Law enforcement agencies across North Dakota will increase patrols throughout April to enforce the state’s distracted driving law as part of the national distracted driving enforcement campaign, Put the Phone Away or Pay.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation identified distracted driving as any activity that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel or mind off driving, with texting and cell phone use being the most common examples. According to state data from 2024, lane departure crashes occurred about every two hours in North Dakota, often with distracted driving being a contributing factor.

“Our goal is to prevent crashes before they happen,” said Minot Police Department Captain Justin Sundheim. “Visible enforcement reminds drivers that distracted driving is illegal and dangerous, but the real goal is to encourage people to make responsible choices every time they get behind the wheel.”