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North Dakota Becomes 9th State to Adopt an 80-MPH Speed Limit

North Dakota is raising the maximum speed limit on some multilane highways to 80 mph. At the same time, the state is also implementing higher speeding fines. The move aligns North Dakota with its neighboring states, except for Minnesota. Fines for speeding in North Dakota are not exactly draconian: driving 35 mph in a 25-mph zone will set you back $10. Recognizing that low fines aren't much of a deterrent, lawmakers are now simultaneously raising minimum speeding fines and also the state's maximum speed limit. With a 5-mph bump for certain stretches of multilane highways, North Dakota now becomes the ninth state to have a maximum speed limit of 80 mph or greater. For the most part, the change brings the law in line with the speeds most people were driving at anyway, and it also means that the laws in both of the Dakotas are now more in sync. Melissa Kopka | Car and Driver The other states with an 80-mph max speed limit are South Dakota, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. Texas is the all-out max-legal-speed champion, with some sections of toll roads capped at 85 mph. It's also worth noting that Montana was the last state not to have any numerical maximum speed limit—just a directive that speeds be 'reasonable and prudent.' However, on an empty stretch of pool-table-flat Montana, something like a Challenger Hellcat might be too much temptation. A legal 80-mph cap is still plenty quick enough for crossing the broad distances of North Dakota, and data on South Dakota's adoption of this limit indicates that safety wasn't compromised. Again, it's the speed most people were already driving at. Further, the new law includes plans for installing variable-speed signs, which are capable of digitally dropping the posted speed limit due to poor weather or construction. North Dakota's new higher speeding fines are still pretty low. Drive five over the limit on one of these newly minted 80-mph stretches of multilane highways, and you can get written up for a $25 ticket. Fines are much higher in neighboring Minnesota, which has a maximum speed limit of 70 mph. If you're driving through Fargo, better remember to ease off the accelerator. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio