TICKET fees are about to face a major hike for certain drivers starting next month.
A US state is raising its prices for traffic fines, some fees more than doubling for certain tickets.
Traffic fines are going up in one US state starting Aug. 1[/caption]
Speed limits on interstates are going up alongside the new fees[/caption]
The changes are expected to go into effect on August 1 — with the speed limit on interstates going up, too.
North Dakota updated its ordinances in May, the citations following a tiered system that adds on money by mile per hour over the speed limit.
The minimum a fine will cost is $20 on interstates, or $5 for every mile per hour over the limit — whichever costs more.
More money will be added as well, depending on how much faster drivers are going.
An extra $20 will also be added to those going 16 miles per hour or higher over the limit.
A silver lining to the increasing fees, however, is that speed limits are going up on interstate highways to 80 miles per hour.
“This bill strikes a reasonable balance by aligning North Dakota’s interstate speed limit with two of our three neighboring states and increasing fines as a deterrent to speeding,” Governor Kelly Armstrong said, speaking of South Dakota and Montana.
Other roads in the state will also be going up, too, albeit a smaller fee.
Instead of $5 for highways, $3 per mile over the speed limit will be added to other roads, according to Inforum.
Minnesota, one of North Dakota’s neighboring states, has more of an iron fist when it comes to speeding drivers.
The citation prices can vary by county, but typically cost over $100 with court fees for going 10 miles per hour over the limit, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
Fines will double if you’re going 20 miles per hour over – costing hundreds for drivers who break the law.
“We’ve all been there while driving. You’re running late to an activity, or stressed about a work project, or annoyed at the seemingly clueless driver ahead of you,” the agency wrote.
“Take a breath and don’t take out life’s frustrations on the road through speeding and aggressive driving.”
Prices for new fines
Starting Aug. 1, North Dakota speeding fines will cost:
- minimum of $20 on interstates, or $5 every mph over the speed limit — whichever is higher
- Extra $20 for those going 16 mph or over the speed limit
- Other roads will be $3 every one mph over the speed limit
- New price for speeding in a construction zone is $150
Minnesota still has a speed limit of 70 miles per hour on interstates.
One North Dakotan police chief said that the speeding ticket prices now are “a little more than a slap on the wrist,” and praised the new fines.
“I think we still need to have some more increase in our fines down the road,” Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski told InForum in May.
“We’ll take the little bit of the win on this one.”
Fees for speeding in a construction zone are more than doubling, too.
The citation will cost $150, up from the current $80, the North Dakota Monitor reported.
One North Dakota town is raising its parking fees, too.
Jamestown, North Dakota is going to start issuing all parking fees at $20, up from the typical $10 ticket, according to the Jamestown Sun.
The fine for speeding in a construction zone is more than doubling[/caption]
