Drivers Speeding Through North Dakota | Video

Evan Kruegel | 1/22/2013

Drivers in Western North Dakota are constantly in a hurry, and Williston police are taking notice. The city issued more than 1,300 speeding citations in 2012, an increase of over 75 percent from 2011.

Patrolman Ryan Allen says certain areas of town have gotten worse than others. "Your bypasses, your east and west bypass are large issues. They`re 40 miles per hour but most people view it as a divided highway, so they`re looking at 55, 60 mile per hour zones."

Allen says out-of-state drivers are shocked by the small fine that accompanies the ticket. Anything up to 13 miles per hour over the speed limit is just one dollar per mile per hour. He says the fines likely play a factor in how often drivers speed.

"Unfortunately I do. The penalties are awfully low here, so people kind of wash them away."

While the numbers have increased, long-time residents say speeding drivers are nothing new.

"It`s always been a problem, always been a problem. I`ve had people pass me and spin out in front of me and I thought I was going to hit them," said Roger Roland.

The population growth certainly plays into the increased numbers, but Allen says new technology is helping as well. "We have a radar in the front and the rear of the squad so we can go at you. If you`ve already passed us, a lot of people don`t realize that we have a radar in the back, so if you decide to hit the gas we can radar you as you pull away from us."

Allen expects this year`s citation total to be even higher than last year`s. So you`d better not press your luck, or the gas pedal.

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