Violators of North Dakota’s new primary seat belt law receiving more warnings than citations

FARGO — Law enforcement across North Dakota have been issuing more warnings and fewer citations after the state’s new primary seat belt law went into effect Aug. 1.

Beginning this month, the North Dakota seat belt law changed from a secondary violation to a primary violation for adults 18 or older. It also requires everyone in a car to wear a seat belt.

Law enforcement can stop anyone for not wearing a seat belt as a primary violation, meaning police can pull over drivers for not wearing a seat belt. In the past, drivers had to be stopped for another violation before law enforcement could take any action.

Since the first of the month, North Dakota Highway Patrol officers have issued 87 citations and 25 warnings in the southeast part of the state.

Last year over the same 21 days, officers gave out 139 citations and three warnings. In 2021, there were 190 citations.

“We still have too many crashes that happen where people are not wearing a seat belt and they’re killing those crashes, said North Dakota Highway Patrol Captain Bryan Niewind. “Historically it’s about 60% of our crashes and if we have 100 fatality crashes in a year, that’s 60 people that are potentially dying.”

Warnings will be stopping at the end of this month, Niewind added.

“Our goal is to gain compliance, so people are safe drivers out there when they get involved in a crash, it keeps them inside that vehicle, which is the safest place you can be,” Niewind said.

Citations for adults 18 and older is $20 and $25 for children 17 and younger. Under the children restraint law, a point will given for children 17 and younger as well.

Drivers who fail to pay a traffic violation will receive a notice from the courts and their license will be suspended.

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