North DakotaVehicle owners could face fees when drivers flee police
When a driver flees after an officer signals them to stop, the vehicle’s owner may be cited, with fees of $100 for a first violation and $500 for later ones.
What it does
A vehicle’s owner is presumed responsible when its driver flees a peace officer. Exceptions include a stolen vehicle or proof the owner was not driving; special rules cover leased vehicles.
The printed fee schedule sets a $100 fee for a first violation and $500 for a second or later violation, subject to the section’s exceptions.
Argument forOfficers could cite the vehicle’s owner without pursuing a fleeing driver, which may reduce the danger of a chase.
Argument againstOwners could face a citation for a driver’s flight, even if they were not driving, and may need to help officers show who was.
More detail
An owner is presumed to have violated the rule when their vehicle is involved in a driver’s flight from a peace officer. This applies when a motor vehicle is involved in a driver’s failure to stop after a peace officer signals them to stop. The owner cannot be found in violation if the driver was charged for the same flight, the vehicle was reported stolen, or the owner helps show they were not driving. A vehicle lessor can avoid the presumption by giving the officer the vehicle’s registration number and the renter’s identifying and license information; the lessee is then presumed responsible. A person cannot be charged under both this section and the fleeing-driver section for the same incident. A rental company renting vehicles for 90 days or less may be outside this section. An officer may investigate and issue the owner a citation within 96 hours after seeing the violation.
A $100 fee applies for a first violation, and a $500 fee applies for a second or later violation. The fees apply to violations of the owner-responsibility section. The fee schedule is subject to the exceptions in the owner-responsibility section.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Jun 11Filed with Secretary Of State 05/02Latest
- May 2Signed by Governor Kelly Armstrong 05/01Became Law
- May 1Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 1Signed by Speaker
- Apr 29Signed by President
- Apr 28Conference committee report adopted
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1229. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 28Reported back from conference committee, placed on calendar (House accept)Minor
- Apr 28Second reading, passed, yeas 75 nays 14Major
- Apr 28Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 25Reported back from conference committee, placed on calendar (House accept)Minor
- Apr 23Conference committee report rejected
- Apr 23Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Apr 22Second reading, passed, yeas 80 nays 14Major
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1229. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 22Conference committee report adopted
- Apr 17Reported back from conference committee, in place of, placed on calendarMinor
- Apr 14Conference committee appointed Rummel Paulson Cory
- Apr 9Conference committee appointed Koppelman Grueneich Schatz
- Apr 9Refused to concur
- Apr 7Returned to House (12)
- Apr 4Emergency clause failed
- Apr 4Second reading, passed as amended, yeas 29 nays 16Passed Senate
- Apr 2Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Apr 1Laid over one legislative day
- Mar 31Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 5 1 0Minor
- Mar 27Committee Hearing 09:00
- Mar 13Rereferred to Transportation
- Mar 13Request return from committee
- Mar 7Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 25Received from House
- Feb 24Second reading, passed, yeas 81 nays 12Passed House
- Vote recorded Motion for Final Passage on HB 1229. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Amendment adopted, placed on calendar
- Feb 21Reported back amended, do pass, amendment placed on calendar 8 3 3Minor
- Feb 6Committee Hearing 04:00
- Jan 21Rereferred to Transportation
- Jan 21Request return from committee
- Jan 13Introduced, first reading, referred Judiciary CommitteeIntroduced
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