Is Lane Splitting Legal in Nebraska? (2026 Motorcycle Law)

No. Lane splitting and lane filtering are both illegal in Nebraska. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,308(3) provides that "No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles," with no exception for stopped traffic or low speeds; only peace officers performing their official duties are exempt. Driving on the shoulder is barred by 60-6,142, with exceptions that do not include motorcycles passing traffic. A violation is a traffic infraction with a fine of up to $100 for a first offense under 60-689, and the court's waiver schedule lists $25.00 for 60-6,308. For how other states treat the same maneuvers, see our guide to lane splitting laws by state.

Information last verified on 2026-10-09. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Nebraska state law in the Nebraska Revised Statutes: the motorcycle lane rule (60-6,308), the passing, laned-roadway and shoulder rules (60-6,134, 60-6,139, 60-6,142), the roadway and shoulder definitions (60-656, 60-661), the basic speed rule (60-6,185), careless, reckless and willful reckless driving (60-6,212 to 60-6,217), the infraction and penalty sections (60-682, 60-682.01, 60-689), the vulnerable road user rules (60-676.01, 60-6,378.02), the point schedule (60-4,182), the misdemeanor classes (28-106), and the Nebraska Judicial Branch waiver and fine schedule. It does not cover city or county ordinances, insurance consequences, or the law of other states.

What Nebraska's law says about riding between lanes

Nebraska's motorcycle lane rules are in Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,308. Subsection (3) is the ban:

"(3) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles."

"Between lanes of traffic" covers lane splitting, riding along the line between two lanes of moving vehicles. "Between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles" covers lane filtering, moving up between rows of cars stopped at a light. The subsection draws no line between moving and stopped traffic and sets no speed below which riding between lanes is allowed.

Nebraska's wording matches subsection (c) of section 11-1303 in the 1968 revision of the Uniform Vehicle Code, a model traffic code published by the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances.

The only exemption is subsection (5): "Subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall not apply to peace officers in the performance of their official duties." It covers the between-lanes ban and the same-lane passing ban, and no other rider.

The section was last amended in 2018 (Laws 2018, LB909). Nebraska has no statute that authorizes lane filtering or lane splitting.

Splitting, filtering, shoulders and riding two abreast

Passing in the same lane and full use of a lane

Subsection (2) reads: "The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and pass in the same lane occupied by a vehicle being overtaken." It covers a rider who slips past a car without crossing a lane line, staying inside the car's own lane.

Subsection (1) protects the rider's space and sets the two-abreast rule:

"(1) A motorcycle shall be entitled to full use of a traffic lane of any highway, and no vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive any motorcycle of the full use of such lane, except that motorcycles may be operated two abreast in a single lane."

Subsection (4) sets the limit: "Motorcycles shall not be operated more than two abreast in a single lane." Under subsection (7), "For purposes of this section, motorcycle does not include an autocycle."

Riding on the shoulder

The shoulder answer starts with Nebraska's definitions. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-656 provides: "Roadway shall mean that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder." Section 60-661 defines the shoulder as "that part of the highway contiguous to the roadway and designed for the accommodation of stopped vehicles, for emergency use, and for lateral support of the base and surface courses of the roadway."

Nebraska then bans shoulder driving outright in 60-6,142:

"No person shall drive on the shoulders of highways, except that: (1) Vehicles may be driven on the shoulders of highways (a) by federal mail carriers while delivering the United States mail or (b) to safely remove a vehicle from a roadway; (2) Implements of husbandry may be driven on the shoulders of highways; and (3) Bicycles and electric personal assistive mobility devices may be operated on paved shoulders of highways included in the state highway system other than Nebraska segments of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways."

None of those exceptions lets a motorcycle ride the shoulder to get around traffic.

