Latest news with #HouseBill1298
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
This State Is Raising Its Speed Limits, but There's a Catch
Speeding is one of the most commonly ticketed traffic infractions in the United States, as the dangers of this act on our public highways shouldn't be underestimated. According to the latest publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding contributed to 29% of traffic fatalities in 2023, a year in which 11,775 people fell victim to a speeding-related death. Although driving at the speed limit can be likened to a foreign concept or a crazy idea for some drivers out on the road, one state recently gave some relief for those with a lead-lined foot on the accelerator. However, it will also lay down the law and fines on those who abuse the new privileges they have been awarded. On Monday, May 5, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong signed a bill into law that would effectively raise the maximum speed limits on interstate highways from 75 to 80 miles per hour beginning on August 1. According to a report by the North Dakota Monitor, House Bill 1298 took two tries to pass in North Dakota's state House of Representatives last Thursday, before it passed in the state Senate on Friday morning. The bill was met with skepticism by some lawmakers, who argued that North Dakota could see a rise in serious crashes. However, earlier the same week, North Dakota state Rep. Dan Ruby, the chair of the state's House Transportation Committee, noted that the state's Department of Transportation and law enforcement members in the state did not oppose the bill and that neighboring states Montana and South Dakota have maximum speed limits of 80 mph on their interstates. South Dakota, in particular, saw no noticeable jump in crashes or fatalities since it raised its speed limits on most limited-access highways in 2015. 'People are driving this speed now. I don't think they're going to jump up to a higher speed,' Ruby said. 'We're going to be matching the states around us.' Though the speed limit is increasing, the bill also states that the fines for speeding infractions will rise accordingly. On highways with speed limits of 65 mph or higher, speeding fines will be raised to $20 or $5 for every mile per hour over the limit, whichever is greater. The same goes for offenders travelling on roads with lower speed limits, but the every-mile provision of the fines table is adjusted to just $3 for every mile per hour over, whichever is greater. In both these road categories, drivers going more than 16 mph over the limit will have $20 added onto their fine. In addition, speeding in areas like school zones and construction zones will also cost more. The fine for speeding in a construction zone with workers present will jump from $80 to $150. The passed law also included plans to install variable speed limit signs, which allow the authorities to change speed limits on the fly, based on driving conditions like traffic, weather, or road construction. In a statement, North Dakota's Governor Armstrong sees the increased speed limit to that of its neighbors and the new set of fines as a balanced compromise for the state's motorists. 'This bill strikes a reasonable balance by aligning North Dakota's interstate speed limit with two of our three neighboring states and increasing fines as a deterrent to speeding," Armstrong said in a statement. Come August 1, North Dakota will become the ninth U.S. state to have a speed limit of at least 80 mph, following its neighbor South Dakota, as well as Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. I find it appropriate, given that most of these states are vast, traffic-sparse states where city-to-city travel means driving long distances. But as car technology advances toward tech that further separates control of the car from the driver, I wonder what the future holds for legislation affecting motorists like this. I hope those traveling 80 miles per hour actively know that they're doing 80 miles per hour.
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
This State Is Raising Its Speed Limits, but There's a Catch
Speeding is one of the most commonly ticketed traffic infractions in the United States, as the dangers of this act on our public highways shouldn't be underestimated. According to the latest publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding contributed to 29% of traffic fatalities in 2023, a year in which 11,775 people fell victim to a speeding-related death. Although driving at the speed limit can be likened to a foreign concept or a crazy idea for some drivers out on the road, one state recently gave some relief for those with a lead-lined foot on the accelerator. However, it will also lay down the law and fines on those who abuse the new privileges they have been awarded. On Monday, May 5, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong signed a bill into law that would effectively raise the maximum speed limits on interstate highways from 75 to 80 miles per hour beginning on August 1. According to a report by the North Dakota Monitor, House Bill 1298 took two tries to pass in North Dakota's state House of Representatives last Thursday, before it passed in the state Senate on Friday morning. The bill was met with skepticism by some lawmakers, who argued that North Dakota could see a rise in serious crashes. However, earlier the same week, North Dakota state Rep. Dan Ruby, the chair of the state's House Transportation Committee, noted that the state's Department of Transportation and law enforcement members in the state did not oppose the bill and that neighboring states Montana and South Dakota have maximum speed limits of 80 mph on their interstates. South Dakota, in particular, saw no noticeable jump in crashes or fatalities since it raised its speed limits on most limited-access highways in 2015. "People are driving this speed now. I don't think they're going to jump up to a higher speed," Ruby said. "We're going to be matching the states around us." Though the speed limit is increasing, the bill also states that the fines for speeding infractions will rise accordingly. On highways with speed limits of 65 mph or higher, speeding fines will be raised to $20 or $5 for every mile per hour over the limit, whichever is greater. The same goes for offenders travelling on roads with lower speed limits, but the every-mile provision of the fines table is adjusted to just $3 for