from typing import List

class Solution:
    def removeDuplicates(self, nums: List[int]) -> int:
        if len(nums) <= 2:
            return len(nums)

        unique_tracker = 1
        replace_tracker = 1
        count = 1

        while unique_tracker < len(nums):
            if nums[unique_tracker] == nums[unique_tracker - 1]:
                count += 1
            else:
                count = 1  # new number, reset count

            if count <= 2:
                nums[replace_tracker] = nums[unique_tracker]
                replace_tracker += 1

            unique_tracker += 1

        del nums[replace_tracker:]
        return replace_tracker