tickets: FAQs
Our Traffic Ticket FAQ page can answer any other questions you may have about:
- ND driving records.
- Removing points from your driving record.
- Hiring a North Dakota traffic ticket attorney.
- Having your bond returned after successfully fighting your traffic ticket.