2011 North Dakota Code
Title 39 Motor Vehicles
Chapter 39-08 Regulations Governing Operators

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CHAPTER 39-08 REGULATIONS GOVERNING OPERATORS 39-08-01. Persons under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any other drugs or substances not to operate vehicle - Penalty. 1. A person may not drive or be in actual physical control of any vehicle upon a highway or upon public or private areas to which the public has a right of access for vehicular use in this state if any of the following apply: a. That person has an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight at the time of the performance of a chemical test within two hours after the driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle. b. That person is under the influence of intoxicating liquor. c. That person is under the influence of any drug or substance or combination of drugs or substances to a degree which renders that person incapable of safely driving. d. That person is under the combined influence of alcohol and any other drugs or substances to a degree which renders that person incapable of safely driving. The fact that any person charged with violating this section is or has been legally entitled to use alcohol or other drugs or substances is not a defense against any charge for violating this section, unless a drug which predominately caused impairment was used only as directed or cautioned by a practitioner who legally prescribed or dispensed the drug to that person. 2. Unless as otherwise provided in section 39-08-01.2, an individual violating this section or equivalent ordinance is guilty of a class B misdemeanor for the first or second offense in a five-year period, of a class A misdemeanor for a third offense in a five-year period, of a class A misdemeanor for the fourth offense in a seven-year period, and of a class C felony for a fifth or subsequent offense in a seven-year period. The minimum penalty for violating this section is as provided in subsection 4. The court shall take judicial notice of the fact that an offense would be a subsequent offense if indicated by the records of the director or may make a subsequent offense finding based on other evidence. 3. Upon conviction of a second or subsequent offense within five years under this section or equivalent ordinance, the court must order the motor vehicle number plates of all of the motor vehicles owned and operated by the offender at the time of the offense to be impounded for the duration of the period of suspension or revocation of the offender's driving privilege by the licensing authority. The impounded number plates must be sent to the director who must retain them for the period of suspension or revocation, subject to their disposition by the court. The court may make an exception to this subsection, on an individual basis, to avoid undue hardship to an individual who is completely dependent on the motor vehicle for the necessities of life, including a family member of the convicted individual and a coowner of the motor vehicle, but not including the offender. 4. A person convicted of violating this section, or an equivalent ordinance, must be sentenced in accordance with this subsection. For purposes of this subsection, unless the context otherwise requires, "drug court program" means a district court-supervised treatment program approved by the supreme court which combines judicial supervision with alcohol and drug testing and chemical addiction treatment in a licensed treatment program. The supreme court may adopt rules, including rules of procedure, for drug courts and the drug court program. a. For a first offense, the sentence must include both a fine of at least two hundred fifty dollars and an order for addiction evaluation by an appropriate licensed addiction treatment program. b. For a second offense within five years, the sentence must include at least five days' imprisonment or placement in a minimum security facility, of which forty-eight hours must be served consecutively, or thirty days' community service; Page No. 1 5. a fine of at least five hundred dollars; and an order for addiction evaluation by an appropriate licensed addiction treatment program. c. For a third offense within five years, the sentence must include at least sixty days' imprisonment or placement in a minimum security facility, of which forty-eight hours must be served consecutively; a fine of one thousand dollars; and an order for addiction evaluation by an appropriate licensed addiction treatment program. d. For a fourth or subsequent offense within seven years, the sentence must include one hundred eighty days' imprisonment or placement in a minimum security facility, of which forty-eight hours must be served consecutively; a fine of one thousand dollars; and an order for addiction evaluation by an appropriate licensed treatment program. e. The execution or imposition of sentence under this section may not be suspended or deferred under subsection 3 or 4 of section 12.1-32-02 for an offense subject to subdivision a or b. If the offense is subject to subdivision c or d, the district court may suspend a sentence, except for ten days' imprisonment, under subsection 3 or 4 of section 12.1-32-02 on the condition that the defendant first undergo and complete an evaluation for alcohol and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation. If the defendant is found to be in need of alcohol and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation, the district court may order the defendant placed under the supervision and management of the department of corrections and rehabilitation and is subject to the conditions of