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House raises construction‑zone speeding penalty to $150
Summary
The House approved Senate Bill 2183 to increase fines for speeding in construction zones from $80 to $150, passing 88-6. Lawmakers said the change aims to protect road workers; the bill was amended so the higher fine applies when workers are present.
The North Dakota House voted 88‑6 on Wednesday to approve Senate Bill 2183, increasing the fine for speeding in construction zones from $80 to $150. The transportation committee recommended the bill with amendments, and the chamber adopted it on final consideration.
Representative Fraley, speaking on the floor, said "The current fee is $80, and senate bill 21 83 increases this to a hundred and 50," and noted the committee had struck language that would have made the higher fine enforceable when construction workers were not present. "Your transportation committee felt the increased fine should be specific to the increased safety of our construction workers," Fraley said.
Committee testimony, as recounted on the floor, included statements from the Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation backing the change. Fraley said the agencies and committee members discussed causes of construction‑zone incidents and options such as improved signage, and that "in the last 2 years, we had over 500 incidents in construction zones that required highway patrol interaction." The committee recommended the bill by voice as reported, recorded by the clerk as a 10‑1 recommendation with three members absent or excused.
The House approved the bill on final passage; the clerk reported a final vote of 88 yea, 6 nay and declared Senate Bill 2183 passed.
