You need to adjust your speed not only according to posted limits—20 mph in business districts, 25 mph in residential areas, and up to 75 mph on interstates—but also based on actual road conditions, as Nebraska’s basic speed law requires. Speeding fines have recently increased, reflecting the state’s tougher stance, especially when speeding occurs near schools, construction zones, or at extreme speeds. Understanding these laws is critical because penalties now escalate sharply with violations, affecting both safety and consequences.
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Key Takeaways
- Nebraska’s speed limits range from 20 mph in business districts to 75 mph on interstates, with reasonable speed required for conditions regardless of limits.
- Speeding fines increased significantly in 2025: $50 for 1-5 mph over, $75 for 6-10 mph, up to $400 for 36+ mph over the limit.
- Drivers exceeding twice the posted speed limit face reckless driving charges, with motor vehicle homicide classified as a Class IV felony.
- The Move-Over Law mandates slowing or changing lanes for stopped vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and agricultural equipment, with active enforcement and new signage installation.
- The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) can temporarily reduce speed limits due to weather, emergencies, or traffic conditions and collaborates with law enforcement on safety enforcement.
Nebraska’s Absolute and Basic Speed Limit Laws
Although Nebraska sets absolute speed limits that you mustn’t exceed, the state also enforces a basic speeding law requiring you to drive at a speed reasonable for current conditions, regardless of the posted speed limit.
The absolute limits cover maximum speeds such as 20 mph in business districts, 25 mph in residential areas, and 75 mph on interstate highways. If you exceed these limits, you face fines for speeding ranging from $10 to $400 and may accumulate demerit points.
Nebraska’s laws emphasize public safety, requiring you to adjust speed near curves, hills, or hazards to comply with the basic speeding law.
Updated Speeding Fines and Penalties
- Fines escalate with speed: $75 for 6-10 mph, $125 for 11-15 mph, $200 for 16-20 mph over the posted limit.
- Fines double in construction and school zones, emphasizing protection in high-risk areas.
- Driving over twice the posted limit is now classified as reckless driving, carrying harsher penalties including potential jail time, as enforced by the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Expansion and Impact of the Move-Over Law
Since September 3, 2025, Nebraska’s expanded Move-Over Law requires drivers to change lanes or slow down when approaching any stopped vehicle, including pedestrians, cyclists, and agricultural equipment, to improve safety for all vulnerable road users.
This speed and limit law aims to reduce accidents caused by drivers not yielding properly. County Sheriff Aaron Hanson highlights that compliance reduces traffic congestion and life-threatening hazards.
The Nebraska Department of Transportation supports the law by installing new signs and developing variable speed limit policies. Law enforcement, including the Nebraska State Patrol, enforces these rules to promote safer driving conditions statewide.
Reckless Driving and Motor Vehicular Homicide Provisions
- Over 840 drivers exceeded 100 mph in 2025, prompting tougher laws.
- The Nebraska State Patrol supports increased penalties to reduce speeding violations.
- These measures aim to improve overall road safety statewide.
These laws drive accountability and deter severe speeding.
Role of NDOT and Enforcement Strategies
Although NDOT primarily focuses on highway safety, it actively enforces speed regulations by collaborating with law enforcement and conducting traffic engineering studies to determine appropriate speed limits.
NDOT performs thorough traffic investigations to justify speed limit adjustments, guaranteeing they’re reasonable and safe for vehicles and road users. The department also maintains records of speed limit changes to guarantee transparency and accountability.
NDOT developed signage for the move-over law, enhancing protection for stopped vehicles and vulnerable road users. Through these enforcement strategies, NDOT strengthens overall highway safety across Nebraska’s roadways.