probation under section 12.1-32-07. The district court shall require the defendant to complete alcohol and substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation under the direction of the drug court program as a condition of probation in accordance with rules adopted by the supreme court. If the district court finds that a defendant has failed to undergo an evaluation or complete treatment or has violated any condition of probation, the district court shall revoke the defendant's probation and shall sentence the defendant in accordance with this subsection. f. For purposes of this section, conviction of an offense under a law or ordinance of another state which is equivalent to this section must be considered a prior offense if such offense was committed within the time limitations specified in this subsection. g. If the penalty mandated by this section includes imprisonment or placement upon conviction of a violation of this section or equivalent ordinance, and if an addiction evaluation has indicated that the defendant needs treatment, the court may order the defendant to undergo treatment at an appropriate licensed addiction treatment program and the time spent by the defendant in the treatment must be credited as a portion of a sentence of imprisonment or placement under this section. As used in subdivision b of subsection 4, the term "imprisonment" includes house arrest. As a condition of house arrest, a defendant may not consume alcoholic beverages. The house arrest must include a program of electronic home detention in which the defendant is tested at least twice daily for the consumption of alcohol. The defendant shall defray all costs associated with the electronic home detention. This subsection does not apply to individuals committed to or under the supervision and management of the department of corrections and rehabilitation. 39-08-01.1. Prior offenses. For purposes of this chapter, chapter 39-06.1, and chapter 39-20 a previous conviction does not include any prior violation of section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance if the offense occurred prior to July 1, 1981. 39-08-01.2. Special punishment for causing injury or death while operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. 1. If an individual is convicted of an offense under chapter 12.1-16 and the conviction is based in part on the evidence of the individual's operation of a motor vehicle while Page No. 2 2. 3. under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the sentence imposed must include at least one year's imprisonment if the individual was an adult at the time of the offense. If an individual is convicted of violating section 39-08-01, or section 39-08-03 based in part on the evidence of the individual's operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the violation caused serious bodily injury, as defined in section 12.1-01-04, to another individual, that individual is guilty of a class A misdemeanor and the sentence must include at least ninety days' imprisonment if the individual was an adult at the time of the offense. The sentence under this section may not be suspended unless the court finds that manifest injustice would result from imposition of the sentence. Before a sentence under this section applies, a defendant must be notified of the minimum mandatory sentence. If the finding of guilt is by jury verdict, the verdict form must indicate that the jury found the elements that create the minimum sentence. 39-08-01.3. Alcohol-related traffic offenses - Ignition interlock devices and the seizure, forfeiture, and sale of motor vehicles. A motor vehicle owned and operated by a person upon a highway or upon public or private areas to which the public has a right of access for vehicular use may be seized, forfeited, and sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to an order of the court at the time of sentencing if the person is in violation of section 39-08-01 or an equivalent ordinance and has been convicted of violating section 39-08-01 or an equivalent ordinance at least one other time within the five years preceding the violation. The court may also require that an ignition interlock device be installed in the person's vehicle for a period of time that the court deems appropriate. 39-08-01.4. Driving while under the influence of alcohol while being accompanied by a minor - Penalty. It is a class A misdemeanor for an individual who is at least twenty-one years of age to violate section 39-08-01 if the violation occurred while a minor was accompanying the individual in a motor vehicle. 39-08-02. Person conveying passengers not to engage drivers addicted to intoxicants - Penalty. No person owning or having the direction or control of any vehicle for the conveyance of passengers in this state may employ or continue in the person's employment as a driver of such vehicle any person who is known to the actor to be addicted to a controlled substance or given to the excessive use of controlled substances or intoxicating liquors. Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of an infraction and is liable for all damages sustained by reason of such violation. 39-08-03. Reckless driving - Aggravated reckless driving - Penalty. Any person is guilty of reckless driving if the person drives a vehicle: 1. Recklessly in disregard of the rights or safety of others; or 2. Without due caution and circumspection and at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or the property of another. Except as otherwise herein provided, any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Any person who, by reason of reckless driving as herein defined, causes and inflicts injury upon the person of another, is guilty of aggravated reckless driving, and is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 39-08-03.1. Exhibition driving and drag racing - Definitions - Penalty. 