Panel hears bill to consolidate speeding fine tiers, add $100 penalty for high excess speeds

Representative Roger Mackey, R‑District 26, asked the committee to simplify North Dakota’s speeding fine structure and increase penalties for very high speeds. Under the bill text discussed, the state’s three distinct fine schedules would be consolidated into two, and an additional $100 would be assessed for drivers 21 miles per hour or more over posted limits on state highways and for drivers 16 miles per hour or more over posted limits on interstates (as presented during the hearing).

Sergeant Wade Catamis of the North Dakota Highway Patrol described inconsistencies across current fine tables and walked the committee through an agency spreadsheet showing how a driver maintaining the same speed can face different penalties when crossing interconnecting speed zones. Catamis said the change would remove anomalies — for example, where a single change of posted zone could reduce a fine even though the actual speed relative to the road remained high — and would add force to deterrence for extreme speeding by increasing fines at the higher thresholds.

Public testimony in support emphasized safety. Pete Transfer, a production foreman and resident of rural McKenzie County, told the committee that local law enforcement regards existing fines as insufficient deterrent in areas with high‑speed traffic and that stepped increases or repeat‑offender escalators would be effective.

Committee members asked for data on citation trends and a fiscal estimate of how any change would affect the common schools trust fund, which receives fines. Sergeant Catamis offered to provide citation data by zone and time frame for committee staff to analyze. The hearing was then closed; no committee vote was taken.

Committee directions: staff to request and review historical speeding citation data and help model revenue/deterrence impacts before any possible amendment or vote.