In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Criminal Law A to Z
In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Crimes by NRS Section
Every crime in Nevada is based in a section of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). For each crime, our attorneys explain the laws, penalties and best defenses to fight the charge.
Nevada DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Nevada DUI Laws to learn more.
Post-Conviction
Even if you’ve already been convicted of a crime, there is still much you can do to seal your record and restore your rights. Our attorneys explain how.
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Nevada Revised Statute § 202.487 makes it a misdemeanor to leave your pet in a car under dangerous conditions. Penalties include up to 6 months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. Law enforcement officers are permitted to break into your vehicle to rescue the animal without being responsible to cover car repairs. 1
Here in Las Vegas, I have represented countless loving pet owners wrongly accused of leaving their pet in a hot automobile. Overzealous police officers and “Good Samaritans” can jump to the wrong conclusions. I have a long track record of getting these charges dismissed while having your beloved dog or cat returned to you as soon as possible.
Yes, as long as the conditions do not present a significant risk to the health and safety of the dog, cat, or other domesticated pet in Nevada. 2 Examples of conditions too dangerous to leave a pet in may be:
Note that temperatures inside of a vehicle can be up to 20 degrees higher than it is outside. So even on a mild summer day in Nevada, temperatures could become dangerously hot for pets locked inside an enclosed space like a car. Law enforcement refers to these “dog in hot vehicle” cases as “hot dogs.”
Also, NRS 202.487 applies not only to pet owners but also to pet sitters, dog walkers, and anyone else in permanent or temporary custody of the animal. Anybody responsible for keeping a pet in a car under dangerous conditions faces animal cruelty charges.
It is a misdemeanor under Nevada state law to leave pets in parked cars under dangerous conditions. Punishments includes:
In my experience, it is rare for judges to impose jail for a first-time offense.
If you are charged with leaving your pet in a car under dangerous conditions in Nevada, I would argue that the conditions were in fact safe and that the police were mistaken. What qualifies as hazardous is subjective, and the D.A. often has insufficient proof to convince a court of your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The most helpful evidence in these cases include:
Another possible defense is that you were not the one who left the animal in the car, and that someone else put the pet in danger.
Finally, if you unintentionally locked your pet in a car during dangerous conditions, you are not criminally liable under NRS 202.487. You just need to seek help to free the animal as soon as you realize your mistake. 4
If local Animal Control comes on the scene, it may try to petition the court for you to surrender and forfeit your pet. However, in practice, this typically only happens if the dog, cat, or other pet is in dire condition. As long as your pet is unharmed, Nevada judges usually allow you to keep them with a warning.
If police do confiscate your animal, you are entitled to know where it is being sheltered. If you do not reclaim it and pay any sheltering fees within the required time frame, the shelter could then rehome your pet or even euthanize it.
Yes. If you have a conviction for leaving your dog, cat, or other pet in a vehicle under dangerous conditions, you can pursue a criminal record seal in Nevada one year after the case ends. If the charge gets dismissed, you can pursue a seal right away. 5
Call the local public safety / animal control officers. The number for the Clark County Animal Protection Services is 702-455-7710. The number for the Washoe County Regional Animal Services Dispatch (WCRAS) is 775-322-3647.
After hours, phone 911. Police officers or first responders will come to the scene.6
The following Nevada organizations help with pets in need:
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A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.