1. No person may engage in exhibition driving of any vehicle on a highway, street, alley, sidewalk, or any public or private parking lot or area, nor may any person engage in a race, a speed competition, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, or exhibition of speed or acceleration. Any person who violates this section by engaging in an act defined by subdivision b of subsection 2 must be assessed a fee Page No. 3 2. 3. of fifty dollars. Any person who violates this section by engaging in an act defined by subdivision a or c of subsection 2 must be assessed a fee of one hundred dollars. As used in this section: a. "Drag race" means the operation of two or more vehicles from a point side by side by accelerating rapidly in a competitive attempt to cause one vehicle to outdistance the other; or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course from the same point to the same point for the purpose of comparing the relative speed or powers of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit. b. "Exhibition driving" means driving a vehicle in a manner which disturbs the peace by creating or causing unnecessary engine noise, tire squeal, skid, or slide upon acceleration or braking; or driving and executing or attempting one or a series of unnecessarily abrupt turns. c. "Race" means the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to outgain, outdistance, or to arrive at a given distance ahead of another vehicle or vehicles; or the use of one or more vehicles to willfully prevent another vehicle from passing the racing vehicle or vehicles, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of the persons driving the vehicles over a long-distance driving route. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting drag racing, exhibition driving, or similar events when carried out in an organized manner on a track or other privately owned area specifically set aside and used solely for such purposes by drivers of motor vehicles, including snowmobiles. 39-08-04. Accidents involving death or personal injuries - Penalty. 1. The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop or return with the vehicle as close as possible to the scene of the accident and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until that driver has fulfilled the requirements of section 39-08-06. Every stop required by this section must be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. 2. Any person failing to comply with the requirements of this section under circumstances involving personal injury is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Any person negligently failing to comply with the requirements of this section under circumstances involving serious personal injury is guilty of a class C felony. Any person negligently failing to comply with the requirements of this section under circumstances involving death is guilty of a class B felony. 3. The director shall revoke the license or permit to drive or nonresident operating privilege of a person convicted under this section. 39-08-04.1. Emergency care or services rendered - Liability. Any person who is an unpaid volunteer, who in good faith, renders emergency care or services at or near the scene of an accident, disaster, or other emergency, or en route to a treatment facility, is not liable to the recipient of the emergency care or services for any damages resulting from the rendering of that care or services. This section does not relieve a person from liability for damages resulting from the intoxication, willful misconduct, or gross negligence of the person rendering the emergency care or services. Further, liability is not relieved if the emergency care was rendered for remuneration or with the expectation of remuneration. 39-08-05. Accidents involving damage to vehicle - Penalty. The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of such accident until the driver has fulfilled the requirements of section 39-08-06. Every such stop must be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary. Any Page No. 4 person failing to stop or comply with said requirements under such circumstances is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. 39-08-06. Duty to give information and render aid. The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or the death of any person or damage to any vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall give the driver's name and address, and the name of the motor vehicle insurance policy carrier of the driver and owner, as well as the registration number, of the vehicle. Upon request, and if available, the driver of any vehicle involved in the accident shall exhibit the driver's operator's or chauffeur's license to the person struck or the driver or occupant of or person attending any other vehicle involved in the accident and shall render to any person injured in the accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of the person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary or if the carrying is requested by the injured person. 