Nevada Traffic Laws Review
On Monday, June 15th, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak gave an update on his “Roadmap to Recovery Plan,” the plan to reopen the state after the COVID-19 shutdown. The plan is broken into phases, with the state currently undergoing Phase 2 of reopening. Phase 2 includes some Las Vegas casinos, hotels, resorts, bars, gyms, swimming pools and spas. Many businesses that were closed for the past couple of months are now open. As life slowly transitions back to “normal,” more people are getting into their cars and driving for work, errands, or recreation. Now is a good time to get a little refresher on Nevada Traffic Laws so you can be safe –and legal– out there on the roads.
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New Nevada Traffic Laws 2020
You have the responsibility to be aware of all laws—even ones that were newly passed. Below is a summary of a few of the laws related to traffic that have been enacted over the past year.
Traffic Citations and Disposition
Four new bills enacted changes to how traffic citations are issued and processed in the courts. Assembly Bill 110, Assembly Bill 416, Assembly Bill 434, and Assembly Bill 486, apply to minor traffic offenses. These bills cover changes to the following:
- Citation Issuance and Plea. Some changes include entering a plea and stating defense by mail, email or online.
- Failure to Appear or Pay Fines. Some changes include: courts must offer community service to defendants before issuing an arrest warrant and courts must first find the defendant is avoiding payment on purpose.
- Traffic School. According to Assembly Bill 434 Section 8, courts can grant defendants the right to pay additional fees instead of attending traffic school.
Speeding
According to Assembly Bill 434 Section 28, the maximum fine for speeding is $20 for every mile per hour above the speed limit. The bill makes it illegal to drive a speed that results in personal injury or damaged property.
Move-Over Law
Under Nevada Senate Bill 395, motorists must move over for tow trucks and emergency vehicles. The new bill also allows tow trucks to use non-flashing blue lights to alert motorists of their approach. They can use these blue lights when towing a vehicle or about to tow a vehicle. Motorists must also move over for other vehicles authorized by the Nevada Department of Transportation. A violation of this new move over law could result in a misdemeanor.
Trick Driving Law
Nevada Assembly Bill 201 prohibits trick driving, which is now considered reckless driving. Anyone involved in trick driving can be convicted of a gross misdemeanor. Trick driving is any “diverting or slowing traffic on a public highway to enable stunts or having stunts filmed.” The penalty is a minimum of $1,000 and community service of 100 hours. There is also the possibility of jail time and suspension of your driver’s license.
Electric Charging Stations
According to Senate Bill 428, it is illegal to park at an electric vehicle charging station unless you are charging your vehicle.
Helmet Law
Nevada Senate Bill 408 requires all moped and trimobile riders to wear helmets. Before SB 408, NRS 486.231 only applied to motorcyclists. The amendment defines trimobile as “a vehicle designed to travel with three wheels in contact with the ground.” Failure to wear a helmet on a trimobile, moped, or motorcycle is now a misdemeanor.
We’ve already covered several Nevada traffic laws and we have a few more we want to discuss. Before we do that, let’s talk about how vital it is to consult with a car accident lawyer. It’s important to know who to call when you need a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer. With Anthem Injury Lawyers’ years of experience successfully representing clients in a range of car accident cases, you’ll benefit from our ability to help you gain maximum compensation for your injuries. Call us today to schedule your free case analysis: (702) 857-6000.
Reckless Driving and Vehicular Manslaughter on Private Property
Assembly Bill 403 ensures that traffic laws related to reckless driving not only applies to public streets, but also to “premises to which the public has access.” This law allows prosecution of reckless driving and vehicular manslaughter offenses on parking lots, parking garages, in gated communities and other spaces which were previously left out of the law.
Basic Traffic Laws
Follow Speed Limits
It is always your responsibility to know what speed limit for the road you are traveling on. In addition, Nevada has a rule for driving at a “reasonable or proper” speed. This means you must also take into consideration: traffic, weather, visibility, road conditions, and type of road.
Right-of-Way
The term “right-of-way” applies to both vehicles and pedestrians. It means the right of one car to go before another and it also means the right of a pedestrian to go before the car. Even if you legally have the right-of-way, you must do everything you can to avoid an accident, which may mean yielding to the another vehicle.
Stop When You Should Stop
When you come upon a stop sign, a red light, a flashing red light, you must come to a complete stop. When traffic lights aren’t working, you must also come to a complete stop before continuing through the intersection.
Use Turn Signals
Not only do signals let other motorists know that you are changing lanes or turning, using them is also the law. If your turn signals or brake lights are out of order, use hand signals instead. Extend your left arm out of your window to signify a left turn signal. Extend your left arm and bend at the elbow with your forearm and palm facing up to signify a right turn. Extend your left arm and bend your elbow downward to signify you are stopping or slowing down. Signals not only keep drivers informed, but also help pedestrians and bicyclists know your next move.
Parking
Common parking rules include turning off the engine and setting the emergency brake, facing your vehicle in the same direction that traffic flows, observing all posted parking restrictions and curb markings. It is illegal to park on a sidewalk, in front of a driveway, within an intersection, within 15 – 20 feet of a fire hydrant, on a crosswalk, within a bike lane, in a handicap space unless you have the designated license plate or placard. You also can’t park on a bridge, in a highway tunnel, next to a vehicle parking on the side of a highway, next to a highway construction zone, or anywhere parking is prohibited by signs or curb markings.
Buckle Up
This may seem obvious, but always buckle your seat belt! Seat belts literally save lives. Airbags alone will not save you if you get into a serious car accident. In 2017, proper seat belt use saved 14,955 lives.
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Experienced Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been in a car accident, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. A professional personal injury lawyer can help you protect your rights. Our car accident lawyers are experienced at handling all types of car accidents, including accidents with large trucks or SUVs, accidents involving motorcyclists and bicyclists, and accidents where there was a driver who was driving under the influence/with an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
If you are looking for a law firm with experienced car accident attorneys, contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today. Not only do we have extensive car accident case experience, we are up to date on current legal challenges. This includes the latest events surrounding COVID-19. We will work aggressively to protect your rights and help you receive maximum compensation. While it’s okay to look up information on the Internet, or to get advice from well-meaning friends, when it comes to receiving the compensation you should get as an accident victim, you need a lawyer who can fight for you. You may be tempted to wait or go it alone versus the insurance company. Please know that we work on a contingency basis, so we get paid only if you win. Don’t let the responsible party get away with either not paying or paying much less in compensation than you deserve. Our phone number is (702) 857-6000. We offer Free Consultations. Our law office is located in Henderson, but we work with clients all over the Las Vegas Valley.
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