The north dakota speeding ticket cost depends on exactly how fast you were going over the limit, where you were ticketed, and the court costs your county adds on top. This guide breaks down the real north dakota speeding ticket cost in plain English — the exact base fine for each speed bracket, the fees added at the courthouse, the school-zone and work-zone penalties, and the point and insurance hit that follow. All figures are estimates for general guidance, verified against North Dakota sources as of June 2026.
In This North Dakota Guide:
North Dakota Speeding Ticket Cost by Speed Bracket
Here is the typical north dakota speeding ticket cost in North Dakota, broken down by how far over the posted limit you were caught driving. These are base fines from the North Dakota fine schedule — your final total will be higher once court costs and fees are added.
| How Fast Over the Limit | Typical Base Fine |
|---|---|
| 1-10 mph over | 20 to 30 — under NDCC 39-06.1-06, the fee is 20 dollars or 3 dollars per mph over the limit (whichever is greater) in zones under 70 mph; in zones posted above 65 mph, 20 dollars or 5 dollars per mph over (whichever is greater). So 1-6 mph over in a regular zone is a flat 20; 7-10 mph over is 21-30. On highways posted above 65 mph, 1-4 mph over is 20; 5-10 mph over is 25-50 |
| 11-20 mph over | 33 to 120 — in zones under 70 mph, 3 dollars per mph over (so 33-60), plus an additional 20 dollar surcharge once speed exceeds the limit by 16 mph or more (so 16-20 over = 68-80). On highways posted above 65 mph, 5 dollars per mph (so 55-100), plus the additional 20 at 16+ over (so 16-20 over = 100-120) |
| 21+ mph over | 83 and up — in zones under 70 mph, 3 dollars per mph over plus the 20 dollar surcharge (e.g., 25 over = 95; 30 over = 110). On highways posted above 65 mph, 5 dollars per mph over plus the 20 dollar surcharge (e.g., 25 over = 145; 30 over = 170) |
| Court costs & fees (added) | North Dakota handles most speeding offenses as noncriminal infractions under NDCC 39-06.1 — the statutory fee IS the total penalty with no separate court costs added. If a driver contests the ticket and the case goes to district court, additional court costs may apply at the judge’s discretion. Some municipalities (e.g., Fargo) may add a small processing or technology fee on top of the state schedule |
How North Dakota speed limits work: North Dakota uses both a basic speed law and absolute speed limits. The basic speed law (NDCC 39-09-01) prohibits driving faster than is reasonable and prudent under existing conditions — a driver can violate this even while under the posted limit (e.g., driving 60 in a 65 zone on icy roads).
Absolute speed limits (NDCC 39-09-02) set maximum speeds that cannot be exceeded regardless of conditions. The statute also uses prima facie language — complaints must specify the speed driven and the speed that is prima facie lawful at the time and place
What a North Dakota Speeding Ticket Really Costs
The number printed on your citation is rarely the full north dakota speeding ticket cost. Once you add court costs and mandatory fees (about North Dakota handles most speeding offenses as noncriminal infractions under NDCC 39-06.1 — the statutory fee IS the total penalty with no separate court costs added. If a driver contests the ticket and the case goes to district court, additional court costs may apply at the judge’s discretion.
Some municipalities (e.g., Fargo) may add a small processing or technology fee on top of the state schedule), the out-the-door total is higher than the base fine. And the fine is only the upfront part — the points and the multi-year insurance increase usually cost you more over time than the ticket itself.
First offense vs. repeat: North Dakota does not impose escalating statutory fines for repeat speeding offenses the way some states do — the fee schedule under NDCC 39-06.1-06 applies per violation regardless of prior history. However, each ticket adds points to the driving record. Once a driver accumulates 12 or more points, the NDDOT suspends driving privileges for 7 days per point over 11. Repeat offenders therefore face suspension risk much sooner, and courts may charge habitual excessive speeders with reckless driving
Beyond the fine, a North Dakota speeding ticket adds about 0 points for 1-5 mph over; 1 point for 6-10 mph over; 3 points for 11-15 mph over; 5 points for 16-25 mph over (in zones under 70 mph); 9 points for 26-35 mph over; 12 points for 36-45 mph over; 15 points for 46+ mph over.
On highways posted at 70 mph or above, the brackets shift: 0 for 1-5 over, 1 for 6-10, 3 for 11-15, 5 for 16-20, 7 for 21-25, 10 for 26-30, 12 for 31-35, 15 for 36+ over.
Points reduce by 1 for every 3 months of violation-free driving, and 3 points can be removed by completing an approved driver improvement course points to your license and stays on your record for 3 years from the conviction date for minor speeding infractions. Points remain on the record but reduce by 1 point for every 3 consecutive months without a violation.
Insurance companies may review driving records for 3 to 5 years depending on the carrier. See our North Dakota driving points guide for the full point and suspension rules.