39-08-07. Duty upon striking unattended vehicle - Penalty. The driver of any vehicle which collides with any vehicle which is unattended shall immediately stop and shall then and there either locate and notify the operator or owner of the vehicle of the name and address, as well as the name of the motor vehicle insurance policy carrier, of the driver and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or shall leave in a conspicuous place in the vehicle struck a written notice giving the name and address, as well as the name of the motor vehicle insurance policy carrier, of the driver and of the owner of the vehicle doing the striking and a statement of the circumstances of the collision. Any person violating this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 39-08-08. Duty upon striking highway fixtures or other property. The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to highway fixtures or other property shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such property of such fact and of the driver's name and address and of the registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving and shall upon request and if available exhibit the driver's operator's or chauffeur's license and shall make report of such accident when and as required in section 39-08-09. 39-08-09. Immediate notice of accident - Penalty. The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, or property damage to an apparent extent of at least one thousand dollars, shall immediately give notice of the accident to the local police department if the accident occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the office of the county sheriff or the state highway patrol. Any person who violates this section must be assessed a fine of fifty dollars. The name of the motor vehicle insurance policy carrier and the policy number of the driver, or if the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, then the motor vehicle insurance policy carrier and the policy number of the owner of the vehicle, must be furnished to the law enforcement officer investigating the accident. If the driver does not have the required information concerning insurance to furnish to the investigating law enforcement officer, then within five days of the accident the driver shall supply that information to the driver's license division in the form the division requires. The director may suspend the license or permit to drive and any nonresident operating privileges of any person failing to comply with the duties as provided in sections 39-08-06 through 39-08-09 until those duties have been fulfilled, and the director may extend the suspension not to exceed thirty days. 39-08-10. Officer to report. Every law enforcement officer, who in the regular course of duty investigates a motor vehicle accident required to be reported as provided in section 39-08-09 either at the time and at the scene of the accident or thereafter by interviewing the participants, or witnesses, shall Page No. 5 make and promptly forward to the director a report of the accident in a format prescribed by the director. 39-08-10.1. Investigating agency responsible to notify immediate family. 1. In the event of serious injury to or death of any person, under circumstances leading to the notification of a law enforcement agency, the investigating law enforcement agency shall, upon positive identification of the person or persons involved, be responsible for immediately notifying the immediate family of the person or persons seriously injured or deceased, or making arrangements to have the immediate family notified by clergy or other suitable person. 2. The investigating law enforcement agency may not release to the public the identity of the person or persons seriously injured or deceased until the first of the following events occurs: a. A member of the immediate family has been notified and given an opportunity to notify other immediate family members; or b. Twenty-four hours have elapsed from the time positive identification was made. 3. For purposes of this section, "immediate family" means spouse, parent, child, sibling, or any person who regularly resides in the household of the seriously injured or deceased person. 39-08-11. When driver unable to report. 1. An accident notice is not required from any person who is physically incapable of making the report during the period of such incapacity. 2. Whenever the driver of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving an immediate notice of an accident and there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of doing so, such occupant shall make or cause to be given the notice not given by the driver. 3. Whenever the driver is physically incapable of giving notice of an accident and such driver is not the owner of the vehicle, then the owner of the vehicle involved shall within five days after learning of the accident give such notice and insurance information not given by the driver. 39-08-12. False reports. Repealed by S.L. 1975, ch. 106, § 673. 39-08-13. Accident report forms. 1. The director shall prepare and supply to law enforcement agencies, garages, and other suitable agencies or individuals forms for accident reports required by law, appropriate with respect to the purposes to be served. The reports to be made by investigating officers shall call for sufficiently detailed information to disclose the cause of a traffic accident, conditions then existing, persons and vehicles involved, and whether the requirements for the deposit of security under section 39-16-05 are applicable. 2. Every accident report required to be made to the director must be made in the appropriate format or approved by the director and must contain all the information required therein unless not available. 3. Every law enforcement officer who investigates a vehicle accident for which a report must be made as required in this chapter shall forward a report of such accident to the department within ten days after the accident. 