Getting Drivers to Slow Down | Video

Alex Hagan | 2/16/2013

North Dakota has many more drivers on the road these days, and in some cases those drivers are not used to their surroundings. They also may not be used to the speed limits within cities, and that`s a problem. Legislators at the capitol have his issue on their radar and are trying to deter speeding in North Dakota.

Preston Blackburn and Nicholas Peterson are new to North Dakota. That`s why both say they take it a little easy.

"I try not to speed and stuff so I haven`t been hassled by the police or anything."

Speeding is a growing problem in North Dakota. Some drivers like the 75 mile per hour limits on the interstate, but in town they are not paying attention to the speedometer.

"May be too fast for the road and weather conditions. We wrote approximately 3,000 more tickets this year than we did last year," said Lt. Steven Kilde with the Bismarck Police Department.

Kilde says low fines translate to more drivers speeding, resulting in more accidents. "I personally believe that`s why we have so many people that are willing to violate that particular law."

Legislators are responding with a new bill to try and deter speeding. Anyone caught speeding in a 65 mile per hour zone or less could be fined two dollars for every mile per hour over the limit.

Fines in a school zone would double.

"Certainly the North Dakota residents are going to see a difference in what they will normally pay in the fines," said Representative Dan Ruby (R) from Minot.

While Kilde will still keep on an eye on Bismarck`s roads, he says this bill is a step forward. "I really think people will think twice before which they`re driving from point A to point B."

Reducing accidents is always a good thing, and Ruby says this bill could do that.

Ruby also says they don`t want to try and emulate what other states in the region are doing, however they do want to enforce speeding limits more often. The bill passed in the House, and will move on to the Senate.

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