Receiving traffic tickets or being arrested for a traffic offense in Las Vegas can be a serious problem if handled incorrectly. A guilty plea or verdict can result in a fine and jail time, as well as the loss of driving privileges and an increase in auto insurance rates. If you were in a car accident and injured someone, you could be sued. However, you are not alone. Get a traffic lawyer in Las Vegas, NV on your side.
The Las Vegas traffic ticket lawyer at Adras & Altig, Attorneys at Law can help you assess your legal options and outline a strategy for fighting the violations you’re accused of. We may be able to have the traffic charges against you reduced or dropped. And if necessary, we can present your side of the story to the court with the goal of avoiding severe penalties.
The police almost never have all the facts when they arrest a driver or issue Las Vegas traffic tickets. Our dedicated Las Vegas traffic ticket lawyers have more than 30 years of combined experience saving Nevada residents and visitors from the fines and jail sentences regularly imposed on those who go to court without proper representation.
Call today and schedule a free consultation to discuss your traffic ticket or arrest for a moving violation with an understanding Las Vegas traffic attorney from Adras and Altig, Attorneys at Law.
How Our Traffic Ticket Lawyers in Las Vegas Fight Traffic Violation Charges
We understand if you have been pulled over, ticketed, or arrested for a traffic offense in Las Vegas or the greater Clark County area. We know people make mistakes ─ including mistakes on the part of arresting officers. But we will take your side and fight for you.
At Adras & Altig, our Las Vegas traffic ticket lawyers will investigate the circumstances of your charge and the alleged evidence against you to evaluate your options. As a result, we can often have traffic charges reduced or dismissed without our clients ever appearing in court. Contact us for a free consultation.
If it is necessary to go to court, our traffic ticket attorneys will prepare a solid defense for you. Remember, the state must prove its charges beyond a reasonable doubt to obtain a conviction. We always make sure this legal responsibility is a true burden for the prosecution.
Many traffic offense cases are dismissed because the defendant’s attorney has identified flaws in the prosecution’s case. Other charges are dropped or reduced in favor of probation or other alternatives because the trial can be persuaded it is in the best interest of justice. Finally, some traffic offense charges can be dismissed or reduced to lighten the court’s caseload.
It is not unusual for traffic offenses to be dismissed because of:
- Lack of probable cause
- Failure to advise of Miranda rights in an arrest, or other police misconduct
- Weak evidence or lack of evidence
- Mistaken identity
- Unreliable or unavailable witnesses, which is common in a tourist town like Las Vegas
- The defendant’s lack of a criminal record and/or good standing in the community/school
- Evidence that supports the defendant’s exoneration
Don’t accept the fine and hardship of Las Vegas traffic tickets you do not deserve or the potentially harmful consequences of more serious traffic offense charges. Don’t let a mistake, a misunderstanding, or an unwarranted arrest damage your future. Our Las Vegas traffic ticket lawyers can help.
What Are the Traffic Violation Penalties in Nevada?
It is important to remember that having a driver’s license is a responsibility, not a right. Violating the rules of the road can result in a broad range of penalties, including losing your driving privileges and freedom. In addition, even the most minor traffic offense can cost you money.
In most cases, traffic violations in Nevada are misdemeanors. This means they can be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, by a fine of up to $1,000, or by both fine and imprisonment. Traffic tickets also carry penalties, which vary based on the type of offense.
Certain traffic crimes ─ such as driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, or driving with a suspended driver’s license ─ require that the driver be arrested. In addition, a police officer may arrest a driver for other offenses if they believe the driver will not appear in court or pay the traffic ticket.
Nevada may also impose other requirements on licensed drivers who are convicted of violations, including:
- Court and administrative fees
- Community service
- Drug and alcohol counseling
- Attending a victim impact panel
- Attending (and paying for) a driver safety class, or “traffic school”
If you do not pay your traffic tickets or appear in court, the Las Vegas Township Justice Court will issue an arrest warrant. An additional warrant fee of $150 and a late fee of $100 will be added to the unpaid traffic ticket. In addition, to warrant fees and penalties, all unpaid traffic tickets are reported to national credit reporting agencies.
Understanding Nevada’s Driver’s License Point System
Nevada’s DMV uses a demerit point system in which all traffic law violations are assigned a point value. When the court notifies the DMV of a conviction, the offense is entered on your driver record, and points are assigned.
In Nevada, your license will be suspended if you receive 12 or more points within 12 months.
In addition to threatening your driving privileges, points on your license are used by auto insurance companies to justify higher premiums.
The following is a partial list of traffic violations and demerit points the Nevada DMV can assign to your driving record:
Reckless driving | |
Careless driving | |
Failure to give information or render aid at the scene of an accident | |
Following too closely | |
Failure to yield the right-of-way | |
Failure to yield to a pedestrian | |
Disobeying a traffic signal or stop sign | |
Impeding traffic or driving too slowly | |
Failure to dim headlights | |
Speeding — 1-10 mph over the posted limit | |
Speeding — 11-20 mph over the posted limit | |
Speeding — 21-30 mph over the posted limit | |
Speeding — 31-40 mph or more over the posted limit | |
Speeding — 41 mph or more over the posted speed limit | |
Prima facie speed violation or driving too fast for the conditions |
Points are not charged if your license is suspended for a major traffic offense, such as DUI.
For those who hold a Nevada Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), there are additional penalties for some traffic violations, which may result in different demerit points.
If you accumulate 3 and 11 points, you may have 3 points removed by completing a traffic safety course at a school approved by the DMV. You may attend traffic school only once in 12 months to remove points from your record.
The DMV will notify you if you have accumulated enough points to threaten your license.