Title 39, Motor Vehicles

A person, officer, or employee of the state or of any department, board, bureau, commission, institution, industry, or other agency of the state, or person, officer, or employee of the North Dakota art museum, or of any entity located upon the international boundary line between …

The term "political activity" as used in this chapter includes any form of campaigning or electioneering, such as attending or arranging for political meetings; transporting candidates or workers engaged in campaigning or electioneering; distributing campaign literature, politica…

A state officer or employee who uses or drives any privately owned motor vehicle while engaged in political activity may not collect or receive from this state any expense moneys for the use or operation of the motor vehicle while engaged in the political activity. A state office…

Any officer or employee who collects or receives any expense moneys in violation of section 39-01-05 is subject to a suit for the recovery of the funds wrongfully collected or received by that person, and if that person's office or position is bonded by the state bonding fund, su…

Any person violating any provision of this chapter for which another penalty is not specifically provided is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

1. The state or any department, agency, or bureau, as well as any county, city, or other political subdivision including townships, school districts, and park districts, and any entity located upon the international boundary line between the United States of America and Canada us…

Any political subdivision may provide for the inclusion of buses, vans, or other motor vehicles used by senior citizens groups to transport members in a motor vehicle insurance policy of the political subdivision. The political subdivision may require payment by a senior citizens…

Except as otherwise provided in this section, any insurance policy providing coverage of state-owned motor vehicles must provide, at the request of a senior citizens group prior to the issuance or renewal of the policy, for the inclusion of buses, vans, or other motor vehicles us…

It is unlawful for the state of North Dakota, its political subdivisions, counties, cities, and the state department of transportation to establish and maintain any mechanical device or devices known as "parking meters", or by whatever name designated, requiring the deposit there…

The director of the department of transportation may require all owners or operators of motor vehicles using the highways of this state or registered in this state to show proof of the payment of all proper taxes and registration fees upon such motor vehicles.

The use and operation by a resident of this state or that person's agent, or by a nonresident or that person's agent, of a motor vehicle upon or over the highways of this state must be deemed an appointment by such resident when that person has been absent from this state continu…

Within ten days after service of summons as provided in section 39-01-11, notice of such service together with a copy of the summons and complaint in the action must be sent by the plaintiff to the defendant at the defendant's last-known address by registered or certified mail wi…

The director shall keep a record of all process served upon the director under the provisions of section 39-01-11. Such record must show the day and hour of service. If any defendant served under section 39-01-11 has made proof of financial responsibility by filing a certificate …

When service has been made as provided in section 39-01-11, the court, before entering default judgment, or at any stage of the proceeding, may order such continuance as may be necessary to afford the defendant reasonable opportunity to defend any action against the defendant.

1. A mobility-impaired individual who displays prominently upon a motor vehicle parked by that individual or under that individual's direction and for that individual's use, the distinguishing certificate specified in subsection 4, license plates issued under section 39-04-10.2, …

Any person having information that a licensed dealer has violated any provisions of this title may file with the director an affidavit specifically setting forth such violation. Upon receipt of such affidavit, the director shall investigate the violation alleged in the affidavit.…

1. Officers and employees of the department designated by the director are, for the purpose of administering the motor vehicle laws, authorized to administer oaths and acknowledge signatures, and must do so without fee. 2. A certified copy of any record, electronic or original, m…

Any dealer required to be bonded by the provisions of title 39 whose bond is canceled by the surety company shall file a new bond with the department before the effective date of the cancellation. The effective date of a bond cancellation must be thirty days after notification by…

A vending machine that allows access to a tobacco product may not be placed or remain upon a rest area, and any other vending machine may not be placed or remain upon a rest area under the supervision of the director without a permit from the director. The director shall charge a…

The director may adopt and enforce such administrative rules, designate such agencies, and establish such branch offices, including contracted branch offices, as may be necessary to carry out the motor vehicle and driver's license laws applicable to the director's office and depa…

Whenever, under the laws pertaining to the cancellation, revocation, suspension, or rescission of a registration of a motor vehicle or a certificate of title to a motor vehicle, a determination has been made to cancel, revoke, suspend, or rescind either the registration or certif…

Except as provided by chapter 39-33, all registration and license records in the office of the department must be public records and must be open to inspection by the public during business hours. The director shall charge a uniform fee, not to exceed three dollars, for each item…

In this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires: 1. "Assistant superintendent" means the assistant highway patrol superintendent. 2. "Superintendent" means the state highway patrol superintendent. 3. "Troopers" means the members of the highway patrol incl…

The governor shall appoint a state highway patrol superintendent who shall enforce the provisions of the laws of this state relating to the protection and use of the highways in this state and the operation of motor and other vehicles upon such highways.