4. The reports required to be forwarded by law enforcement officers and the information contained therein shall not be privileged or held confidential. If, however, the investigating officer expresses an opinion as to fault or responsibility for the accident, the opinion is confidential and not open to public inspection, except as provided in subsection 5. Page No. 6 5. 6. 7. 8. Upon affirmation by a party to the accident, a party's legal representative, or the insurer of any party to the accident that the investigating officer's opinion is material to a determination of liability and upon payment of a fee of five dollars, the director or investigating agency shall release a completed copy of the investigating officer's opinion to the entity requesting the information. The request must be made on an appropriate form approved by the director. Upon request of any person and upon payment of a fee of two dollars, the director or the law enforcement agency may furnish to a requester a copy of that portion of an investigating officer's accident report which does not disclose the opinion of the reporting officer, if the report shows that the accident is one for which a driver is required to file a report under section 39-08-09. Copies of accident reports are not admissible as evidence in any action for damages or criminal proceedings arising out of a motor vehicle accident. The director, without a request under subsection 4 or 5, may send a copy of an accident report to the registered owner of each vehicle involved as indicated by the report. 39-08-14. Public inspection of reports relating to accidents. 1. All accident reports made by persons involved in accidents or by garages shall be without prejudice to the individual so reporting and shall be for the confidential use of the department or other state agencies having use for the records for accident prevention purposes, or for the administration of the laws of this state relating to the deposit of security and proof of financial responsibility by persons driving or the owners of motor vehicles, except that the department may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when such identity is not otherwise known or when such person denies the person's presence at such accident. 2. All accident reports and supplemental information filed in connection with the administration of the laws of this state relating to the deposit of security or proof of financial responsibility are confidential and not open to general public inspection, nor may copying of lists of such reports be permitted. 3. No written reports or written information mentioned in this section may be used as evidence in any trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident, except that the director shall furnish upon demand of any party to such trial, or upon demand of any court, a certificate showing that a specified accident report has or has not been made to the director in compliance with law. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, any information compiled or otherwise made available to the department pursuant to this chapter must be transmitted to each and every duly authorized official or agency of the United States requesting such. 39-08-15. Director of the department of transportation to tabulate and analyze accident reports. The director shall tabulate and may analyze all accident reports and shall publish annually, or at more frequent intervals, statistical information based thereon as to the number and circumstances of traffic accidents. 39-08-16. Any incorporated city may require accident reports. Any incorporated city or other municipality may by ordinance require that the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident shall file with a designated city department a report of such accident or a copy of any report herein required to be filed with the director. All such reports must be for the confidential use of the city department and subject to the provisions of section 39-08-14. 39-08-17. Magistrates to report convictions to highway commissioner. Repealed by S.L. 1981, ch. 386, § 3. Page No. 7 39-08-18. Open container law - Penalty. 1. A person may not drink or consume alcoholic beverages, as defined in section 5-01-01, in or on any motor vehicle when the vehicle is upon a public highway or in an area used principally for public parking. A person may not have in that person's possession on that person's person while in or on a private motor vehicle upon a public highway or in an area used principally for public parking, any bottle or receptacle containing alcoholic beverages which has been opened, or the seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed. It is unlawful for the owner of any private motor vehicle or the driver, if the owner be not then present in or on the motor vehicle, to keep or allow to be kept in a motor vehicle when such vehicle is upon the public highway or in an area used principally for public parking any bottle or receptacle containing such alcoholic beverages which has been opened, or the seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed except when such bottle or receptacle is kept in the trunk of the motor vehicle when such vehicle is equipped with a trunk, or kept in some other area of the vehicle not normally occupied by the driver or passengers, if the motor vehicle is not equipped with a trunk. A utility compartment or glove compartment must be deemed to be within the area occupied by the driver and passengers. This subsection does not prohibit the consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages in a house car if the consumption or possession occurs in the area of the house car used as sleeping or living quarters and that area is separated from the driving compartment by a solid partition, door, curtain, or some similar means of separation; however, consumption is not authorized while the house car is in motion. Any person violating this subsection must be assessed a fee of fifty dollars; however, the licensing authority may not record the violation against the person's driving record unless the person was the driver of the motor vehicle at the time that the violation occurred. 