Driving without liability insurance prohibited.
Fargo Municipal Code § 8-0320
in effect8-0320. - Driving without liability insurance prohibited.
A. A person may not drive, or the owner may not cause or knowingly permit to be driven, a motor vehicle in this city 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, N.D.C.C.
B. 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, including written or electronic proof of insurance, 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 produces satisfactory evidence, including written or electronic proof of insurance, of a valid policy of liability insurance in effect at the time of the alleged violation of this section to the office of the prosecutor where the matter is pending, that person may not be convicted or assessed any administration fee for violation of subsection A.
C. Notwithstanding section 26.1-30-18, N.D.C.C., 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.
D. Violation of subsection A is a noncriminal offense and the sentence imposed must include a fine of 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 three hundred dollars which may not be suspended. For a second or subsequent conviction for violation of subsection A, the court shall order the motor vehicle number plates of the motor vehicle owned and operated by the person at the time of the violation to be impounded until that person provides proof of insurance and a twenty dollar fee to the office of the police officer that made the arrest and notify the department of the order. 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.
Source: 2047 (1982), 2515 (1990), 2742 (1995), 2815 (1997), 4635 (2008), 4739 (2010), 4865 (2013), 5318 (2021).
Source: City of Fargo, North Dakota, Fargo Municipal Code and Home Rule Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nd/fargo/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=FARGO_MUNICIPAL_CODECIFANODA_CH8TRCO_ART8-03REGOOP_8-0320DRWILIINPRFetched: 11/7/2026