What are North Dakota Traffic Tickets?

North Dakota traffic tickets are official notices that law enforcement agents issue to road users and motorists who violate state vehicle and traffic laws. In North Dakota, District Courts, Municipal Courts, and law enforcement agencies like the state Highway Patrol issue these tickets. Traffic tickets notify the recipient of the violation the person is charged with, the applicable fines, and the district court into which the ticket is issued. The jurisdictional district court is usually one closest to the venue of the alleged violation.

Upon receiving a ticket, the recipient may respond by paying the ticket, disputing the ticket, or paying the ticket with an explanation in court. Ticket recipients are typically required to respond within 14 days of receipt. Persons who fail to respond to issued tickets may incur additional fines or have their driving privileges suspended.

Public North Dakota traffic records are also accessible through third-party websites. These sites offer the convenience of a statewide database where individuals may perform singular or multi-record searches. To search these platforms, users may be required to provide information to facilitate the search including:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved

Since third-party sites are independent of government sources and not sponsored by these agencies, record availability, accuracy and validity may not be guaranteed.

What Does a Traffic Citation Mean?

In some states, citations are reserved for severe traffic violations and constitute a court summons. A court summons means that individuals who receive citations can visit the courthouse to pay fines or attend a hearing. In North Dakota, a traffic ticket is also known as a citation. Managed by law enforcement agencies and courts, citations are issued to road users who violate traffic laws.

How Do I Pay a Traffic Ticket in North Dakota?

Traffic tickets recipients in North Dakota may pay online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the district court in the county where the ticket was issued. Payment options may vary in each court. Some courts may also have separate payment channels for parking tickets. For instance, in some counties, parking tickets are paid to the local police department. Therefore, ticket holders should consult the ticket or contact the court directly for updated payment information.

To pay traffic tickets or citations by mail, recipients may return the stipulated fine along with the citation in the envelope provided to the District Court address on the ticket envelope. Such persons are required to leave the ticket unsigned; a signature on the returned ticket may be considered an intention to dispute the ticket. Individuals are advised to pay the fine within 14 days of receipt of the ticket. Persons who choose to pay traffic tickets at the courthouse may notify the court to avoid late payment penalties. When a ticket holder pays a fine associated with the ticket, it is deemed a guilty plea. Therefore, paying a ticket may result in penalties such as a suspension of the driver’s license or points assessed against the driver’s record.

Persons who choose to dispute a traffic ticket may also pay fines and court fees. If the court finds such persons not guilty, the penalties may be reimbursed. Accepted payment methods include cash, credit or debit cards, cashier’s checks, personal checks, and money orders. Some courts do not accept certain types of credit cards. The court may permit installment payments for persons who cannot afford to pay tickets in full.

Can You Pay North Dakota Traffic Tickets Online?

Yes, persons issued with traffic tickets in North Dakota can pay online. The North Dakota Courts website offers a Case Search function through which traffic offenders may pay fines and tickets. Some municipal courts also have payment portals for fines and tickets. Users are not required to subscribe to use these websites or payment portals; however, service fees may be charged for each payment transaction. Ticket holders may visit the jurisdictional court’s website to confirm available online payment options. Non-criminal violations and some criminal traffic tickets can be paid online. However, tickets for violations that require a court appearance cannot be.

How Do I Pay a Ticket Online in North Dakota?

Ticket holders may pay North Dakota traffic tickets through the Case Search function on the North Dakota Courts website. The case search contains information from District Court and some Municipal courts. The website lists the age of public records present and the courts where the records were generated. To pay traffic tickets, users should first search for the case record. Search criteria include:

• Case or citation number
• Defendant name
• Filing date

If the search returns the offender’s ticket, the person may proceed with payment. The website provides a payment guide and allows users to print payment receipts.

Some municipal court websites offer online payment. Users typically need citation or ticket numbers when using these websites. It is recommended to consult the court directly to confirm available payment options.

What is The North Dakota Traffic Ticketing System?

Courts and law enforcement agents manage traffic tickets in North Dakota. The type of ticket issued depends on the nature of the traffic violation. For example, persons who violate state traffic laws are issued District Court tickets, while breaches of municipal traffic laws may result in Municipal Court tickets.

Traffic violations are generally classified into moving and non-moving violations. Moving violations occur when a vehicle is in motion. Some examples of moving violations are speeding, running a red light, or failing to give the right of way. Non-moving violations typically occur while a vehicle is stationary. However, traffic violations, such as driving without a seat belt, are also considered non-moving violations.

Moving violations can be criminal or non-criminal. Criminal moving violations are those that may result in an additional criminal charge. These violations can be felonies or misdemeanors. Felony crimes are the most serious offenses and are punishable by more than one year in state prison. Additionally, offenders may be required to pay fines, take driving courses, and install grid interlock devices. Misdemeanor crimes are less severe than felonies but are also punishable by imprisonment. In addition to fines and other penalties, persons convicted of misdemeanors may be required to serve up to one year in county jail. Criminal moving violations are violations that involve the risk of injury or bodily harm or that cause physical damage to other persons.

North Dakota uses a point system to determine penalties for traffic violations. The highest number of points a road user may accumulate for a single traffic offense is 24 points, which applies to fleeing from a law enforcement officer in a vehicle. The Department of Transportation lists the point schedule on its website. Persons who accumulate more than 11 points may be penalized with a driver’s license suspension. The license can be suspended for seven days for every point over 11. The Department of Transportation may deduct one point for every three months where no points are added to the driver’s record.

Traffic offenders with a penalty of no more than five (5) points may take a defensive driving course to avoid the addition of points to their records. Such persons may still be required to pay fines and send proof of completion of the course to the court. Defensive driving courses may also help shave three points off offenders’ driving records once every 12 months.

How Do I Know if I Have a Traffic Ticket in North Dakota?

North Dakota driving records contain the driving history of North Dakota motorists. It includes:

• The record owner’s details
• Accident records
• Driver’s license state
• Convictions, DUI reports, and traffic violations
• Any points assessed against the driver’s license

Interested persons may request personal driving records to stay up to date on traffic violations or outstanding traffic tickets. The Department of Transportation issues copies of driving records. Requests can be made in person, online, or by mail. Requestors may use the Driver’s License Record Request System to request driving records online. Requesting parties may be required to provide:

• Record owner’s name
• Date of birth
• Driver’s license number

The records request system only provides limited records for up to three (3) years. Complete driving records may be obtained by mail. Persons interested in getting full driving records may submit completed Request for Driver Abstract forms and mail them to:

Driver’s License Division
ND Department of Transportation
608 E Boulevard Ave
Bismarck ND 58505–0750

A fee of $3 may be charged for records requests.

How Can I Find a Lost Traffic Ticket in North Dakota

Interested persons can find lost traffic tickets or ticket information using the Case Search function on the North Dakota courts website. Requesting parties may be required to provide the ticket number. Such persons may also use the name search function to find traffic ticket information. The District Court in the county where the ticket was issued may also be able to provide lost ticket information. However, requesting parties may be required to provide information such as the ticket number, names on the ticket, and the date of issue to aid the search.

How Long Does a Traffic Ticket Stay on Your Record in North Dakota?

Depending on the nature of the violation, traffic tickets may stay on the offender’s record for up to three years. Interested persons may be able to get points off the driving records by taking an approved defensive driving course.

Is a Summons Worse Than a Ticket in North Dakota?

Tickets that require a court appearance are summons. Traffic tickets that do not require a court appearance can be paid or resolved online or by mail. Law enforcement agencies issue summons to road users who commit serious or criminal traffic violations.