Speed limits in Nebraska, laws and fines
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Following is an overview of the laws, limits, and fines as they relate to speeding traffic violations in the state of Nebraska.
Speed limits in Nebraska
Nebraska has one of the highest interstate speed limits in the country. As of October 2015, the state is just one of six to post an 80 mph limit.
75 mph: interstate highways and state freeways
65 mph: state expressways
60 mph: other state highways
55 mph: dustless-surfaced highways that aren’t part of the state highway system
50 mph: non-dustless-surfaced highways that aren’t part of the state highway system
25 mph: residential areas
20 mph: business districts
School zone speed limits are as posted.
Nebraska code on reasonable and prudent speed
The law of maximum speed:
According to section 60-6, 185 of Nebraska vehicle code, “No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.”
Minimum speed law:
Section 60-6, 193 states, “A motor vehicle may not be driven at a speed slow enough to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.”
Due to differences in speedometer calibration, tire size, and inaccuracies in speed detection technology, it is rare for an officer to stop a driver for speeding less than five miles. However, technically, any excess can be considered a speed violation, so it is recommended not to go beyond the established limits.
While it may be difficult to fight a speeding ticket in Nebraska due to the absolute speed limit law, a driver may choose to go to court and claim their innocence based upon one of the following:
The driver may object to the determination of the speed. To qualify for this protection, the driver must know how his or her speed was determined and then learn to disprove its accuracy.
The driver may claim that, due to an emergency, the driver violated the speed limit to prevent injury or damage to himself or others.
The driver may report a case of misidentification. If a police officer records a speeding driver and subsequently has to find him again in a traffic jam, it is quite possible that he made a mistake and stopped the wrong car.
Penalty for exceeding the speed limit in Nebraska
First-time offenders may:
Fine from 10 to 200 dollars
Suspend the license for up to six months.
Penalty for reckless driving in Nebraska
There is no set speed at which speeding is considered reckless driving. This definition depends on the circumstances of the violation.
First-time offenders may:
Be fined up to $500
Be sentenced to up to 90 days in prison
Suspend the license for up to six months.
Violators may be required to complete a driver improvement course.