State-by-State Speed Limit Laws: Speed Rules, Fines, and Penalties Explained
| Alabama | Alabama’s speed limits range from 25 mph in residential areas to 70 mph on interstates. The state uses absolute limits, with fines increasing by mph over and points added to the license. |
| Alaska | Alaska generally sets speed limits at 55–65 mph on highways and 25 mph in cities. It follows a basic speeding law, allowing tickets even below posted limits if conditions are unsafe. |
| Arizona | Arizona allows speeds up to 75 mph on rural freeways. The state enforces absolute speed limits, with fines, points, and possible suspension for excessive speeding. |
| Arkansas | Arkansas speed limits typically range from 25 mph in cities to 75 mph on interstates. Absolute limits apply, and violations result in fines and license points. |
| California | California’s maximum speed limit is 65–70 mph on highways. The state uses both absolute and basic speed laws, meaning drivers can be cited even under the posted limit if driving unsafely. |
| Colorado | Colorado allows speeds up to 75 mph on rural interstates. It enforces absolute limits, with higher penalties for speeds exceeding 25 mph over the limit. |
| Connecticut | Connecticut speed limits range from 25 mph in residential areas to 65 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply, with fines, points, and insurance impacts for violations. |
| Delaware | Delaware’s speed limits typically cap at 65 mph on highways. The state enforces absolute limits, issuing fines and points for each speeding offense. |
| Florida | Florida allows speeds up to 70 mph on interstates and 30 mph in cities. Absolute speed limits apply, with fines increasing as speed exceeds the limit. |
| Georgia | Georgia speed limits reach 70 mph on interstates and 30 mph in urban areas. Absolute limits apply, with Super Speeder penalties for excessive speeds. |
| Hawaii | Hawaii generally limits speeds to 25 mph in cities and 60 mph on highways. Absolute speed laws apply, with fines and points for violations. |
| Idaho | Idaho allows speeds up to 80 mph on rural interstates. The state enforces absolute limits, with fines and license points for speeding. |
| Illinois | Illinois speed limits range from 30 mph in cities to 70 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply, with higher penalties for construction zone violations. |
| Indiana | Indiana allows speeds up to 70 mph on interstates. Absolute speed limits apply, with fines, points, and potential suspension for repeat offenses. |
| Iowa | Iowa speed limits range from 25 mph in residential zones to 70 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply, with fines based on mph over the limit. |
| Kansas | Kansas allows speeds up to 75 mph on rural highways. The state enforces absolute speed limits with fines and license points. |
| Kentucky | Kentucky speed limits typically reach 70 mph on interstates. Absolute limits apply, and excessive speeding may result in suspension. |
| Louisiana | Louisiana speed limits range from 25 mph in cities to 75 mph on highways. Absolute speed laws apply, with fines and points added. |
| Maine | Maine allows speeds up to 75 mph on interstates. The state applies absolute speed limits, with fines increasing by mph over. |
| Maryland | Maryland speed limits typically cap at 65 mph. Absolute limits apply, and excessive speeding can trigger reckless driving charges. |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts speed limits range from 25 mph in thickly settled areas to 65 mph on highways. The state enforces absolute limits with fines and points. |
| Michigan | Michigan speed limits vary by vehicle type and roadway, reaching up to 75 mph. Absolute limits apply, with higher penalties for severe speeding. |
| Minnesota | Minnesota allows speeds up to 70 mph on highways. The state enforces absolute limits, issuing fines and points for violations. |
| Mississippi | Mississippi speed limits range from 30 mph in cities to 70 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply, with fines and license points. |
| Missouri | Missouri allows speeds up to 70 mph on interstates. Absolute speed limits apply, with fines and points assessed. |
| Montana | Montana allows speeds up to 80 mph on rural interstates. The state uses absolute limits, with steep penalties for excessive speeding. |
| Nevada | Nevada allows speeds up to 80 mph on rural interstates. Absolute speed laws apply, with higher fines for major violations. |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire generally limits speeds to 55–65 mph. The state applies absolute speed limits with fines and possible suspension. |
| New Jersey | New Jersey speed limits range from 25 mph in residential areas to 65 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply with points and fines. |
| New Mexico | New Mexico allows speeds up to 75 mph on highways. Absolute speed laws apply, with enhanced penalties for excessive speeding. |