2. Subsection 1 does not apply to a public conveyance that has been commercially chartered for group use, any passenger for compensation in a for-hire motor vehicle, or a privately owned motor vehicle operated by a person in the course of that person's usual employment transporting passengers at the employer's direction. This subsection does not authorize possession or consumption of an alcoholic beverage by the operator of any motor vehicle described in this subsection while upon a public highway or in an area used principally for public parking. 39-08-19. Penalty for harassment of domestic animals. Any person operating a motorcycle, snowmobile, or other motor vehicle who willfully harasses or frightens any domestic animal, is, upon conviction, guilty of a class B misdemeanor. If injury or death results to the animal due to such action, such person is liable for the value of the animal and exemplary damages as provided in section 36-21-13. 39-08-20. Driving without liability insurance prohibited - Penalty. 1. A person may not drive, or the owner may not cause or knowingly permit to be driven, a motor vehicle in this state without a valid policy of liability insurance in effect in order to respond in damages for liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of that motor vehicle in the amount required by chapter 39-16.1. 2. Upon being stopped by a law enforcement officer for the purpose of enforcing or investigating the possible violation of an ordinance or state law, the person driving the motor vehicle shall provide to the officer upon request satisfactory evidence of the policy required under this section. If unable to comply with the request, that person may be charged with a violation of this section if that person fails to submit satisfactory evidence of the policy to the officer or the officer's agency within twenty days from the date of the request; however, during the investigation of an accident, the person may be charged with a violation of this section if that person fails to provide the satisfactory evidence within three business days from the date of the request. If that person produces satisfactory evidence of a valid policy of liability insurance in effect at the time of the alleged violation of this section to the officer, the officer's agency, or a court, Page No. 8 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. that person may not be convicted or assessed any administration fee for violation of subsection 1. Notwithstanding section 26.1-30-18, a person may be convicted for failure to have a valid policy of liability insurance in effect under this section if the time of acquisition of the policy was after the time of the alleged incidence of driving without liability insurance. If the time of acquisition of the policy comes into question, the driver or owner has the burden of establishing the time of acquisition. If the driver is not an owner of the motor vehicle, the driver does not violate this section if the driver provides the court with evidence identifying the owner of the motor vehicle and describing circumstances under which the owner caused or permitted the driver to drive the motor vehicle. Violation of subsection 1 is a class B misdemeanor and the sentence imposed must include a fine of at least one hundred fifty dollars which may not be suspended. A person convicted for a second or subsequent violation of driving without liability insurance within a three-year period must be fined at least three hundred dollars which may not be suspended. For a second or subsequent conviction for a violation of subsection 1 or equivalent ordinance, the court shall impound the motor vehicle number plates of the motor vehicle owned and operated by the person at the time of the violation until that person provides proof of insurance and a twenty dollar fee to the department. The person shall deliver the number plates to the court without delay at a time certain as ordered by the court following the conviction. The court shall deliver the number plates to the department. A person who does not provide the number plates to the court at the appropriate time is guilty of a class B misdemeanor. Upon conviction for a violation of subsection 1 or equivalent ordinance, the person who has been convicted shall provide proof of motor vehicle liability insurance to the department in the form of a written or electronically transmitted certificate from an insurance carrier authorized to do business in this state. This proof must be provided for a period of three years and kept on file with the department. If the person fails to provide this information, the department shall suspend that person's driving privileges and may not issue or renew that person's operator's license unless that person provides proof of insurance. A person who has been convicted for violation of subsection 1 or equivalent ordinance shall surrender that person's operator's license and purchase a duplicate operator's license with a notation requiring that person to keep proof of liability insurance on file with the department. The fee for this license is fifty dollars and the fee to remove this notation is fifty dollars. When an insurance carrier has certified a motor vehicle liability policy, the insurance carrier shall notify the director no later than ten days after cancellation or termination of the certified insurance policy by filing a notice of cancellation or termination of the certified insurance policy; except that a policy subsequently procured and certified shall, on the effective date of its certification, terminate the insurance previously certified with respect to any motor vehicle designated in both certificates. 