6 Winter Road Rules That Can Get North Dakotans Fined

North Dakota winters come with road rules that cost money.

Here are the winter road rules that can get North Dakotans fined.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Traffic rules, fines and road-closure policies are subject to change, so confirm the current requirements with the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

1. The Closed-Road Law

North Dakota’s closed-road law lets the North Dakota Highway Patrol or local law enforcement close a road temporarily when conditions turn hazardous.

Once a closure has been announced to the public, you can’t drive on that road.

The fine is $250.

The rule took effect in August 2023, under Senate Bill 2189.

Under the old law, you had to knowingly pass a closure sign to break the rule.

Some drivers dodged a closed interstate entrance by using the next exit.

Now an announcement is enough.

Officers must make every reasonable attempt to notify the public of a closure.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) offers the NDRoads app, which shows the travel map on your phone.

During a January 2026 blizzard, the Highway Patrol said officers would monitor on-ramps to keep drivers off a closed I-29.

2. Parking Through a Snow Emergency

Fargo’s snow emergency parking rule applies when the National Weather Service forecasts four or more inches of snow and the mayor declares an emergency.

While it lasts, you can’t park or stop on any roadway in the city.

Fargo says a car left on the street could draw a $100 fine.

Fargo Police won’t impound it unless they find it’s creating a hazard.

Parking can resume once the street is cleared of snow or the mayor lifts the declaration.

You can get Fargo’s snow alerts by text. Message FargoStreets to 888777.

In downtown Fargo, crews went further in December 2025, when the city towed 13 cars so they could clear snow.

3. Driving Too Fast for Conditions

Driving too fast for conditions can earn you a ticket in North Dakota, even when you’re under the posted limit.

The state’s Vision Zero program names ice, snow and gravel as the conditions that call for slowing down.

In that case, a trooper can write you up for careless driving.

Careless driving carries a state fee, and the Century Code lists it as both $30 and $100 in different sections.

NDDOT adds six license points.

If you reach 12 points, NDDOT suspends your license for seven days for each point over 11.

Most winter crashes happen when drivers go too fast for conditions.

4. Skipping the Move Over

North Dakota’s move over law applies when a vehicle is stopped with flashing lights, hazard lights included, on a multilane interstate or a divided highway outside city limits.

When it’s safe, you have to move to a lane that isn’t next to the stopped vehicle.

If traffic or weather keeps you from changing lanes, you have to slow down to a safe speed.

If you skip it for an emergency or highway maintenance vehicle, the fine is $50.

The law reaches beyond patrol cars.

Since 2023, it covers any motor vehicle with its hazard lights on.

That one costs $20.

Fines may be higher if the violation causes a crash or endangers a worker.

5. Pushing Snow Into the Street

In Fargo, the city's winter rules ban pushing snow from your property into the street.

If you do it anyway, you may face a fine of up to $500.

The city wants that snow in your yard or on your boulevard instead.

The city also warns that boulevard piles can create visibility problems for you and your neighbors.

6. Injuring a Snowplow Operator

If your careless driving injures the operator of snow removal equipment at work, it's an infraction under North Dakota law.

So is causing more than $4,000 in damage to that equipment.

An infraction can bring a fine of up to $1,000.

The same applies to careless driving that injures first responders working at the roadside.

The Legislature amended the careless driving section in 2025, and the current version covers snow removal equipment.

The state tells you to stay well back from snowplows.

That distance matters because plows sometimes stop and back up, and the driver can't see directly behind the truck.

Checking Before You Go

Staying out of trouble starts with the road report.

In a December 2025 release, NDDOT said the NDRoads map updates daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.