Bismarck, N.D. — North Dakota’s interstate speed limit changes, implemented on August 1, 2025, have led to a noticeable shift in speeding ticket patterns across the state. While state troopers issued fewer citations on stretches of interstate where the speed limit increased to 80 mph, some areas that saw speed limits reduced from 75 mph to 70 mph experienced a spike in tickets. These changes occurred concurrently, affecting traffic patterns and enforcement across the state, though the Bismarck-Mandan area, like Fargo-West Fargo, already had established reduced speed zones prior to these statewide adjustments.
According to data provided by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, the first year following the changes, from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026, showed distinct trends. In the newly designated 80 mph zones, speeding tickets decreased significantly, falling to 4,742 citations from 8,361 in the previous 12 months. Conversely, in the four cities where speed limits were reduced to 70 mph – Dickinson, Grand Forks, Jamestown, and Valley City – a total of 1,000 tickets were written, up from 776 the year prior.
The most substantial increase in citations occurred in the Dickinson area, where state troopers wrote 223 tickets during the first year of its 70 mph zone. This figure represents more than triple the number of tickets issued in the same area the previous year. Grand Forks also saw a significant rise, with tickets in its reduced-speed area more than doubling from the prior year. Jamestown’s new 70 mph zone experienced a slight increase in citations, while Valley City recorded fewer tickets during the same period.
The legislation authorizing the 80 mph speed limit was sponsored by Rep. Ben Koppelman, R-West Fargo. Rep. Koppelman reported “all positive” feedback regarding the 80 mph limit but described the response to the 70 mph reductions around the four cities as “all negative.” He noted that some individuals mistakenly attribute the new 70 mph zones to his bill, but clarified that the decision to create these reduced-speed areas was made by the state Department of Transportation. Rep. Koppelman characterized the Dickinson area as a “speed trap” and stated that he has voiced his complaints to Transportation Director Ron Henke, though he has received no indication that the zones will change. He also mentioned discussions with other legislators about addressing the situation in the 2027 session, but is not aware of any specific bill drafts at this time.
Kirk Hoff, director of the Department of Transportation’s Design Division, provided the rationale for the reduced speed limits. He stated that the four cities are large enough that additional traffic congestion during peak morning and evening commute times necessitates the slower speed limits. Hoff also highlighted that specific curves on I-94 in the Jamestown and Valley City areas would not be safe for an 80 mph speed limit. He confirmed that the Fargo-West Fargo and Bismarck-Mandan areas already had reduced speeds in place before last year’s statewide changes. Initially, a 70 mph area was also established near Medora, but a further review of the curves in that Badlands area led to a decision to allow the 80 mph limit there. Hoff indicated he was not aware of any plans to alter the existing 70 mph zones.
Major Tom Iverson of the Highway Patrol suggested that ticketing rates in these areas may decrease as drivers become accustomed to the new limits. He noted that if a roadway a driver is “just used to driving at 75 mph and it’s now 70, it may take a little bit of time to get used to.”
The Highway Patrol also provided data on crashes on the interstates during this period. In the new 80 mph areas, crashes increased to 505 from 469 in the previous year. Similarly, in the areas where the speed limit was reduced from 75 mph to 70 mph, crashes also rose, increasing to 65 from 53 in the preceding year. Major Iverson cautioned that it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the effect of these speed limit changes on crashes based solely on one year of data. Additionally, speeding fines were also increased as part of Rep. Koppelman’s bill.
