Nevada Traffic Violation Records

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles is the primary agency responsible for maintaining traffic violation records. Typically, these records include driver history reports, demerit points, license suspensions, traffic violations, and accident records. However, some records of traffic violations are also maintained by Nevada courts.

Records of speeding violations constitute a significant portion of traffic violation records kept by the state. Still, Nevada records some of the lowest speeding tickets in the nation. Only 6.46% of drivers in the state have a prior speeding violation on record. This figure is much lower than the 10.54% national average.

Nevada employs a demerit point system to deter and penalize speeding violations and other traffic offenses. This system assigns points to a driver's record based on the severity of the offense, and accumulating too many points can lead to license suspension.

Are Traffic Violations Records Public in Nevada?

Basic traffic violation records are considered open to the public. The state stipulates strict privacy protection for personal information contained in traffic records. Access to complete traffic records is restricted to the individuals named in the record and certain authorized entities.

Traffic records maintained by the court, such as details of traffic misdemeanors or felonies heard in the justice and municipal courts, are also open to the public under the Nevada Public Records Act.

How To Look Up Traffic Tickets in Nevada?

You may look up a Nevada traffic ticket using a lookup tool provided on the website of the justice or municipal court handling the traffic matter. For example, the Las Vegas Justice Court provides an online tool for users to look up traffic ticket information. To perform a lookup, you will need a citation number, case number, or your name and date of birth. In addition, you may use third-party services such as PublicRecord.us to look up Nevada traffic ticket information.

Where Do I Pay Traffic Violations?

You may make payments for traffic fines using any of the following methods:

• Online: The Nevada courts website provides a tool that allows users to select the court with jurisdiction over their traffic case. Upon selecting the court, the tool will reveal a link to the payment website for that court.
• In person: You may visit the court handling the traffic case to make a payment in person. Typically, cash, money order, and cashier's check are accepted
• By mail: Some courts allow traffic fines to be paid by mail. Typically, such courts accept payment via money order or cashier's check with the name and citation number of the ticket provided.

How Much Does It Cost To Request Your Driving Records Online?

The Nevada DMV allows requesters to access printouts of their driving records online via the myDMV portal. The fee is $7, and requesters may print a three- or ten-year driving history record. To complete the request online, you will need to have your driver's license or other state-issued ID card ready.

Other options through which a Nevada driving record may be obtained include by mail ($7 or $12 for a certified copy), in person at a DMV office, and from self-service kiosks ($8.25 inclusive of a kiosk processing fee), or via GovQA.

Note that three-year Nevada driving records do not contain a list of license revocations and suspensions. If you want a complete history of information, request a ten-year driving record.

What Are Moving and Non-Moving Violations in Nevada?

Moving violations occur when a vehicle is in motion and typically involve unsafe driving behavior. Examples of moving violations include

• Speeding
• Reckless driving
• DUI
• Tailgating
• Hit-and-Run

The penalties for moving violations vary depending on the severity of the offense. Minor violations, such as speeding, may result in fines, along with demerit points added to the driver's record. Serious offenses, such as reckless driving or DUI, may lead to license suspension, community service, or even jail time.

Non-moving violations are infractions that do not involve the vehicle being in motion. These violations often relate to documentation, parking, or vehicle equipment issues. Examples of non-moving violations include

• Expired registration
• Parking violations
• Driving without insurance
• Failure to display license plates
• Broken headlights or taillights
• Seatbelt violations

Non-moving violations generally carry lower fines compared to moving violations. Some violations, such as expired registration, may also require the driver to pay late fees and renew their documentation. However, non-moving violations do not generally add demerit points on driving records.

How Long Does a DUI Stay on Your Record in Nevada?

Convictions remain part of your permanent driving record in Nevada. The state sets a legal limit for a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of 0.08% for drivers aged 21 or older in the state. Despite the strict DUI laws in the state, Nevada records about 500 DUI arrests and 6 DUI road fatalities per 100,000 drivers.

The state sets the following penalties for DUI offenses:

• First-Time DUI
• Fines: $400 to $1,000 in addition to court costs
• Jail Time: 2 days to 6 months (or 48-96 hours of community service)
• License Suspension: 185 days
• DUI School: Mandatory attendance
• Ignition Interlock Device: If BAC is 0.18% or higher, mandatory alcohol evaluation and possible installation of an ignition interlock device for 12 to 36 months
• Second DUI (Misdemeanor, within 7 years)
• Fines: $750 to $1,000 in addition to court costs
• Jail Time: 10 days to 6 months
• License Suspension: 1 year
• DUI School: Mandatory attendance
• Ignition Interlock Device: Installation of an ignition interlock device for 185 days (if BAC < 0.18%) or 1 to 3 years (if BAC ≥ 0.18%)
• Third DUI (Felony, within 7 years)
• Fines: $2,000 to $5,000 in addition to court costs
• Prison Time: 1 to 6 years
• License Suspension: 3 years
• Ignition Interlock Device: Required for 1 to 3 years upon release
• Felony DUI (Beyond 7 Years or DUI Resulting in Injury/Death)
• Fines: Up to $5,000, plus court costs
• Prison Time: 2 to 20 years
• License Revocation: 3 years or permanent in severe cases
• Mandatory Alcohol Treatment: Required

What Are the Penalties for Breaking the Speed Limit in Nevada?

