New traffic laws go into effect August 1

North Dakota motorists beware, the laws are changing.

As of press time, N.D. state law dictated that a driver in North Dakota could not be ticketed for being unbuckled unless first pulled over for a separate violation – but that won’t be the case for long.

Beginning Tuesday, Aug. 1, not wearing a seatbelt in the state of North Dakota will be a “primary” traffic violation, meaning a police officer can initiate a traffic stop and issue a citation if they spot a driver without their seat belt.

Additionally, all front seat and back seat occupants of a vehicle must also be buckled up regardless of their age, and children eight and under will be required to ride in a child restraint (car seat or booster).

The reason for the changes, according to nd.gov, is to save lives and prevent serious injuries on North Dakota’s roads.

“Research shows that states that have primary enforcement have experienced up to a 10-12% increase in their observed seat belt use,” states North Dakota’s official website.

According to the N.D. Department of Transportation, there have been 52 traffic fatalities in the state so far in 2023. Of those, only eight were wearing a seat belt.

Eddy County Sheriff Paul Lies and Carrington Police Chief Christopher Bittmann encouraged residents to wear their seat belts, and said their departments will be taking an educational approach to the new laws rather than enforcement, at least for now.

However, North Dakota’s seat belt laws aren’t all that’s changing this summer.

Also starting August 1, motorists will be required to use a turn signal when exiting a roundabout.

The change was made to improve safety and traffic flow on roundabouts – a growing feature of N.D. roads – by allowing drivers to know when they can enter a roundabout without cutting someone off.

Meanwhile, motorists on N.D. highways should also be aware that a change is coming to the state’s “slow down, move over” laws.

Beginning August 1, when motorists see any kind of vehicle sitting on the shoulder with its caution lights engaged, they are required to shift lanes or slow down until they’ve passed that vehicle.

Previously that was only required of emergency vehicles such as police cruisers and ambulances.

Another change considered at the state’s most recent legislative session was increasing the speed limit on interstate highways from 75 to 80 miles per hour.

However, that bill was vetoed by Governor Doug Burgum and did not survive an attempt to override the governor’s veto – so the Interstate speed limit remains at 75 miles per hour.

For more information on all of the laws going into effect this summer, be sure to visit legis.nd.gov, which holds records of every bill considered and passed during the latest legislative session in Bismarck.