FARGO, N.D. – Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski gives his support for a bill that would ticket the owner of a fleeing vehicle in North Dakota even if they weren’t behind the wheel.
The legislation has been passed by the Legislature and has been sent to Governor Kelly Armstrong.
Current state law doesn’t allow authorities to recommend a fleeing charge unless they know who the driver is. Zibolski believes if the bill becomes law, it will put pressure on vehicle owners to tell law enforcement who drove it.
“That’s a tool we don’t have now that hopefully will garner some cooperation but also deter and prevent some of these incidents from happening because they are extremely dangerous,” Zibolski said.
Those opposed believe the law would violate constitutional rights while taking away the presumption of innocence of vehicle owners who would have to prove they weren’t a suspected driver during a police chase.