The superintendent, the assistant superintendent, and the troopers constitute the highway patrol. The highway patrol shall enforce the provisions of the laws of this state relating to the protection and use of highways and shall patrol the highways and cooperate with sheriffs and…

No person may be appointed as a trooper unless the person has all of the following qualifications: 1. Has passed such physical examination and such other qualification test as may be required by the superintendent. 2. Is of good moral character and temperate habits. 3. Has been a…

The superintendent shall issue to each trooper a badge of authority with the seal of this state in the center thereof. The term "North Dakota patrol" must encircle such seal and above the same must appear the designation of the position held by the person to whom such badge is is…

The superintendent, assistant superintendent, and each trooper, before entering upon the performance of the person's duties, shall take and file the oath prescribed by law for state officers.

The salary of the superintendent must be within the amount appropriated for salaries by the legislative assembly. The salary of the assistant superintendent and each trooper must be fixed by the superintendent, and must be paid in the same manner as other state employees are paid…

All salaries, wages, and other expenses of the highway patrol must be paid by the office of management and budget and state treasurer out of the patrol fund, upon vouchers required by law for the payment of all state expenses, duly approved by the superintendent, and audited and …

The superintendent and each member of the highway patrol shall have the power: 1. Of a peace officer for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this title relating to operators' licenses, the provisions of title 24 relating to highways, and of any other law regulating the ope…

For purposes of education and community outreach, and to promote public trust, the superintendent may permit a nonmember of the highway patrol to participate in job shadowing activities, including: 1. Participating in a ride-along program with a member of the highway patrol while…

Any person is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if: 1. Without authority, the person wears the badge of a member of the highway patrol, or a badge of similar design which would tend to deceive anyone; 2. The person impersonates a member of the highway patrol or other officer or emp…

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, for which another penalty is not specifically provided, is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.

In addition to the superintendent's powers as a member of the highway patrol, the superintendent of the patrol has the following powers as administrative head of the patrol: 1. The superintendent may organize the patrol into divisions, bureaus, and districts as the superintendent…

The superintendent of the highway patrol is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and administration of the law enforcement training center. The superintendent shall appoint a director of the training center who is responsible for coordinating basic and advanced peace offic…

The speed of any motor vehicle may be checked by the use of radio microwaves or other electrical device. The results of such checks shall be accepted as prima facie evidence of the speed of such motor vehicle in any court or legal proceedings where the speed of the motor vehicle …

There is hereby created a safety division within the state highway patrol for the purpose of reducing the danger of travel on the highways, roads, and streets of this state, the number of motor vehicle accidents with resultant loss of lives, personal injuries, and property damage…

The director of the safety division, under the supervision of the highway patrol superintendent, shall direct and carry on a public education and information program and assist and cooperate with all governmental or private agencies, organizations, or groups in order to encourage…

There is created a fund to be known as the highway patrol assets forfeiture fund. The fund consists of funds obtained from moneys, assets, and proceeds seized and forfeited pursuant to section 19-03.1-36, amounts received through court proceedings as restitution, and amounts rema…

There is created in the state treasury the highway patrol federal assets forfeiture fund. The fund consists of moneys received through federal asset forfeiture sharing programs. Funds received through federal sharing programs may not be deposited in the same account as assets for…

There is created in the state treasury a capitol building access card fund. The fund consists of any fees received by the superintendent for the issuance of capitol building access cards. The superintendent shall establish policies regarding the issuance of capitol building acces…

Application for the registration of a vehicle must be made as provided in this section: 1. Application must be made by the owner thereof using the legal name as evidenced by a valid state-issued driver's license, identity card, or any other documentary evidence that confirms to t…

Whenever any person after making application for or obtaining the registration of a vehicle moves from the address named in the application or shown upon a registration card such person shall within ten days thereafter notify the department of the person's old and new addresses.

The department shall file each application received, and when satisfied as to the genuineness and regularity thereof, and that the applicant is entitled thereto, shall register the described vehicle and the owner in books or electronic data processing files or on index cards or f…

The department shall refuse registration or any transfer of registration upon any of the following grounds: 1. That the application contains any false or fraudulent statement or that the applicant has failed to furnish required information or reasonable additional information req…