The summer has flown by faster than I realized. The last few years, about this time of year, I usually write an update on any new traffic laws and fines the legislatures on each side of the Red River may have passed. Frankly speaking, North Dakota changes theirs about as often as they rebind their original copy of the Century Code. Not often. Minnesota does raise their fines –usually when the state is in a financial crisis – and this year would certainly fall into that category.
They say timing is everything, and since today I received a press release from the Moorhead Police Department telling of its recent July speed enforcement captures, I decided this would be the column for my annual “BE VERY AWARE” piece.
The press release notification came from the Moorhead Police Department, and it said on the east side of the Red River, local Minnesota law enforcement agencies from Moorhead, Dilworth, Glyndon, Hawley, Barnesville and the Clay County Sheriff’s department cited 95 speeders. Now, while 95 speeders may not seem like a large number considering there were six agencies patrolling the highways and city streets in their area, there are 95 drivers who have, at the very minimum, $125 less in their spending budgets. Given the cost of everything from green beans to zubas, that could be a chunk of change for many of us.
When considering the revenue just one ticket can make, imagine that times ninety-five! And that’s minimizing the actual amounts that will be taken in, because $125 is what the state of Minnesota now charges for a speeding ticket for going even one to ten miles over the speed limit. From there upward on the “over the speed limit” chart, it gets really ugly.
As the colleges and high schools are about to begin their new year, I thought it might be a good idea for anyone new and driving in Minnesota or North Dakota on a regular basis to be aware of what a speeding ticket will cost. I’ve also included what other violations can cost as well.
MINNESOTA FINES INCURRED WITHOUT
HAVING TO APPEAR IN COURT:
1-10 miles over the speed limit: $125
11-14 miles over the speed limit: $135
15-19 miles over the speed limit: $145
20-25 miles over the speed limit: $225
26-30 miles over the speed limit: $285
Anyone driving 31mph or more over the speed limit will be fined $ 385, and will very likely be cited for another violation such as “endangerment” that will cost a whole lot more.
Should you be on your cell phone and just sort of “miss” that stop sign or yield sign, consider the $135 ticket your “contribution” to wherever you are in Clay County.
Forgot to re-register your car last month? Bummer. That will cost $115. Hate wearing your seat belt in Minnesota? Better get used to it, and hand over $110. Was little Johnny’s hollering in the back seat distracting you so much that you let him out? Take out $135 from his college fund.
Did you just move up from Texas or elsewhere they allow dark window tint? Better have it removed, because in Clay County that window you just rolled down will cost you $135.
The other two “less expensive” fines in Minnesota are both $135 each: failure to move left if someone has been pulled over or has a disabled auto, and you kept right on trucking in the lane closest. The other is for possession of a small amount of marijuana or having drug paraphernalia. Either of those will also cost $135 in Clay County.
As for fines related to alcohol, such as having an open bottle (or can) while being dumb enough to drive around with booze, or if an officer witnessed that short cut maneuver you just made and coincidentally smells beer on your breath and –oh yeah, you aren’t twenty-one quite yet? Each of these will cost $185 – the first for open container, the other for minor consuming.
Upward of the fines I’ve listed, it gets very ugly. Careless driving? That will be $185. Don’t have a valid driver’s license due to suspension or revocation? $285. Did you forget to renew your car insurance? That is also a $285 fine. Although anyone driving without insurance should be fined at least $2,850, in my opinion. There is simply no excuse for driving a two- or three-ton weapon of steel anywhere and expect fellow travelers to pick up the tab if you make a mistake and have no insurance to cover the damage.
No one said driving in Minnesota would be cheap, because it isn’t. On the other hand, fines as heavy as these hopefully will make it a lot safer. And when comparing the drivers on one side of the Red River to the other, well, personally, I gave up even attempting to ride my scooter in Fargo. Every time I went over there on my scooter I held my breath because some hot rod didn’t see me or decided to beat a yellow light. I finally gave it up and eventually sold my scooter because it scared the daylights out of me once too often, wondering which car I needed to worry about that wouldn’t see me, might cut me off or just ignore that I had right of way. And this wasn’t a tiny little scooter. I could get up to 65 miles an hour on it when on the freeway. Which was plenty fast on anything with only two wheels for me!
In North Dakota the fine for going over the speed limit by one to five miles is $5. From there it accelerates by “fives” plus $1 (ex: 11 -15 miles over the speed limit = $10 plus $1 each for every mph over 10 mph over limit) in a 55 mph or less speed zone. If a driver is on a freeway with a greater than 55 mph speed limit, the fine is $2 for each mph over the legal limit.
Wow! Really going to put a big dent in the pocket with that! The worst fines enacted in North Dakota for speeding are within a construction zone when workers are present. One to ten mph over the posted speed limit is $80 plus two dollars for every mph over ten and it must be posted “Minimum fee $80.” Fines for going over the speed limit in a school zone with children present do not cost as much in North Dakota. Go figure. And as for other “noncriminal” driving offenses in North Dakota? For the majority, the basic fine is $20. They have a few, however, that fall under the category of “Class B Misdemeanor.” One of North Dakota’s more expensive noncriminal fines is for Open Container for a driver or a passenger, and that can cost $50. On the other hand, a careless driving charge is noncriminal also and the fine is only $30. Somehow, I fail to see how that’s going to deter a hyped-up teenager who is bored on a Friday night. Although if said teenager is caught drag racing, that will be $100 (that is, if he lives through it!). One of the main differences between driving penalties in North Dakota versus Minnesota is that North Dakota has a “point system” for its drivers. Minnesota does not.
Points are accumulated according to the infraction. Once 12 points have been accumulated, a driver will lose his or her license for a 7 day period for EACH point over 11. That applies to adults 18 and older. Drivers under the age of 18 are allowed a total of only 6 points. Once that magical number 6 (or more) has been tallied, it’s all over for cruising around in dear old Dad’s sedan. Drivers’ licenses with six or more points for anyone under 18 will be null, void and cancelled. Points against a license for speeding do not start racking up until a driver is cited going at least 11 mph over the legal limit, or for traffic infractions other than speeding. And there’s a whole slew of them. If you want to know more specifics on these, call the Municipal Clerk of Court and they should have the whole listing of how many points each infraction will be. The majority are two points. The worst is for 24 points and that’s for fleeing from law enforcement in a motor vehicle. However, my guess is, if you are dodging the cops in your car, losing your license for 24 points is probably not your most urgent concern.
Now you’ve been forewarned. So take it easy out there and remember: it really is not how fast you get where you are going that counts most. What counts is that you actually get there.
Questions and comments send to:
asheimrote@aol.com