How North Dakota DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in North Dakota is prosecuted in the District Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
North Dakota district court, the state's general trial court, hears every DUI case, from a Class B misdemeanor first offense to a felony fourth offense. Appeals go directly to the North Dakota Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at ndcourts.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in North Dakota
A DUI case in North Dakota is heard in the District Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 10 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under N.D. Cent. Code § 39-08-01 and request a breath, blood or urine test under North Dakota's implied-consent section, N.D. Cent. Code § 39-20-01. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 10 days — NDDOT handles administrative suspensions for alcohol offenses separately from the criminal case. You have 10 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with North Dakota Department of Transportation; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the District Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the District Court. North Dakota district court, the state's general trial court, hears every DUI case, from a Class B misdemeanor first offense to a felony fourth offense.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. District court filings go through Odyssey File & Serve.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of at least $500, a licence suspension of 91 days. Prior offenses within 7 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense carries a minimum fine and a 91-day suspension.
- 6Reinstatement — After the suspension period, the licence stays suspended until the reinstatement fee is paid under N.D.C.C. §§ 39-06-35 and 39-06-49. North Dakota requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in North Dakota
- District court filings go through Odyssey File & Serve.
- District courts are courts of record.
- The Department of Transportation runs an administrative suspension process separate from the criminal case.
- Hearing requests and reinstatement payments can be handled through NDDOT's online driver licence system.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
North Dakota ZIP codes covered
These North Dakota ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these North Dakota resources
Counties
Other North Dakota official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in North Dakota?
- First-offense DUI cases in North Dakota are heard in the District Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in North Dakota?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the ND driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 10 days of arrest.