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Engine Brake Laws No. ND Local / posted

North Dakota Engine & Jake Brake Rules

North Dakota has no blanket ban. Your real state hook is the muffler law (N.D. Cent. Code 39-21-37): keep an operational muffler, no cutout or bypass. A 2025 law (SB2253) now lets cities and counties post official 'no compression brake' zones and sets a flat $50 fine, and any officer, including the Highway Patrol, can write it on a state highway. Watch for signs at town edges. Keep the engine brake working on grades where none is posted.

Ban scopeLocal / posted
Muffler lawYes (the legal hook)
Where postedLocal, but now backed by a 2025 state law
Fine$50 for using a compression brake in a posted zone
01 The rule

How North Dakota handles engine braking

North Dakota has no blanket ban. Your real state hook is the muffler law (N.D. Cent. Code 39-21-37): keep an operational muffler, no cutout or bypass. A 2025 law (SB2253) now lets cities and counties post official 'no compression brake' zones and sets a flat $50 fine, and any officer, including the Highway Patrol, can write it on a state highway. Watch for signs at town edges. Keep the engine brake working on grades where none is posted.

02 On the road

What to watch for

North Dakota Engine Brake FAQ

Are engine brakes banned in North Dakota?
North Dakota has no statewide ban. The restriction is local and posted on "NO ENGINE BRAKE" signs. North Dakota has no blanket ban.
Where are the "NO ENGINE BRAKE" signs in North Dakota?
Local, but now backed by a 2025 state law. Since Aug. 1, 2025 (SB2253) a city or county can adopt an ordinance and post official 'no compression brake' zones, and any officer, including the Highway Patrol, can enforce them on state highways. Expect signs at town edges and on grades leading into communities.
What is the fine for using an engine brake where it is banned in North Dakota?
$50 for using a compression brake in a posted zone (SB2253, effective Aug. 1, 2025), with an emergency exception. A bad-muffler charge under N.D. Cent. Code 39-21-37 is a separate ticket.

Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://landline.media/north-dakota-law-targets-engine-brake-rule/. See our Terms & Disclaimer.

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