39-08-20.1. Uninsured motorist - Insurance deductible. If a person causes damage to another or another's property with a motor vehicle while in violation of section 39-08-20, at minimum the court shall order that person to pay to the other person the amount of the deductible on that person's insurance. 39-08-21. Medical qualifications exemption for intrastate drivers. Notwithstanding the adoption by the superintendent of the state highway patrol of federal motor carrier safety regulations pursuant to subsection 3 of section 39-21-46, the provisions of 49 CFR 391.41(b)(1)-(11) do not apply to a person who is qualified through a state medical waiver program to operate a commercial motor vehicle within the boundaries of this state or a person who: Page No. 9 1. 2. 3. Is otherwise qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle and who possesses, on March 26, 1991, a class 1 license issued pursuant to section 39-06-14, as that section existed on June 30, 1989, or a class A license issued pursuant to chapter 39-06.2; Operates a commercial motor vehicle only within the boundaries of this state; and Has a medical or physical condition that: a. Would prevent such person from operating a commercial motor vehicle under federal motor carrier safety regulations contained in 49 CFR, chapter III, subchapter B; b. Existed on March 26, 1991, or at the time of the first required physical examination after that date; and c. An examining physician has determined has not substantially worsened since March 26, 1991, or the time of the first required physical examination after that date. 39-08-22. Nonpayment for motor fuels - Penalty. 1. For a theft offense in violation of chapter 12.1-23 which involves a person who leaves the premises of an establishment at which motor fuel is offered for retail sale after motor fuel was dispensed into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle that that person drove away without having made due payment or authorized charge for the motor fuel dispensed, the court may: a. Upon a person's second conviction, order the suspension of the person's driving privileges for up to three months; and b. Upon a person's third or subsequent conviction, order the suspension of the person's driving privileges for up to six months. 2. As used in this section, "conviction" means a final conviction without regard to whether sentence was suspended or deferred or probation was granted after the conviction. Forfeiture of bail, bond, or collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance in court, which forfeiture has not been vacated, is equivalent to conviction. 39-08-23. Use of a wireless communications device prohibited. 1. The operator of a motor vehicle that is part of traffic may not use a wireless communications device to compose, read, or send an electronic message. 2. Under this section: a. "Electronic message" means a self-contained piece of digital communication that is designed or intended to be transmitted between physical devices. The term includes e-mail, a text message, an instant message, a command or request to access a worldwide web page, or other data that uses a commonly recognized electronic communications protocol. The term does not include: (1) Reading, selecting, or entering a telephone number, an extension number, or voice mail retrieval codes and commands into an electronic device for the purpose of initiating or receiving a telephone or cellular phone call or using voice commands to initiate or receive a telephone or cellular phone call; (2) Inputting, selecting, or reading information on a global positioning system device or other navigation system device; (3) Using a device capable of performing multiple functions, such as fleet management systems, dispatching devices, smartphones, citizen band radios, music players, or similar devices, for a purpose that is not otherwise prohibited; (4) Voice or other data transmitted as a result of making a telephone or cellular phone call; or (5) Data transmitted automatically by a wireless communication device without direct initiation by an individual. b. "Traffic" means operation of a motor vehicle while in motion or for the purposes of travel on any street or highway and includes a temporary stop or halt of motion, such as at an official traffic-control signal or sign. The term does not include a motor vehicle that is lawfully parked. Page No. 10 3. This section does not apply if a wireless communications device is used for obtaining emergency assistance to report a traffic accident, medical emergency, or serious traffic hazard or to prevent a crime about to be committed, in the reasonable belief that an individual's life or safety is in immediate danger, or in an authorized emergency vehicle while in the performance of official duties. 39-08-24. Use of an electronic communication device by minor prohibited. An individual at least sixteen and under eighteen years of age who has been issued a class D license may not operate an electronic communication device to talk, compose, read, or send an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle that is in motion unless the sole purpose of operating the device is to obtain emergency assistance, to prevent a crime about to be committed, or in the reasonable belief that an individual's life or safety is in danger. Page No. 11

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