Nebraska New Resident Guide

Licensing and Residency Requirements

• Motor Vehicles are titled and registered on the county level in the State of Nebraska. Individuals have 30 days after arriving in Nebraska to obtain a Nebraska title and registration for their vehicles.
• New residents 18 or older surrendering a valid out-of-state license: vision test required, drive test administered at discretion of driver licensing staff. If unable to surrender the out of state license or if the license is expired, the written test and drive test will be required as well as proof of Identification. Address verification required for all residents obtaining initial Nebraska document.
• If your name or address changes, you must apply for a replacement license or ID card within 60 days of such change.

Violation Point Counts

The amount of points that go against your driver's license for specific types of violations.

12 Point Violations

• Motor vehicle homicide
• Driving under the influence - 3rd or subsequent offense

6 Point Violations

• Failure to render aid in accident you are involved in
• Leave the scene of an accident
• Driving Under the Influence - 1st and 2nd Offense
• Willful reckless driving (deliberate & intentional)

5 Point Violations

• Reckless driving (rash, heedless, dangerous)

4 Point Violations

• Careless driving (inattentive, forgetful, inconsiderate)
• Failure to yield to a pedestrian with bodily injury to the pedestrian
• Speeding - Business & Residential District - over 35 MPH over limit
• Speeding - County Roads & State Highways - over 35 MPH over limit
• Speeding - Interstate Highway - over 35 MPH over limit

3 Point Violations

• Negligent driving (indifferent, offhand, neglectful)
• Speeding - Business & Residential District - over 10 MPH over limit
• Speeding - County Roads & State Highways - over 15 MPH over limit
• Speeding - Interstate Highway - over 15 MPH over limit

2 Point Violations

• Failure to yield to a pedestrian with no bodily injury to pedestrian
• Speeding - Business & Residential District - 5 through 10 MPH over limit
• Speeding - County Roads & State Highways - over 10 through 15 MPH over limit
• Speeding - Interstate Highway - over 10 through 15 MPH over limit

1 Point Violations

• Failure to submit to an alcohol content test
• Speeding - Business & Residential District - over 1 through 5 MPH over limit
• Speeding - County Roads & State Highways - over 1 through 10 MPH over limit
• Speeding - Interstate Highway - over 1 through 10 MPH over limit
• Operating a vehicle with an expired license or if no license has ever been issued.
• All other traffic violations

Time Points Remain on Record

Convictions remain on the driving record for five years.

Accumulating 12 points in a two year time period (counting from the last date of violation) causes automatic revocation of the operator's license under the Nebraska Point System.

Headlight Laws

You must dim your headlights from high to low beam when you are 200 feet of a vehicle traveling ahead of you, or when meeting an oncoming vehicle.

You must use your headlights:

• From sunset to sunrise;
• Whenever using windshield wipers;
• When visibility is less than 500 feet.

There is no specific law allowing or prohibiting headlight flashing.

DUI Penalties

DWI

First offense (Class W misdemeanor)

• Up to 60 days imprisonment.
• Up to $500 fine;
• Up to 6 months license revocation.
• If BAC .15 or greater:
• Minimum 2 days imprisonment.
• 60 days - 1 year license revocation.

Second offense (within 15 years) (Class W misdemeanor)

• Up to 6 months imprisonment;
• Up to $500 fine;
• Up to 1 year license revocation;
• If BAC .15 or greater:
• Up to 1 year imprisonment and $1,000 fine.
• 1 - 15 year license revocation.

Third offense (within 15 years) (Class W misdemeanor)

• Up to 1 year imprisonment.
• Up to $1,000 fine.
• Up to 15 year license revocation.
• If BAC .15 or greater, 180 days - 5 years imprisonment and $10,000 fine.

Fourth offense (within 15 years) (Class IIIA felony)

• 180 days - 5 years imprisonment.
• Up to $10,000 fine.
• Up to 15 year license revocation.
• If BAC .15 or greater, 1 - 20 years imprisonment and up to $25,000 fine.

Fifth or subsequent offense (within 15 years) (Class III felony)

• 2 - 20 years imprisonment.
• Up to $25,000 fine.
• Up to 15 year license revocation.
• If BAC .15 or greater, 2 - 50 years imprisonment.

Other

Community service

• May be ordered as alternative to fine or incarceration, as a condition of probation, or in addition to another sentence

Driver Education Program

• Offenders who have accumulated 12 or more points within 2 years must attend and successfully complete a driver's education program of at least 8 hours duration before any license may be reinstated.

Alcohol education and treatment

• if referred

Ignition interlock

• May be ordered by court if defendant is granted probation

Red Light Violation Fines

• Nebraska does not have a state law governing red light fines or the use of traffic cameras for red light enforcement.
• The fine for a red violation may be up to $100 for a first offense.

Turn Signal Information

Signal your intention to turn or change lanes at least 100 feet in advance.

Funeral Procession Right-of-Way Laws

• Nebraska has no state law regarding right of way for a funeral procession.
• Funeral processions are not required to allow sufficient space between vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger.

Bicyclist Passing Distance

A 3-foot minimum passing distance is required.

Using the Shoulder to Pass

You may not drive off the roadway to pass on the right.

Speed Limits

• 75 mph on interstate highways;
• Exceptions: The maximum speed limit is 60 mph on any portion of the interstate highway in Douglas County, on Interstate 180 in Lancaster County and on Interstate 129 in Dakota County.
• 65 mph on a State freeway 242 or expressway;
• A "freeway" is defined as "an expressway with full control of access."
• An "expressway" is defined as "a divided arterial highway for through traffic with full or partial control of access which may have grade separations at intersections."
• 60 mph on other State highways;
• The Department of Roads may, where existing design and traffic conditions allow, according to an engineering study, authorize a speed limit 5 miles per hour greater
• 55 mph upon any dustless-surfaced highway not part of the State highway system;
• 50 mph upon a non-dustless-surfaced highway not part of the State highway system;
• 25 mph in a residential district;
• 20 mph in a business district.

Emergency Vehicle Laws

Move Over

• When you see any of these vehicles displaying flashing lights while stopped on or adjacent to the roadway:
• Emergency vehicle
• Road assistance vehicle
• You must do the following:
• If on a highway with at least two adjacent lanes proceeding in the direction you are going, and it is safe to do so, move into a lane at least one moving lane away from the stopped vehicle.
• If changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, or the highway does not have two adjacent lanes proceeding in the direction you are going, reduce the speed of the vehicle and maintain a safe speed for road, weather, and traffic conditions.

Following

• Do not follow a fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm closer than 500 feet, or drive into or park within the block where the fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.

Collision Procedures

• Stop at the scene or as close as possible without obstructing traffic more than necessary, and remain at the scene until all requirements are fulfilled
• You must provide the following information to any other person involved in the accident, or any police officer at the scene of the crash:
• Driver's name, address, telephone number, and operator's license number
• Vehicle registration number
• Show driver's license upon request
• Provide assistance to any injured person, including transporting them or making arrangements for transportation to a hospital or doctor, if necessary or requested.
• If you have collided with a vehicle or other property that is unattended, leave a written notice providing the name, address, telephone number, and operator's license number of the driver, and the registration number of the vehicle. You must also report the collision to a peace officer.
• Report crash
• If the crash resulted in injury, death, or property damage of $1,000 or more, you must report the accident in writing within 10 days after the accident, unless the accident was investigated by a law enforcement officer.
• If the driver is physically incapable of making a written report, and the driver is not the owner of the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle must make the report.