Passing on the right

Nebraska's passing-on-the-right statute, 60-6,134, has no separate "off the pavement" clause. It limits the pass to three situations and to movements made "upon the roadway," which by definition excludes the shoulder:

"(1) The driver of a vehicle may overtake and pass on the right of another vehicle only under the following conditions: (a) When the vehicle to be overtaken is making or about to make a left turn; (b) Upon a two-way street or highway with an unobstructed roadway, not occupied by parked vehicles, of sufficient width for two or more lanes of moving vehicles going in the same direction when the passing vehicle is traveling in one of such lanes; or (c) Upon a one-way street, or upon any roadway on which traffic is restricted to one direction of movement, when the roadway is free from obstructions and of sufficient width for two or more lanes of moving vehicles. (2) In no event shall the driver of a vehicle overtake and pass another vehicle upon the right unless such movement may be made safely upon the roadway."

Staying in a single lane

Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,139 applies "Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic," and subsection (1) requires:

"(1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety;"

The Legislature's annotation to the section summarizes State v. Au, 285 Neb. 797, 829 N.W.2d 695 (2013), this way: "The mere touching or crossing of a lane divider line, without more, does not constitute a traffic violation under this section." That annotation concerns 60-6,139 only. Riding between lanes of traffic or between rows of vehicles is banned separately by 60-6,308(3), whatever happens at the lane line.

What happens if you are caught

A traffic infraction, not a crime

Section 60-6,308 contains no penalty clause of its own, and neither do 60-6,134, 60-6,139 or 60-6,142. Under Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-682, "Unless otherwise declared in the Nebraska Rules of the Road with respect to particular offenses, a violation of any provision of the rules shall constitute a traffic infraction." Section 60-689 sets the fine for an infraction "for which a penalty has not been specifically provided":

These are maximums, not fixed amounts.

The court's waiver schedule

The Nebraska Judicial Branch publishes a waiver and fine schedule (Neb. Ct. R. ch. 6, art. 14, app. 3) effective July 1, 2026. It lists these amounts, each under the general penalty statute 60-689:

The schedule's header says "All Amounts Plus $49, or Plus $95 if Traffic." The schedule amount is what a person pays to resolve the citation without going to court. The Judicial Branch's traffic self-help page explains that in that case "you are allowed to waive your rights, plead guilty, and pay the established fine and costs for this offense without appearing in court."

Work zones

Nebraska's work-zone doubling in 60-682.01(3) applies to the speeding fines prescribed in subsection (2) of that section, when the violation occurs in a maintenance, repair or construction zone "where road construction workers are present." It does not mention 60-6,308 or the passing, lane and shoulder sections.

Points on your license

The point schedule in Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-4,182 does not list 60-6,308 by name. Its catch-all, subdivision (17), assigns 1 point to "All other traffic violations involving the operation of motor vehicles by the operator for which reports to the Department of Motor Vehicles are required under sections 60-497.01 and 60-497.02." The same section provides that "the forfeiture of bail not vacated shall be regarded as equivalent to the conviction of the offense with which the operator was charged." Under 60-497.01(1), an abstract of every conviction for violating the Nebraska Rules of the Road goes to the Director of Motor Vehicles within thirty days of sentencing or other disposition.

Other rules and heavier charges

Careless driving, reckless driving and willful reckless driving are separate charges with their own elements; whether a particular ride meets them depends on the facts. A between-lanes stop can also involve the general speed rule:

Nebraska's misdemeanor classes are set in Neb. Rev. Stat. 28-106. A Class III misdemeanor carries a maximum of three months imprisonment, a $500 fine, or both. A Class II misdemeanor carries a maximum of six months imprisonment, a $1,000 fine, or both. Neither class has a minimum. Section 60-6,217 also contains a vehicle-impoundment provision for a vehicle registered in the convicted person's name.

Reckless driving under 60-6,213(2) has one built-in evidence rule: "evidence that such person was driving a motor vehicle in excess of double the maximum lawful speed limit shall be prima facie evidence" of indifferent or wanton disregard. Short of that, a prosecutor must show the disregard the statute describes. The Nebraska sections covered here do not include a separate aggressive-driving offense.

Recent changes and open points

The between-lanes ban has been stable. Section 60-6,308 was last amended by Laws 2018, LB909, and none of the lane, passing, shoulder, basic speed or careless driving sections covered here carries a 2025 or 2026 amendment in its source credits.

