Which North Dakota tickets qualify for a course in lieu of points?

What makes a ticket qualify?

NDCC 39-06.1-10.1 lets you elect a driver training course "in lieu of entry of points" and says the "point penalty of five points or fewer" is then not assessed. Three things rule it out:

1. You made the same election within the 12 months before this ticket was issued.
2. The offense is assigned 6 or more points.
3. The offense is one listed in section 39-06.1-05.

Which speeding tickets qualify?

Posted limit	Qualifies up to	Points at that speed
65 or less	25 mph over	5
Above 65	20 mph over	5

Faster than that, the ticket is worth 7 or 9 points and doesn't qualify.

Which other tickets qualify?

The ordinary 1-point, 2-point and 3-point violations:

• Failing to yield
• Disobeying a traffic signal or sign
• Driving on the wrong side of the road
• Overtaking where prohibited
• Failing to use the care required
• Failing to stop at a railroad crossing
• Exhibition driving

Which tickets don't qualify?

Violation	Points
Careless driving	6
Passing a school bus	6
Driving without liability insurance	6, 12 or 14
Racing	10
Reckless driving	8
Leaving the scene of an accident	14 or 18
Driving under the influence	Handled separately
Driving while suspended or revoked	Handled separately

My ticket has 0 points. Should I elect the course?

No. There's nothing to keep off, and you'd use up your one election for the year. Ten over in a 55 zone is 0 points.

My ticket doesn't qualify. What can I do?

Let the points post, then use the 3-point reduction. It works on your total, whatever the points came from. Careless driving is 6 points, and a course brings that to 3.

Does the court have to agree?

The statute says the individual "may appear before the court and elect" the course. You have to notify the court when you post bond. How to elect it at court.

How do I know how many points my ticket is worth?

Match the violation on your citation to the schedule. Points by violation and speeding ticket points have both tables.