Driving without liability insurance still will net a Minot driver a $300 fine, even if the same offense carries a fine of half that on the state level.

The Minot City Council voted on first reading Monday, Nov. 3, to update the city’s criminal and traffic ordinances, which was largely a cleanup to align with state law.

However, council member Scott Samuelson took issue with cutting the fines for lack of liability insurance in half to match the state. The state reduced the fines from $300 for a first offense to $150 and $600 for a second offense to $300.

Samuelson told anecdotes of individuals impacted by crashes for which the other party was at fault.

“I just think there has to be a deterrent for that. This used to be a Class B felony, but the Legislature changed that, and now it is just a traffic event,” he said.

Council member Rob Fuller also questioned the argument that by lowering fines, a violator will be able to afford to go on to purchase the liability insurance.

“I get the intent behind this, but to me, lowering fines and lowering fees for people that are neglecting the rules, whether out of necessity or just because they choose to, I don’t necessarily think that’s a good idea,” Fuller said.

City Attorney Stefanie Stalheim said the city has authority under state law to set its fines at double the state fines for moving violations, but the Legislature changed the law to no longer allow cities to alter state fines for speeding violations. As a result, the City of Minot is adjusting its speeding fines to align with the state’s.

Fuller said he has a concern over cutting fines in half for speeding in a school zone but increasing the minimum fine in a construction zone from $80 to $150.

“Because the state says we can’t double the speeding tickets in school zones anymore, we’re dropping it from $80 to $40. In my mind, there’s no reason for anybody to not speed for 40 bucks. So, I would hope the Legislature, going forward, would maybe pick that one up and just take a look at it again,” he said.

“Did you realize that a fine for not registering your snowmobile is higher than speeding in a school zone?” Samuelson added. “I think the legislators missed this one.”

The fee for failing to register a snowmobile is $50, according to Century Code.

The council voted unanimously to keep liability insurance fines at $300 and $600 before unanimously passing the remainder of the updates.