One 2025 act touched nearby sections. LB530, approved June 4, 2025, amended the speeding fine section (60-682.01), the maximum speed limits (60-6,186), the reckless driving section (60-6,213) and the move-over rule (60-6,378). LB530 raised the speeding fines in 60-682.01(2) to $50 (1 to 5 mph over), $75 (over 5 to 10), $125 (over 10 to 15), $200 (over 15 to 20), $300 (over 20 to 35) and $400 (over 35), doubled in a maintenance, repair or construction zone where road construction workers are present or in a school crossing zone (60-682.01(3) and (4)). Its change to the reckless driving section is subsection (2), the double-the-limit evidence rule quoted above.

LB530 also created a definition of vulnerable road user that includes motorcyclists: 60-676.01 includes any individual operating "any motorcycle other than an autocycle" on or along a highway. Under 60-6,378.02, a driver approaching or passing a vulnerable road user must move into a lane at least one moving lane apart when there are at least two adjacent lanes in the same direction, and otherwise must reduce speed and proceed with due care and caution. A violation is a traffic infraction, and a second or later violation within five years after a conviction is a Class IIIA misdemeanor. Both sections were amended again by LB977 (2026), effective July 18, 2026.

The 1-point figure is the statutory catch-all in 60-4,182(17); this page does not state how the Department of Motor Vehicles scores a particular lane or passing conviction.

The waiver schedule's add-ons are court costs. Under LB935 (2026), a $36 state docket fee and a $10 case management systems software fee are taxed as costs in each traffic misdemeanor or infraction case, in addition to all other court costs, operative July 1, 2026. Together they equal the $46 difference between the $49 and $95 figures. The schedule amount does not apply when a judge requires a court appearance.

Federal law and lane splitting

We found no federal statute or regulation that addresses lane splitting or filtering; the rules come from state traffic law. The federal motorcyclist safety grant rule, 23 CFR 1300.25, sets criteria for training, motorist-awareness and impaired-riding programs and says nothing about lane use, and NHTSA's motorcycle safety guidance does not mention splitting or filtering. Nebraska's rule comes from state law.

If a crash happens while splitting or filtering

Riding between lanes violates 60-6,308(3), and that fact can come up after a collision. How it bears on fault, insurance and an injury claim is covered in our guide to Nebraska motorcycle accident laws. For the rules that apply to crashes generally, see Nebraska car accident laws.

Related pages

• Lane splitting laws by state
• Nebraska motorcycle accident laws
• Nebraska car accident laws
• Colorado lane splitting laws
• Iowa lane splitting laws

This article provides general legal information about Nebraska law, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Nebraska.

Last updated: 2026-10-09.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lane splitting legal in Nebraska?

No. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,308(3) provides that no person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles; only peace officers performing official duties are exempt.

Is lane filtering at a red light legal in Nebraska?

No. The ban in 60-6,308(3) covers riding between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles and has no exception for stopped traffic or low speeds.

Can motorcycles ride on the shoulder in Nebraska?

No. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,142 says no person shall drive on the shoulders of highways, except for federal mail carriers delivering mail, vehicles being safely removed from a roadway, implements of husbandry, and bicycles and certain mobility devices on paved shoulders of non-Interstate state highways.

What is the fine for lane splitting in Nebraska?

It is a traffic infraction with a fine of not more than $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within one year and $300 for a third or later within one year (60-689). The court waiver schedule effective July 1, 2026, lists $25.00 for 60-6,308, plus the add-on its header states ($49, or $95 if traffic).

Does a lane splitting ticket add points in Nebraska?

Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-4,182 does not list 60-6,308 by name; its catch-all in subdivision (17) assigns 1 point to other reportable traffic violations involving the operation of a motor vehicle, and a forfeited bail counts as a conviction.

Can two motorcycles ride side by side in Nebraska?

Yes. Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-6,308(1) allows motorcycles to be operated two abreast in a single lane, and 60-6,308(4) bars more than two abreast.