News

This month's article focuses on questions I recently was asked regarding Radar/Laser Detectors, Double Yellow Lines and Trailer Registration.

I have received numerous questions about the North Dakota concealed carry and constitutional carry laws.  This article will address only the basics and it is recommended to research the North Dakota Century Code Title 62.1 or consult with your personal attorney for further information. 

For bicyclists around the country, North Dakota offers beautiful views of vast prairie with meandering, winding roads to travel on. During the warmer months, we tend to see an influx of bicyclists traveling through and spending time resting in our little communities. We all enjoy talking to and learning from these two-wheeling explorers and look to provide them with an opportunity for safe travels as they pass through our state and move on to their next destination.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol and the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services will conduct the annual test of the AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert system from 2-4 p.m. central time on Thursday, May 23. All AMBER Alert components will be tested except for the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) which is sent to mobile devices. Advanced notification is provided to avoid misinterpretation of this test as an actual AMBER Alert. 

Trooper Brian Mehlhoff was named the 2018 Trooper of the Year at the North Dakota Motor Carrier Association’s (NDMCA) banquet held Thursday, May 16, in Bismarck. Mehlhoff serves the SW region as a Traffic Enforcement Trooper and is stationed in Bismarck. He has been a trooper since 2007 and serves on the Crash Reconstruction Team.

Anhydrous ammonia is one of the most commonly-used nitrogen fertilizer sources in North Dakota. It plays a vital role in the production of high-quality food and feed. Anhydrous ammonia is classified as a hazardous material, although few problems occur when it’s properly handled, transported, and applied.

To enhance safety for school children, North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) Troopers in the southwest region will partner with school officials from the Bowman County School District to conduct a ‘Trooper on a Bus’ enforcement effort on Tuesday, April 30.

During ‘Trooper on a Bus,’ an NDHP trooper rides along on a regular bus route and observes drivers. If a violation occurs, the trooper will radio the information to another trooper in a nearby squad car where a traffic stop will be initiated with enforcement action taken.

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The ND state legislature passed legislation and Governor Burgum signed the final implementation bill for REAL ID during the 65th Legislative Session in 2017.

I have received a couple of questions from readers and I will address them for this month’s article.

If you're passing someone on a two-lane highway, are you allowed to exceed the speed limit until you're able to return to the right lane?

Can anything be done about farmers going down the highway with those HUGE headers attached to their combines? (or does someone have to be injured first?)  What are the rules for traveling after dark with farm equipment?

The “point” system implemented by the State of North Dakota allows for drivers to accumulate points on their driving record before any administrative sanctions.  Driving violations carry a monetary fine and may also have a set number of points which are added to a driver’s record.