Are Drones Being Used For Speeding Tickets In ND?

Does the Sky Have Eyes Now?

There's a post on social media claiming that drones are now flying above Interstate 94 and clocking speeds on the highways of the Peace Garden State. North Dakotans are getting scanned from above.

The image on the post shows a drone in the sky labeled with ND Police/Highway Patrol, with a digital display of 78 miles per hour, hovering somewhere on Interstate 94. Here's a look at that photo and post from a page called North Dakota Life.

I was immediately skeptical when I saw this post. I don't doubt that this could be in the future to help law enforcement in North Dakota. I remember a long time ago, I was pulled over in California by a stationary cop car on the side of a highway, not because he gunned me for speeding, but apparently, a plane that was patrolling the sky from above the highway was clocking vehicles, and I received a ticket because of it. This would be the same concept, but a lot cheaper.

After a simple search online, it was obvious to me that this post is completely FALSE. Although North Dakota law enforcement can use drones for traffic management and accident reconstruction, North Dakota law prohibits using them for traffic surveillance that leads to automated citations, according to the North Dakota Century Code. 

Future Use for Drones and Speeding Tickets

This is likely coming in the future. Drones could be used in this capacity along North Dakota highways in future years, but they will have to change the law first. This post above was shared hundreds of times on several North Dakota Facebook forums, with numerous comments complaining about this new practice. Again, don't believe everything you see on social media. It's not true, at least for now.