School Zones, Work Zones & Enhancements
School zone: Separate fine schedule — 40 dollars for 1-10 mph over the school zone limit, then 40 dollars plus 1 dollar for each mph over 10 mph above the limit (e.g., 15 over in a school zone = 45). This replaces (does not stack on top of) the regular fine, unless the regular fine would be higher
Work zone: Separate fine schedule — 80 dollars for 1-10 mph over in a highway construction zone, then 80 dollars plus 2 dollars for each mph over 10 mph above the limit (e.g., 20 over in a work zone = 100). This replaces the regular fine unless the regular fine would be higher under NDCC 39-06.1-06
When a North Dakota Speeding Ticket Becomes Reckless or Criminal
Going far over the limit can turn a simple ticket into a criminal charge. In North Dakota, North Dakota does not set a specific mph threshold that automatically triggers reckless driving. However, under NDCC 39-08-03, reckless driving is defined as operating a vehicle without due caution at a speed or in a manner likely to endanger persons or property. Extreme speeding or repeat excessive speeding may be charged as reckless driving — a class B misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in jail and up to 1500 in fines.
📨 Get Free Traffic Ticket Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
If injury results, it becomes aggravated reckless driving — a class A misdemeanor carrying up to 360 days in jail and up to 3000 in fines A criminal speed charge carries much higher fines, more points, and possible jail time, so the North Dakota speeding ticket cost is far higher at the top brackets.
How a Ticket Affects Your Insurance in North Dakota
In North Dakota, a speeding ticket typically raises your car-insurance premium by about Approximately 17 to 19 percent on average for a single speeding ticket in North Dakota, though the actual increase varies by insurer, driving history, and severity of the violation for three years or more — often costing far more than the ticket itself.
Insurers treat a speeding conviction as a sign of higher risk, so the surcharge can outlast the points on your license. A ticket can raise your premium for years — compare cheaper car insurance at Car Cover Guide before you decide whether to just pay your North Dakota ticket.
How a North Dakota Speeding Fine Is Calculated
The North Dakota speeding ticket cost is built from several parts, which is why two drivers going the same speed can owe different totals. The base fine is set by how far over the limit you were — that is the number in the table above. On top of that, courts add court costs and administrative fees, and many counties tack on local surcharges or assessments that fund court technology, victim programs, or state safety funds. The result is an out-the-door total that is usually well above the base fine.
Speed limits themselves work in one of a few ways. Under an absolute speed limit, going even one mph over is a violation. Under a prima facie limit, you can argue the posted speed was unsafe for the conditions, while a basic speed law simply requires a speed that is reasonable and prudent.
Knowing which rule North Dakota uses can matter if you decide to contest the ticket. Whatever the base fine, the real North Dakota speeding ticket cost includes the points and the multi-year insurance increase, not just the amount on the citation.
If you are comparing the North Dakota speeding ticket cost against your other options, remember the cheapest path is not always paying the fine. A higher fine you can dismiss through traffic school may cost less overall than a smaller fine you simply pay, because paying locks in the points and the insurance increase. Run your numbers before you decide.
What to Do About Your North Dakota Speeding Ticket
Once you have a North Dakota speeding ticket, you generally have three choices, and the right one depends on the points involved, your driving record, and your insurance:
- Pay it — the fastest option, but paying is an admission of guilt that adds points and can raise your premium for years.
- Fight it — contesting can get the ticket reduced or dismissed, especially if the officer does not appear or the evidence is weak. See how to fight a speeding ticket in North Dakota.
- Take traffic school — if you qualify, a state-approved course can keep points off your record. See the North Dakota traffic school guide.
Before deciding, it helps to know the full cost — use our speeding ticket cost calculator and the North Dakota points guide to see how close a ticket puts you to a suspension. There is no single right answer for everyone; the best choice depends on how many points the ticket adds, what your record looks like, and how much your insurance would rise.
Other North Dakota rules to know: North Dakota treats most speeding tickets as noncriminal offenses (not criminal infractions) under NDCC 39-06.1 — drivers pay a statutory fee rather than a criminal fine, which means no criminal record from a routine speeding ticket. The fee schedule splits into two tiers based on whether the posted speed limit is above or below 65-70 mph, with higher per-mph fees on faster highways.
North Dakota’s base fees are among the lowest in the nation. The school zone absolute speed limit is 20 mph when children are present. Drivers who accumulate 12 points face suspension of 7 days per point over 11
Official North Dakota Sources & Resources
- North Dakota DMV: https://www.dot.nd.gov
- North Dakota Court Fine Schedule: https://fargond.gov/city-government/departments/municipal-court/non-criminal-procedures/fee-and-point-schedule-for-speeding
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: nhtsa.gov
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex
Statute reference: NDCC 39-06.1-06 (noncriminal speeding fee schedule), NDCC 39-09-01 (basic speed law), NDCC 39-09-02 (absolute speed limits and special zone penalties), NDCC 39-08-03 (reckless driving)
This North Dakota speeding ticket cost guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Always confirm the exact amount on your citation with the court listed on it.
More North Dakota Traffic Ticket Guides
- North Dakota Driving Points & Suspension
- How to Fight a Speeding Ticket in North Dakota
- North Dakota Traffic School & Dismissal
- Speeding Ticket Cost Calculator
- All 50 States
Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal advice. Fines, points, and procedures are estimates for general guidance and change when state laws change. Always verify the exact amount and process with your state DMV or the court listed on your citation, and consult a licensed traffic attorney in your state for advice on your specific situation.