Seat belt tickets in North Dakota: $20 and no points
By Road Ready Safety · Last reviewed by Road Ready Safety, against the Century Code and NDDOT’s pages
Short answer
A seat belt ticket in North Dakota is a $20 fee and no points. The driver is responsible for every occupant being buckled. A child restraint violation is different: $25 and 1 point.
- Seat belt
- $20, no points
- Child restraint
- $25, 1 point
- Who is cited
- The driver
- Applies to
- Every occupant
What does the seat belt law require?
Every occupant buckled. NDCC 39-21-41.4 says a driver may not operate a vehicle designed for fewer than eleven passengers "unless each occupant is wearing a properly adjusted and fastened safety belt."
Can an officer stop me only for a seat belt?
The section of the code that limited seat belt enforcement, 39-21-41.5, was repealed in 2023.
Who is exempt?
- Drivers of farm implements and operators of farm vehicles
- Rural mail carriers on duty
- An occupant with a medical or disabling condition, with a signed statement from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse
- Emergency medical personnel giving direct patient care
- Occupants when all the belts are already in use
What is the penalty?
A $20 fee. The violation isn't on the point schedule, so no points are added.
What are the rules for children?
| Child | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Under 8 | In a child restraint system, used as the manufacturer directs |
| Under 8, at least 57 inches tall | Correctly buckled in a safety belt |
| 8 through 17 | In a child restraint or correctly buckled in a safety belt |
A child restraint violation is a $25 fee and 1 point.
Does a seat belt ticket count against me in a lawsuit?
The law says a violation "is not, in itself, evidence of negligence" and can't be used in any proceeding other than the one charging the violation.
Do I need a course?
Not for a seat belt ticket. For the 1 point from a child restraint ticket, waiting three months clears it. A course makes sense when you have 3 or more points. How long points stay.
This guide is part of North Dakota traffic ticket: what to do next .If you need the points off, take the course in lieu of points is 4 hours online for $24.99.
Wait it out, or take 3 off now?
Three points come off on their own after 9 clean months. A defensive driving course takes off the same 3 the day NDDOT gets your certificate. That matters if you’re close to 12: at 12 points North Dakota suspends your license for 7 days for every point over 11. You can use the course once every 12 months, for up to 9 points in 3 years.
This ticket itself carries no points, so there’s nothing to keep off. The course only helps if you already have points from something else.
The quick rule: 0 to 3 points with nothing pending, you can probably wait. 4 points or more, or a new ticket on the way, take the 3 off now. See the full math: is the course worth it for you?
Quick answers
How much is a seat belt ticket in North Dakota?
$20. It carries no points.
Does a seat belt ticket put points on your license in North Dakota?
No. A child restraint violation is 1 point, but a seat belt violation is not on the point schedule.
Who gets the ticket if a passenger is not wearing a seat belt in North Dakota?
The driver. The law bars a driver from operating the vehicle unless each occupant is wearing a fastened safety belt.
Sources
- North Dakota Century Code chapter 39-21: safety belts and child restraints
- North Dakota Century Code 39-06.1-06: amount of statutory fees
- North Dakota Century Code 39-06.1-10: point schedule and suspension
- City of Fargo Municipal Court: Non-Criminal Citations
We read each source on September 29, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. NDDOT applies any point reduction, and your court handles an election in lieu of points. See a mistake? Email info@roadreadysafety.com .
More North Dakota guides
- Is a defensive driving course worth it in North Dakota? Here's the math
- North Dakota tickets that carry no points
- Texting while driving in North Dakota: $100 and no points
- North Dakota traffic violations: points and fees for each