North Dakota DOT Continues License Suspension Hearings Despite the Rights of Drivers to an in-Person Hearing
MINOT, N.D. — A few days ago, on March 24, Gov. Doug Burgum issued an executive order to the North Dakota Department of Transportation, asking for some changes in policy because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
You can read it in full below.
The part of the order which got the most attention was the removal of load restrictions from state highways to help facilitate the uninterrupted supply of goods during this time of considerable uncertainty.
What got less attention was the part which orders the North Dakota Department of Transportation to halt in-person administrative hearings “for the duration of the declared public health emergency.”
The hearings mostly deal with things like license suspensions resulting from infractions like driving under the influence. Burgum’s order states that currently scheduled hearings may be rescheduled to take place over the telephone or video conferencing and that all future hearings may be scheduled this way, but only if all participants can do so.
