The Nebraska Point System Explained: How to Keep Your Driving Record Clean

When you get your Nebraska driver's license, you also receive a clean driving record. Keeping it that way is one of your most important responsibilities. To encourage safe driving and identify high-risk drivers, the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) uses a demerit point system.

Understanding this system from the moment you get your license is crucial. Every time you are convicted of a moving violation, points are added to your record. If you accumulate too many points, you will face mandatory driver improvement programs and the suspension or revocation of your license.

How the Nebraska Point System Works

The concept is straightforward: the state assigns a point value to different moving violations. The more serious the offense, the more points you receive. When you pay a ticket or are found guilty in court, the DMV adds those points to your driving record. The DMV will take action based on the number of points you accumulate within a two-year (24-month) period.

Point Values for Common Nebraska Traffic Violations

It's essential to know which actions carry the most weight. Here are the point values for some of the most common violations in Nebraska:

• 1 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (1-10 mph over the limit)
  • Most other minor moving violations.

• 2 Point Violations:

  • Failure to yield to a pedestrian.

• 3 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (11-20 mph over the limit)
  • Failure to obey a stop sign or traffic light

• 4 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (21-35 mph over the limit)

• 6 Point Violations:

  • Reckless driving
  • Driving with a suspended license

• 12 Point Violations:

  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI): A conviction for DUI will also result in an immediate, mandatory license revocation.
  • Fleeing from a police officer.

The Consequences of Accumulating Points

The DMV takes progressive action as you accumulate points.

• Warning Letter: If you accumulate 6 points in a one-year period, the DMV will mail you a Warning Letter. This is your first official notice that you are accumulating points and are at risk of further action.

• Driver Improvement Course: At 6 points, you will also be given the option to attend a Driver Improvement Course. Successful completion will remove 2 points from your record.

• At 12 Points: This is the critical threshold. Once you accumulate 12 points in a two-year period, your driver's license will be revoked for six months.

Stricter Rules for Provisional Operator's Permit (POP) Holders

The consequences for new, young drivers are much harsher.

• If a POP holder accumulates 6 points in a one-year period, they will be required to complete a Driver Improvement Course.

How to Keep Your Record Clean

1. Drive Safely: The most effective method is to avoid getting tickets in the first place by obeying all traffic laws.
2. Understand GDL Laws: For teens, violating your driving restrictions is a moving violation that will add points to your record.
3. Attend a Driver Improvement Course: If you are given the option by the DMV, attending the program is a smart way to keep your license.

Your driving record is a direct reflection of your choices behind the wheel. By understanding the Nebraska point system, you can make informed decisions that will keep your record clean and keep you safe on the road.