North DakotaSB 21322025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

AN ACT to amend and reenact section 39-09-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to careless driving and causing injury to the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle or damage to an authorized emergency vehicle; and to provide a penalty.

Sponsored By: Dean Rummel (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Careless drivers pay a higher fee

North Dakota raises the careless-driving fee from $30 to $100, costing drivers $70 more per violation. The rule applies on highways and public or private property open to motor vehicles. Drivers must choose a reasonable, safe speed and account for actual and potential hazards. This includes intersections, railroad crossings, curves, hill crests, narrow or winding roads, and hazards involving pedestrians, traffic, weather, or road conditions.

Careless-driving infractions change for roadside crashes

North Dakota makes careless driving an infraction when it causes specified injuries or property damage. Covered injuries include injuries to snow-removal equipment operators working on snow removal. They also include first responders and authorized emergency-vehicle operators or occupants acting in their official role while stopped roadside. These roadside responders or vehicles must display visible flashing, revolving, or rotating blue, white, or red lights, or a hazard warning signal. The rule also covers injuries to people helping someone stopped roadside who displays a visible hazard warning light. Damage over $4,000 to an authorized emergency vehicle or snow-removal equipment doing snow removal also qualifies. For snow-removal equipment, that threshold rises from over $1,000 to over $4,000, narrowing which damage cases qualify. Snow-removal equipment means vehicles operated by highway-maintenance employees or contractors for winter work, including plowing, hauling snow, salting, and sanding.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dean Rummel

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Anna S. Novak

    Republican • House

  • Austen Schauer

    Republican • House

  • Keith Boehm

    Republican • Senate

  • David A. Clemens

    Republican • Senate

  • Kyle Davison

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 180 • No: 1

Senate vote • 3/21/2025

Second reading, passed, yeas 43 nays 1

Yes: 43 • No: 1

House vote • 3/13/2025

Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 90 nays 0

Yes: 90 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/22/2025

Second reading, passed, yeas 47 nays 0

Yes: 47 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Filed with Secretary Of State 03/26

    3/27/2025House
  2. Signed by Governor 03/25

    3/26/2025Senate
  3. Sent to Governor

    3/24/2025Senate
  4. Signed by President

    3/24/2025Senate
  5. Signed by Speaker

    3/24/2025House
  6. Second reading, passed, yeas 43 nays 1

    3/21/2025Senate
  7. Concurred

    3/21/2025Senate
  8. Returned to Senate (12)

    3/14/2025Senate
  9. Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 90 nays 0

    3/13/2025House
  10. Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

    3/11/2025House
  11. Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 14 0 0

    3/10/2025House
  12. Committee Hearing 09:30

    3/7/2025House
  13. Introduced, first reading, referred Transportation Committee

    2/13/2025House
  14. Received from Senate

    1/23/2025House
  15. Second reading, passed, yeas 47 nays 0

    1/22/2025Senate
  16. Amendment adopted, placed on calendar

    1/21/2025Senate
  17. Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 6 0 0

    1/20/2025Senate
  18. Committee Hearing 09:00

    1/16/2025Senate
  19. Introduced, first reading, referred Transportation Committee

    1/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Adopted by the House Transportation Committee

  • Enrollment

  • FIRST ENGROSSMENT

  • FIRST ENGROSSMENT with House Amendments

  • INTRODUCED

  • Prepared by the Legislative Council staff for Senator Rummel

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