PIERRE -- Amid the give and take on health care reform, the economy and other national issues, Republican Kristi Noem's history of speeding has become an issue in the race for South Dakota's lone seat in the U.S. House.

And the GOP candidate's driving record apparently will continue to be an issue in her campaign against Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. The South Dakota Democratic Party on Monday created a website dedicated just to Noem's driving record. It castigated her for "a reckless disregard for the law" and took particular note of two warrants that were issued for Noem's arrest when she failed to pay fines.

Noem's driving record became an issue starting last week, when KELO-TV first reported that she has had 20 speeding tickets and other traffic violations in the past two decades. Although warrants were issued, Noem was never arrested and she eventually paid overdue fines.

Noem's most recent speeding ticket was for driving 94 mph Feb. 19 on Interstate 90 in Moody County, where the speed limit is 75 mph. She paid $130 in fines and court costs.

According to South Dakota Unified Judicial System records obtained by The Associated Press, Noem has been ticketed for speeding 20 times since 1989, most frequently in cities and counties near her home in Castlewood. She also was ticketed three times for failure to make a proper stop, twice for not having proper license plates, twice for failing to wear a seat belt, once for having no driver's license and once for failing to renew a vehicle registration.

Herseth Sandlin's court records show one speeding citation, a 1999 ticket for driving 84 mph in a 65 mph zone. She paid $103 in fines and court costs.