Most minor traffic violations in Nevada are prosecuted as civil infractions, not misdemeanors.1
Civil infractions are not crimes in Nevada and therefore carry no jail time. Instead, civil infractions are punished by a monetary civil penalty of up to $500 (unless the statute allows for a higher penalty). The court can also impose:
- fees, and
- administrative assessments.2
In some cases, judges may also order
- traffic school and/or
- community service.3
You get 90 days to pay the civil penalty after being ticketed. If you wish to contest your traffic citation, you can request a hearing (similar to a mini-trial).4
If you are late to pay your traffic ticket, the judge will not issue a bench warrant for your arrest. However, you will be assessed a collection fee of:
- Up to $100, if the amount of the delinquency is less than $2,000.
- Up to $500, if the amount of the delinquency is $2,000 or greater, but is less than $5,000.
- Ten percent of the amount of the delinquency, if the amount of the delinquency is $5,000 or greater.5
In addition, the court can order the Nevada DMV to suspend your license as a punishment for being delinquent.6
Examples of civil infractions in Nevada are:
- driving through a safety zone (NRS 484B.110)
- driving too slowly (NRS 484B.623, NRS 484B.627 & NRS 484B.630)
- failure to dim high beams (NRS 484D.215)
- failure to signal (NRS 484B.413)
- failure to use headlights (NRS 484D.100)
- failure to wear a motorcycle helmet (NRS 486.231)
- failure to yield before turning left (NRS 484B.253)
- improper turn (NRS 484B.400)
- making illegal U-turns (NRS 484B.403)
- parking more than 18 inches from a curb (NRS 484B.457)
- passing on the right side (NRS 484B.207)
- removing highway barriers (NRS 484B.327)
- running a red light (NRS 484B.300)
- running a stop sign (NRS 484B.257)
- seat belt violations (NRS 484D.495)
- speeding less than 30 mph over the limit (NRS 484B.600 – NRS 484B.633)
- work zone (NRS 484B.130)
- school zone (NRS 484.363)
- stopping, parking, standing in a highway (NRS 484B.440)
- texting while driving (NRS 484B.165)
- unsafe passing (NRS 484B.203)
- unlawful right turn on red light (NRS 484B.307)
- unsafe backing (NRS 484B.113)
- unsafe turning from a private roadway (NRS 484B.260)
- violating carpool rules (NRS 484B.323)
Legal References
- NRS 481.015. AB 116 (2021).
- NRS 484A.7043.
- NRS 484A.7045.
- NRS 484A.7035. NRS 484A.704. NRS 484A.7041. NRS 484A.7033. SB 359 (2025) (in certain cases, courts can consolidate a criminal complaint for a misdemeanor offense and a civil infraction arising out of the same incident).
- NRS 484A.7047.
- Same.
