Sooner or later, most Nebraska drivers will get a speeding ticket. This article explains Nebraska's speed limits and the penalties you'll face for a citation.
Nebraska has two types of speeding laws: "absolute limits" and a "basic speeding law." Below, we explain how each of these work.
There's nothing complicated about how Nebraska's absolute speed limits work: If the absolute speed limit is 50 miles per hour and you drive faster than that, you've violated the law. Nebraska's absolute speed limits include (unless otherwise posted):
(Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 60-6,186 (2024).)
Notwithstanding the absolute limits, Nebraska's basic speeding law prohibits driving at a speed greater than is "reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing." The basic speed law also requires drivers to reduce their speed as appropriate when approaching crossings, curves, a hill crest, or when other road or weather conditions warrant the reduction. (Neb. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 60-6,185 (2024).)
In other words, motorists must always drive at a safe speed. What a safe speed is will depend on the circumstances. For instance, 55 miles per hour might be safe on a bright, sunny day. But if it's dark and the road is icy, going 55 miles per hour could be dangerous and a violation of the basic speeding law.
Generally, a speeding violation is a traffic infraction. The possible fines are:
Fines are, however, doubled for speeding offenses in construction or school zones.
A speeding ticket will typically add one to four demerit points to a motorist's driving record. Accumulating too many points can lead to license suspension.
However, in some cases, it might also be possible to beat a speeding ticket in court.
Depending on the circumstances, a speeding violation can lead to a "reckless driving" conviction. A first conviction carries up to three months in jail and/or a maximum $500 in fines.
And if a speeding violation results in the death of another person, it's possible to be convicted of "motor vehicular homicide." Convicted motorists may face a substantial jail or prison sentence and hefty fines.