House Transportation Committee advances higher school‑bus fines, tightens temporary restricted licenses and clears collector‑vehicle titling changes; hears OHV,

The House Transportation Committee on Oct. 12 advanced multiple transportation measures and heard extended public testimony on off‑highway vehicle (OHV) complaints from residents in suburban and rural districts.

The committee approved a stepped package of bills: House Bill 12‑94 to raise the fine for first offenses of passing a stopped school bus, House Bill 13‑16 to add fines and a short revocation period for repeat violations by holders of temporary restricted driver's licenses, House Bill 11‑55 to modernize equipment and titling exemptions for certain collector or special‑interest motor vehicles, and two other bills including amendments on authorized flashing lights for tow/wrecker vehicles and a local‑control golf‑cart ordinance. Committee members also heard multiple public witnesses about damage and safety concerns caused by OHV riders on or near subdivisions; the committee closed that hearing and requested follow‑up research on county authority and home‑rule ordinances.

Why it matters: The measures put new penalties and administrative tools in place that committee members and law‑enforcement witnesses said could change driver behavior, support enforcement, and update rules that have not kept pace with vehicle changes. Several bills now move to be carried by committee senators to the next floor action.

Key actions and debate

School‑bus penalties (House Bill 12‑94) Representative Anna Novak, sponsor, said the bill “increases the first offense to a fine of $250 up from $100,” citing numerous local incidents where drivers failed to stop for deployed stop‑arms on rural highways. Novak and public safety witnesses described situations in which children must cross state roads to reach bus stops and bus drivers are often unable to note a license plate. Chief Frank Sen of Beulah told the committee his department performs routine school‑patrols and supported the increase, saying higher fines produced a measurable deterrent in his city when local fines were doubled. The committee recorded public testimony from bus‑service operators and parents describing frequent stop‑arm infractions statewide.

Temporary restricted licenses (House Bill 13‑16) Representative Dan Ruby introduced the bill as aimed at drivers who repeatedly violate while holding temporary restricted licenses. Ruby said DOT data showed about 3,000 temporary restricted licenses had been issued, that roughly 818 of those holders later received at least one additional moving violation and 88 had three or more violations (one individual recorded as many as 12). The measure as advanced imposes an additional monetary penalty on violations by temporary restricted‑license holders and authorizes the director to revoke the temporary restricted license for up to 30 days if the holder commits three moving violations after issuance. Committee debate centered on the dollar amount attached to the additional fee; the committee amended the bill to set the additional fee at $100 (reinstating the house original), then approved the bill as amended.

Collector and special‑interest vehicles (House Bill 11‑55) Representative Bill Twite described HB 11‑55 as updating Century Code definitions and the titling/licensing process for “collector or special interest” vehicles, noting the bill raises the age threshold to 40 years and clarifies descriptions in statute so certain modernized or rebuilt vehicles can be titled. Richard Sundhagen of Minot testified in support, describing examples where bumper‑height and other specification mismatches had made vehicles technically illegal to title. Brad Schaffer, Driver and Vehicle Director for the Department of Transportation, told the committee, “Motor Vehicle Department of Transportation has no concerns with this bill.” The committee voted to give HB 11‑55 a due‑pass recommendation.

Authorized flashing lights; tow/wrecker language (amendment to House Bill 12‑41) Committee members debated an amendment to allow flashing blue lights for wreckers (towing vehicles) when stopped on highways and related language to define Class A vs. Class B authorized emergency vehicles. The Highway Patrol’s Tom Iverson briefed the committee on the statutory categories; staff and witnesses clarified that volunteer fire vehicles fall into a different class and that the amendment’s restriction — permitting the flashing blue light while stopped but not while transporting another vehicle or traveling on a highway — was intended to limit potential misuse. The amendment and the bill as amended were advanced by the committee.

