Bismarck traffic ticket: how to pay it, and how to keep the points off

Where is the Bismarck Municipal Court?

At 514 E. Thayer Ave., Bismarck, ND 58501. The window is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The phone number is 701-355-1350.

How do I pay a Bismarck traffic ticket?

• Online. Go to NDCourts.gov, open the search and pay fines page, choose a location under Payment, and pick Bismarck in the municipal section. Search by the citation number on the top right of the ticket, or by name. The court says only computers and laptops work for online payment.
• In person. At the court window on Thayer Avenue.

Parking tickets use a different payment portal.

How long do I have?

Fourteen calendar days. The court says your citation "MUST be paid within 14 calendar days" or you must appear on the date on the citation. Signing the citation when you receive it is not an admission of guilt.

How do I contest the ticket?

Appear in court on the date on your citation, or on a Monday or Wednesday at 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. within 14 days. Sign and date the citation and pay the bond in full by check, cash or money order. If you're found not guilty, the bond is returned. Bring your receipt. A guilty finding can be appealed in writing within 30 days.

What if my ticket isn't from Bismarck police?

A ticket from the Highway Patrol or the county sheriff goes to the district court, not the city court. The court named on your citation is the one to contact.

Does the court decide my points?

No. NDDOT does. The court reports the violation to NDDOT, and NDDOT enters the points from the state schedule. A stop sign ticket is 2 points. Speeding is 0 to 15 depending on your speed. Points by violation.

How do I keep the points off?

State law lets you elect a driver training course in lieu of points for a violation worth 5 points or fewer. You have to tell the court at the time you post bond, then get your certificate to NDDOT within 30 days.

Don't pay online first. The state courts' payment site says "STOP! DO NOT MAKE A PAYMENT" if you want to take a defensive driving course instead of points. The election is made in writing to the clerk of court when you post bond, in person or by mail in the same envelope as the citation, within 14 days of the citation (ND Legal Self Help Center guide, rev. July 2024). There is no online way to elect it.

The Bismarck court says it "has no authority regarding drivers' licenses or points," and its pages don't explain how to record an election. Call 701-355-1350 before you pay and ask.

How the election works.

What if I've already paid?

The points will post. A defensive driving course takes 3 off, once every 12 months. Email the certificate to drs@nd.gov. How the course works.