every mile per hour over, whichever is greater. In both these road categories, drivers going more than 16 mph over the limit will have $20 added onto their fine. In addition, speeding in areas like school zones and construction zones will also cost more. The fine for speeding in a construction zone with workers present will jump from $80 to $150. The passed law also included plans to install variable speed limit signs, which allow the authorities to change speed limits on the fly, based on driving conditions like traffic, weather, or road construction. In a statement, North Dakota's Governor Armstrong sees the increased speed limit to that of its neighbors and the new set of fines as a balanced compromise for the state's motorists. "This bill strikes a reasonable balance by aligning North Dakota's interstate speed limit with two of our three neighboring states and increasing fines as a deterrent to speeding," Armstrong said in a statement. Come August 1, North Dakota will become the ninth U.S. state to have a speed limit of at least 80 mph, following its neighbor South Dakota, as well as Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. I find it appropriate, given that most of these states are vast, traffic-sparse states where city-to-city travel means driving long distances. But as car technology advances toward tech that further separates control of the car from the driver, I wonder what the future holds for legislation affecting motorists like this. I hope those traveling 80 miles per hour actively know that they're doing 80 miles per hour. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Dakota speed limit going up Aug. 1 as governor signs bill
Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, the prime sponsor of a bill to raise North Dakota's interstate speed limit to 80 mph, sits at his desk May 2, 2025. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong made the state's jump to an 80 mph speed limit official Monday, signing a bill that also raises fines for speeding. 'This bill strikes a reasonable balance by aligning North Dakota's interstate speed limit with two of our three neighboring states and increasing fines as a deterrent to speeding,' Armstrong said in a statement. On Aug. 1, North Dakota will join neighbors South Dakota and Montana at 80 mph on interstate highways. The top speed limit in Minnesota is 70 mph. Then-Gov. Doug Burgum in 2023 vetoed a bill to increase the speed limit to 80 mph. Legislature sends bill to raise North Dakota speed limit to governor This year's version of the bill, House Bill 1298, creates a new system of calculating speeding fines on all roads. For highways with a speed limit of 65 mph or higher, the fine will be $20 or $5 for every mile per hour over the limit, whichever is greater. In slower speed zones, there will be a $20 fine for speeding or $3 for every mile per hour over the limit, whichever is greater. For both road categories, going more than 16 mph over the limit adds $20 to the fine. Speeding in a construction zone with workers present jumps from an extra $80 fine to $150. The bill passed Friday as the North Dakota Legislature wrapped up its session. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House defeats bill to raise North Dakota speed limit, fines
Vehicles travel on Interstate 94 in Fargo on Dec. 23, 2023. (Amy Dalrymple/North Dakota Monitor) A bill to raise the top speed limit to 80 mph in North Dakota failed by two votes Thursday in the House of Representatives. The interstate speed limit change had previously passed the House but House Bill 1298 was later amended to increase speeding fines and other changes. The bill needed 48 votes to pass and received 46 votes in favor with 45 against with three members absent. House votes to increase North Dakota interstate speeds to 80 mph Rep. Mike Schatz, R-New England, spoke against the bill, saying most truckers were against the higher speed limit on interstate highways. The bill could still be revived in the final days of the session, if a House member on the prevailing side of the vote asks for the bill to be reconsidered or an absent member asks for another vote. A conference committee met several times to find a compromise on speeding fines that would both moderately increase fines and create a simpler formula for calculating fines. The six-member committee passed the compromise bill Tuesday on a 4-2 vote. The bill also would allow for varying the speed limit depending on the driving conditions in some areas. Bill sponsor Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo, said this likely would have been tested on Interstate 94 in the Valley City area, though the North Dakota Highway Patrol would have had to find the funding for the variable speed signs. The bill also called for the Highway Patrol to study the point system associated with driving violations and the fees for traffic violations. Sen. Dean Rummel, R-Dickinson, said in a conference committee meeting that North Dakota's fines would still be lower than surrounding states, even with the increases. Koppelman said some local officials had been calling for higher fines to deter speeding on residential streets. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Pugh bill would move mail-in and absentee ballot deadline back
Apr. 30—WILKES-BARRE — Rep. Brenda Pugh on Wednesday announced she introduced legislation to move the mail-in and absentee ballot deadline back so voters have enough time to return their ballots to ensure they are counted. "Currently, voters can request a mail-in or absentee ballot up to seven days before the election," said Rep. Pugh, Dallas Township. "In reality, waiting until the deadline makes it nearly impossible for the ballot to be mailed to the voter and returned by 8 p.m. on Election Day. By changing the deadline, voters will have enough time to receive it, fill it out and have it back to their county's board of elections office so it is counted." Rep. Pugh said House Bill 1298 would move Pennsylvania's deadline to request a mail-in or absentee ballot to 15 days prior to Election Day. The bill has been referred to the House State Government Committee for consideration. In addition, in the near future, Rep. Pugh said she plans to introduce legislation to strengthen mail-in and absentee ballot security by only allowing drop boxes at the permanent office of the county board of elections or county courthouse. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