Golf carts and municipal authority (House Bill 15‑22) The committee advanced a bill to allow cities by ordinance to authorize golf‑cart operation on city streets beyond the narrow exception currently in code (which limits operation to travel between a home and golf course). The League of Cities told the committee it was neutral and that the bill was necessary to permit local ordinances enabling broader golf‑cart use; the committee approved the bill (motion passed 4–2 in roll call).

Off‑highway vehicles (House Bill 13‑46) — hearing and community testimony The committee opened and closed a hearing on HB 13‑46, a sponsor‑requested bill by Representative Matt Heilman that would permit counties (as well as cities) to regulate, restrict or prohibit certain OHV uses in county jurisdiction. Multiple residents from Burleigh County and suburban Bismarck testified about repeated damage to ditches and yards, noise and safety threats from dirt bikes, side‑by‑sides and similar vehicles, and described limited enforcement options at present. Witnesses said local sheriff’s offices have limited ability to address recurring problems. Committee members asked staff to research how many counties already have ordinances or home‑rule authority and what tools counties could use; no final committee action was taken while research continues.

Votes at a glance - House Bill 11‑55 (collector/special‑interest vehicle equipment and titling): motion for due pass made and seconded; committee vote recorded as unanimous among members present; outcome: approved (due pass). (Mover: Senator Klein; Second: Senator Rummel.) - Amendment to House Bill 11‑40 (Memorial Bridge Dickinson) and subsequent due‑pass as amended: amendment accepted and bill advanced; outcome: approved (due pass as amended). - House Bill 12‑41 (amendment permitting flashing blue lights for wreckers/Class B vehicles): amendment adopted; bill advanced as amended (due pass as amended). - House Bill 12‑94 (increase fines for passing a stopped school bus): hearing with multiple supporters and law‑enforcement witnesses; committee advanced (due pass). (Sponsor: Rep. Anna Novak.) - House Bill 13‑16 (temporary restricted licenses): committee amended the bill to set the additional fee at $100 (motion to restore house original), then passed the bill as amended (due pass). The enacted amendment requires an additional fee for violations by temporary restricted‑license holders and authorizes a 30‑day revocation after three subsequent moving violations. (Amendment mover: Senator Hogan; second: Senator Rummel.) - House Bill 15‑22 (local golf‑cart ordinances): committee passed the bill (motion passed 4–2); outcome: approved (due pass). (Roll call: Vice Chair Corey Aye; Senator Hogan No; Senator Klein Aye; Senator Paulson Aye; Senator Romo No; Chairman Clemens Aye.) - House Bill 13‑46 (county authority for OHV regulation): hearing held; no final committee vote; committee requested staff follow‑up research on county home‑rule authority and existing ordinances.

What the committee directed next Committee members instructed staff to research county ordinance authority and home‑rule adoption across the state to inform any follow‑up on HB 13‑46. Several bills were assigned committee carriers: Senator Paulson, Senator Klein, Senator Rummel and others volunteered to carry advanced bills to further floor action.

Sources and notable quotes Representative Anna Novak (HB 12‑94): “House bill 12 94 is a very simple bill relating to passing a stop school bus. It increases the first offense to a fine of $250 up from $100.” Richard Sundhagen (support for HB 11‑55): “I'm here in support of house bill 11 55, and representative Tweed pretty well covered everything.” Brad Schaffer, Driver and Vehicle Director, N.D. Department of Transportation (on HB 11‑55): “Motor Vehicle Department of Transportation has no concerns with this bill.” Representative Dan Ruby (HB 13‑16, describing DOT data): “they had 3,000 temporary restricted licenses. Of those, 818 of them received other violations, and 88 of them had 3 or more violations and 1 of them was as many as 12 violations.”

Ending Bills that received due‑pass recommendations will be carried to the next legislative stage by committee members named on the record; the committee left the OHV matter open pending staff research into county authority and existing ordinances. Additional floor action and potential amendments are possible as sponsors and stakeholders work the measures through the legislative calendar.