A provision in HB1298 removes cities' ability to add extra fees to speeding violations—a change that directly affects your bottom line.
Most North Dakota trucking and transportation owners don't realize that cities have had the power to nearly double the state's traffic fines for speeding violations within their limits. That power just got cut off.
Under previous law, North Dakota cities could impose surcharges on top of state-set traffic fees for any motor-vehicle or traffic violation. For speeding tickets issued within city limits, this meant operators faced not just the state fee schedule, but an additional local surcharge stacked on top—effectively doubling exposure for a single violation.
What HB1298 Changes
Section 5 of HB1298 carves speed-limit violations out of that surcharge authority. Cities can no longer impose any surcharge above the state fee schedule specifically for speeding. The state fee applies; the local add-on does not.
This matters because commercial fleets and delivery operators spend significant time in city zones where speed limits are lower and enforcement is common. A single speeding citation in a city that previously added a surcharge could cost substantially more than the same violation on a state highway. Now, the fine is capped at the state level, regardless of which city issues the ticket.
Who This Affects
The provision applies to any motor vehicle operator ticketed for exceeding the speed limit within North Dakota city limits. For trucking companies, this includes:
• Local delivery and last-mile operators navigating residential and commercial zones
• Long-haul drivers passing through city corridors
• Owner-operators and independent contractors subject to traffic enforcement
The cap on city surcharges reduces the financial penalty exposure for these violations statewide, making it easier to forecast and budget for traffic-related costs.
Effective Date and Implementation
HB1298 has no explicit effective date stated in the bill text. It is presumed to take effect upon gubernatorial approval and filing with the North Dakota Secretary of State. Once signed into law, the provision becomes operative immediately; cities cannot add surcharges to new speeding citations issued after that point.
Operators and fleet managers should confirm the effective date through the Secretary of State's office or their state transportation association once the bill is signed, to ensure they understand when the change applies to tickets issued in their jurisdiction.
What You Should Do Now
Review your fleet's traffic violation history in North Dakota cities. If your company has paid city surcharges on speeding tickets in the past, document those payments. Once HB1298 is signed, confirm the effective date and communicate it to drivers and dispatch staff so everyone understands the new fine structure.
This is a straightforward cost-control win for operators—but only if you know it exists and track when it goes into effect.
Source: HB1298, Section 5, Page 5; North Dakota Legislative Assembly.