North Dakota uses a point system that suspends your license at 12 points
North Dakota tracks driving violations using a point system. When you receive a traffic ticket or are convicted of a moving violation, the state assigns points to your driving record. Once you accumulate 12 points within a 12-month period, the North Dakota Department of Transportation will suspend your driver's license.
The number of points you receive depends on the specific violation. A minor infraction like speeding 10 miles over the limit costs fewer points than a serious violation like reckless driving. Points stay on your record for three years from the date of conviction, though they stop counting toward suspension after 12 months if you don't get another violation.
Understanding how many points each violation carries helps you know where you stand and what happens if you receive another ticket. The suspension is automatic — there is no warning before your license is suspended once you hit 12 points.
Key Takeaways
- Your North Dakota driver's license is suspended automatically when you reach 12 points within 12 months.
- Different violations carry different point values, ranging from 2 points for minor speeding to 8 points for serious offenses like reckless driving.
- Points remain on your record for three years, but only count toward suspension during the first 12 months after conviction.
- You can request a hearing within 10 days of receiving a suspension notice to challenge the suspension.
Common violations and their point values in North Dakota
North Dakota assigns points based on how serious the violation is. Here are the violations you are most likely to encounter and their point values:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–10 mph over limit | 2 points |
| Speeding 11–20 mph over limit | 4 points |
| Speeding 21+ mph over limit | 6 points |
| Failure to stop at stop sign or red light | 4 points |
| Improper lane change or unsafe passing | 4 points |
| Failure to yield right of way | 4 points |
| Reckless driving | 8 points |
| Driving under the influence (DUI) | 12 points |
| Careless driving | 3 points |
| Failure to maintain control | 4 points |
A DUI conviction alone results in 12 points, which means your license is suspended when ready. Most other serious violations fall between 3 and 8 points, so you would need multiple violations within 12 months to reach suspension.
What happens when you reach 12 points
When the North Dakota Department of Transportation determines that you have reached 12 points, they will mail you a notice of suspension. This notice tells you the suspension start date, how long the suspension lasts, and your right to request a hearing.
The length of your suspension depends on whether this is your first suspension. A first suspension typically lasts 30 days. If you have been suspended before, the suspension period is longer — usually 60 days for a second suspension and 90 days or more for subsequent suspensions.
During a suspension, you cannot legally drive. Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that carries fines, possible jail time, and additional points on your record. You must wait until the suspension period ends and you have paid any required reinstatement fees before you can drive again.
How to request a hearing about your suspension
You have the right to request a hearing to challenge your suspension. You must submit your request within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. Send your written request to the North Dakota Department of Transportation, Driver's License Division.
At the hearing, you can present evidence that the points on your record are incorrect or that the conviction should not have resulted in those points. You can also present mitigating circumstances, though the hearing officer's main focus is whether the points were correctly recorded and calculated.
If you do not request a hearing within 10 days, you lose the right to challenge the suspension in that manner. Your only other option would be to pursue an appeal through the court system, which requires an attorney and is more complex.
How points drop off your record
Points do not disappear when ready, but they stop counting toward suspension after 12 months without another violation. If you receive a ticket or conviction, the 12-month clock resets.
Points remain on your driving record for three years from the date of conviction for record-keeping purposes. This means they show up if you request a copy of your driving record or if an insurance company pulls it. However, after 12 months without a new violation, they no longer count toward a suspension.
If you accumulate points again before the first set drops off, the new points add to the old ones. For example, if you had 8 points from a violation 10 months ago and receive a 5-point violation, you now have 13 points and your license will be suspended.
Reinstatement after suspension
To reinstate your license after a suspension ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee to the North Dakota Department of Transportation. The fee is typically $20, though this may vary. You can pay by mail, online, or in person at a driver's license office.
After you pay the reinstatement fee, your license is restored and you can drive again. If you do not pay the fee within a certain timeframe, your license may be suspended again or your driving privileges may be revoked entirely.
Some suspensions also require you to complete a driver improvement course or other remedial training before reinstatement. The suspension notice will specify whether this applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive during a suspension if I get a work permit?
North Dakota does not issue work permits that allow you to drive during a suspension. Once your license is suspended, you cannot drive for any reason until the suspension period ends and you have paid the reinstatement fee. Driving during suspension is a criminal offense.
Do points from out-of-state violations count toward my North Dakota suspension?
Yes. North Dakota reports violations to the National Driver Register, and other states report violations to North Dakota. Points from violations in other states are added to your North Dakota record and count toward the 12-point suspension threshold.
What if I was found not guilty of a traffic violation?
If you were acquitted or the charges were dismissed, no points are added to your record. Points are only assigned after a conviction. If points were added in error, you can request a hearing or contact the North Dakota Department of Transportation to have them removed.
How do I check how many points are on my license?
You can request a copy of your driving record from the North Dakota Department of Transportation online, by mail, or in person. The record shows all violations and points from the past three years. You can also call the Driver's License Division to ask about your current point total.
Does paying a fine reduce the points on my license?
No. Paying the fine for a violation does not reduce or remove the points. The fine and the points are separate consequences. You must pay the fine, and the points remain on your record according to the schedule — they stop counting toward suspension after 12 months without another violation.