AN ACT to amend and reenact section 39-10-16 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to rotary traffic islands.
Summary
SB 2371 amends North Dakota Century Code section 39-10-16, which governs one-way roadways and rotary traffic islands. The bill keeps the existing rule that vehicles traveling around a rotary traffic island must proceed to the right of the island, and it adds a new requirement that once a vehicle has entered a rotary traffic island, it may not exit from any position within the island unless the driver first signals an intention to exit.
In practical terms, the bill clarifies and tightens traffic rules for rotary traffic islands and roundabout-like roadway features. It gives the director and local authorities the same general authority they already have to designate one-way traffic patterns, while adding a specific signaling requirement intended to improve predictability and safety for other drivers and pedestrians.
The bill appears to have broad legislative support. It passed the Senate 43-4 and the House 91-2, indicating strong bipartisan agreement and little recorded opposition. The available record does not include committee testimony or debate, so the public rationale is not detailed in the materials provided.
The main point of contention, based on the votes, appears to have been limited and likely centered on whether the added signaling rule was necessary or how it would be enforced. However, the overwhelming margins suggest that any concerns were minor compared with the general consensus that the measure was a straightforward traffic-safety clarification.
Impact
SB 2371 amends section 39-10-16 of the North Dakota Century Code, affecting traffic regulation for one-way roadways and rotary traffic islands. It adds a statutory duty for drivers to signal before exiting a rotary traffic island and reinforces the requirement to travel to the right of the island. The bill primarily affects motorists and local traffic enforcement, while leaving existing authority of state and local road officials intact.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment around SB 2371 is strongly favorable. The bill passed both chambers by wide margins, suggesting broad agreement that it is a modest, practical traffic-safety update rather than a controversial policy change. With no committee transcript available, the record shows little organized opposition beyond a small number of dissenting votes.
Contention
There is little visible contention in the available materials. The only notable disagreement is reflected in the small number of no votes in each chamber, which may indicate concern about adding another traffic rule or about enforcement details. No specific stakeholder objections, amendments, or committee disputes are provided in the record.
AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 39-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to military sacrifice number plates; and to amend and reenact section 39-04-10.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to personalized plates.