| New York | New York’s default speed limit is 55 mph unless posted. Absolute limits apply, with points, fines, and possible suspension. |
| North Carolina | North Carolina speed limits reach 70 mph on highways. The state enforces absolute limits, with steep penalties for speeds 15+ mph over. |
| North Dakota | North Dakota allows speeds up to 75 mph. Absolute speed limits apply, with fines and potential license action. |
| Ohio | Ohio speed limits range from 25 mph in cities to 70 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply, with fines and points assessed. |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma allows speeds up to 75 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply, and extreme speeding may result in jail time. |
| Oregon | Oregon speed limits range from 25 mph in cities to 70 mph on rural highways. The state applies absolute limits with escalating fines. |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania allows speeds up to 70 mph. Absolute speed limits apply, with fines and points added for violations. |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island speed limits typically cap at 65 mph. Absolute limits apply, with fines and possible suspension. |
| South Carolina | South Carolina allows speeds up to 70 mph on interstates. Absolute speed laws apply with fines and points. |
| South Dakota | South Dakota allows speeds up to 80 mph. Absolute limits apply, with fines and license points. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee speed limits reach 70 mph. Absolute speed limits apply, with enhanced penalties for high-speed violations. |
| Texas | Texas allows speeds up to 85 mph on select highways. Absolute limits apply, with fines and license consequences. |
| Utah | Utah speed limits reach 80 mph on rural interstates. Absolute limits apply, with fines and points. |
| Vermont | Vermont’s speed limit is usually 50 mph unless posted. The state applies absolute limits and a basic speeding law. Fines run $5–$24 per mph over, with points and possible suspension. |
| Virginia | Virginia’s maximum speed is 70 mph. Driving 20 mph over or above 85 mph is reckless driving, carrying criminal penalties. |
| Washington | Washington speed limits range from 25 mph in cities to 70 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply, with fines and points. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia allows speeds up to 70 mph. Absolute limits apply, with fines and possible suspension for repeat offenses. |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin speed limits range from 25 mph in cities to 70 mph on highways. Absolute limits apply, with fines and points. |
| Wyoming | Wyoming allows speeds up to 80 mph on interstates. Absolute limits apply, with enhanced penalties for excessive speeding. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Over the Speed Limit Is Okay?
You aren’t allowed to exceed the posted speed limit in Nebraska; speed enforcement criteria are strict with no legal speed variations above limits. Follow safe driving practices considering speed limit signs and road conditions to avoid traffic violation consequences. Use road safety tips and speeding ticket defenses cautiously. Excess speed risks up to four demerit points and doubled fines in special zones. Driving faster than reasonable or safe is not permitted.
What Are the Speed Limits in Nebraska?
You can’t drive a rocket, but on Nebraska highways, the max speed is 75 mph on rural interstates, 65 mph on state highways; city streets, school, and residential zones are 20–25 mph; construction zones and rural roads have reduced limits for traffic safety, enforced rigorously.
What Is the Speeding Statute in Nebraska?
Nebraska’s speeding statute mandates you drive safely, considering road conditions and driver responsibility. Traffic enforcement imposes penalties from $50 to $400 based on speed, with reckless driving (over twice the limit) causing harsher legal consequences, including possible jail time. These rules address accident statistics and promote safe driving.
What Are the Three Speed Limit Laws?
You have three main speed limit laws: absolute limits setting maximum speeds, basic speed law requiring reasonable safe driving under conditions, and specific rules to reduce speed at crossings, curves, or hills. Traffic regulations enforce these for accident prevention, applying speeding penalties and legal consequences to promote road safety.
Conclusion
You can’t ignore Nebraska’s stricter speeding laws now in effect, with fines sharply increased even for minor infractions and reckless driving charges applied when you exceed double the posted limit. The new Move-Over Law expansion and NDOT’s authority to reduce speed limits temporarily guarantee roads adapt to conditions dynamically. These changes prove theory right: tougher enforcement and adaptive speed management better promote public safety on Nebraska highways.
