North Dakota Speeding Laws and Ticket Penalties

Many drivers will get at least one speeding ticket during their lifetime. A speeding ticket can result in expensive fines, points on a driver's license, a license suspension, and increased insurance rates. This article explains how North Dakota's speed limits work and the penalties you'll face for a speeding ticket conviction.

How Do North Dakota's Speed Limit Laws Work?

Like most other states, North Dakota has two types of speeding laws: "absolute speed limits" and a "basic speeding law."

North Dakota's Basic Speeding Law

North Dakota's basic speeding law prohibits driving at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions without regard to the actual and potential hazards. It's, therefore, possible for a motorist to violate the basic speed law without exceeding a posted speed limit. For instance, if the posted speed limit is 65 miles per hour, a driver could violate the basic speeding law by driving 60 miles per hour on an icy road. (N.D. Cent. Code § 39-09-01 (2025).)

North Dakota's Absolute (Maximum) Speed Limits

There is no trick to how North Dakota's absolute speed limits work: If the sign says the speed limit is 40 miles per hour and you drive faster than 40 miles per hour, you've violated the law.

North Dakota's absolute speed limits include:

• 80 miles per hour on access-controlled, paved and divided, and multilane interstate highways
• 70 miles per hour on paved and divided multilane highways
• 65 miles per hour on paved two-lane highways if posted for that speed
• 55 miles per hour on gravel, dirt, or loose surface highways and on paved two-lane county and township highways if there is no speed limit posted
• 25 miles per hour on any highway in a business district, residential district, or public park, and
• 20 miles per hour in school zones and certain circumstances where the driver's visibility is obstructed or limited.

(N.D. Cent. Code § 39-09-02 (2025).)

Speed limits in these zones sometimes vary. But whatever the limit is, it's normally posted.

Fines for Exceeding the Speed Limit in North Dakota

The fines for violating North Dakota's speeding laws depend on the driver's speed and the type of speed limit that was violated. Generally, the following penalties apply:

• Basic speeding law violation. Fine of $100.
• Absolute speed limit violation. Fine of $20 or $3 for each mile per hour above the speed limit, whichever is greater. There's an additional $20 fine for exceeding the speed limit by 16 miles per hour or more.
• Absolute speed limit violation on a highway with a posted speed limit above 65 miles per hour. Fine of $20 or $5 for each mile per hour above the speed limit, whichever is greater. There's an additional $20 fine for exceeding the speed limit by 16 miles per hour or more.
• Speeding in a school zone. Fine of $40 plus $1 for each mile per hour in excess of 10 miles per hour above the speed limit.
• Speeding in a highway construction zone. Fine of $150 plus $2 for each mile per hour in excess of 10 miles per hour above the speed limit.

(N.D. Cent. Code §§ 39-06.1-06, 39-09-01 (2025).)

Points for Exceeding the Speed Limit in North Dakota

Basic speed law violations and exceeding an absolute speed limit by more than five miles per hour will add points to a motorist's driving record. The maximum points for speeding is 15 (for going 36 miles per hour or more above the speed limit—46 miles per more on a highway with a posted speed limit above 65 miles per hour). Accumulating 12 or more points can lead to license suspension. Your insurance company likely will raise your insurance rates if you acquire points on your license record. (N.D. Cent. Code, § 39-06.1-10 (2025).)

Reckless Driving and Vehicular Homicide Charges in North Dakota

Depending on the circumstances, speeding could lead to a reckless driving conviction, which is a misdemeanor. And if a driver causes a fatality while speeding, felony negligent homicide charges are possible.