Violating the general or posted speed limits in Nevada typically attracts serious penalties. Speed limits vary in Nevada based on the location and road type. Examples include the following:

• Rural Freeways: Typically 75 mph, but up to 80 mph on certain sections, such as parts of I-80 between Fernley and Winnemucca.
• Urban Freeways: 65 mph.
• Major Highways: 70 mph.
• Residential Areas: Generally 25-30 mph.
• School Zones: Between 15-25 mph during designated hours

The penalties for breaking the speed limit in Nevada depend on how far over the posted limit a driver was traveling, the location of the offense, and whether any aggravating factors are present. For most minor speeding violations involving speeds less than 30 miles per hour over the limit, drivers are cited with a civil infraction. These infractions generally result in a fine of up to $20 for each mile per hour over the speed limit.

Additionally, the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) assigns demerit points to a driver's license based on the severity of the offense. For example, traveling between 1 and 10 mph over the speed limit adds 1 point, 11 and 20 mph adds 2 points, while 21 and 30 mph results in 3 points. If a driver accumulates 12 or more points within 12 months, their driver's license will be suspended for six months.

More serious speeding offenses (those involving speeds 30 mph or more above the limit) are treated as misdemeanors. In these cases, penalties may include a fine of up to $1,000 and possible jail time of up to six months. Speeding violations occurring in school zones or designated work zones are subject to enhanced penalties, including doubled fines.

If speeding is considered dangerous, such as weaving through traffic at excessive speeds or endangering others, it may be charged as reckless driving. This offense carries significantly harsher penalties, which may include higher fines, extended license suspensions, and even incarceration.

How Long Does a Speeding Ticket Stay on Your Record in Nevada?

Nevada reports most traffic violations for three years, but the points accumulated for the violation remain on your Nevada driving record for 12 months from the violation date.

How to Appeal A Traffic Ticket?

You may fight a Nevada traffic ticket in the following ways:

• Faulty Equipment or Officer Error: A radar gun may have malfunctioned, or the officer may have misread the speed limit. If any of these occurred, you may use it as a defense in court.
• Emergency Situation: If you were responding to an immediate emergency, such as a medical episode, natural disaster, or life-threatening situation, when you were cited, you may use this as a defense in Nevada courts.
• False Accusation: Some law enforcement officers may issue tickets unfairly or based on bias or inaccurate facts. Video footage, dashcam evidence, or witness statements may help prove that you were not speeding as alleged.
• Mistaken Identity or Vehicle: The officer may have stopped the wrong car, especially in heavy traffic or when multiple vehicles were nearby. You may argue that the speeding vehicle was misidentified.
• Lack of Evidence: If the state lacks solid evidence, such as no radar reading, no visual confirmation, or poor documentation, then the prosecution cannot meet its burden of proof, and the ticket may be dismissed.

While these are defenses you may use when representing yourself, you should consider hiring an experienced traffic attorney if you were cited for DUI, excessive speeding, or face potential license suspension. An attorney with knowledge of Nevada traffic laws may help reduce the penalties for your citation.

How To Resolve an Out-of-State Traffic Ticket?

The Driver License Compact is an agreement among most U.S. states to exchange information about traffic violations. If you are convicted of a traffic offense in another DLC-member state, your home state DMV is notified and may take corresponding action. Similarly, the Non-Resident Violator Compact allows participating states to suspend a driver's license in their home state if they fail to respond to or resolve out-of-state traffic citations.

If you have an out-of-state traffic ticket, you may contest it using the following defenses:

• Contact the Out-of-State Court Promptly: Speak with the clerk of the court listed on the citation and ask about the available options for contesting the charge, court dates, and options such as mail-in pleas or virtual hearings.
• Negotiate a Plea Bargain: Some courts allow for reduced charges. This may prevent any impact on your record or insurance rates.
• Request Dismissal or Traffic School Option: Some jurisdictions may allow the case to be dismissed upon completion of a traffic safety course. Verify whether your home state DMV allows a driving course taken outside the state.
• Hire a Local Traffic Attorney in the State of Citation: An attorney licensed in the state where the ticket was issued may negotiate with the court and represent you without requiring your presence.

How Do Nevada Traffic Laws Differ From Other States?

Although the basic rules for driving are similar across states in the nation, there are still unique traffic laws in each state. The following traffic laws are unique in Nevada:

• Passing Bicycles: When passing a bicycle on the road, drivers must move into the next lane to the left if it is safe and available. If changing lanes is not possible, the driver must maintain a minimum distance of three feet between the vehicle and the bicycle. Drivers are allowed to cross the center line to pass a bicycle when it can be done safely.
• Right Turn on Red: Drivers may turn right at a red traffic light upon a complete stop, unless a sign indicates otherwise. The turn must be made from the far-right lane, and drivers must yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic that has the right-of-way.
• Stopping for School Buses: Drivers must stop for school buses that are picking up or dropping off students when the bus is displaying flashing red lights. On roads with a physical divider, such as a median, vehicles traveling in the opposite direction are not required to stop. On roads without a divider, traffic in both directions must stop.
• U-Turns: U-turns are generally permitted if they can be made safely. In business districts, U-turns are allowed only at intersections or where there is a designated opening in a divided highway. U-turns are prohibited where traffic signs or signals forbid them or if the driver does not have at least 500 feet of clear visibility in both directions.
• Right-of-Way for Blind Pedestrians: Drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to blind pedestrians using a guide dog, service animal, white cane, or walking stick. The driver must come to a complete stop if necessary and take all precautions to avoid harming the pedestrian before continuing.