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.
Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. We do not handle any of the following cases:
And we do not handle any cases outside of California.
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Street racing on any Las Vegas roadway where the public has access is prosecuted as misdemeanor reckless driving in Nevada. Also called drag racing, speed racing, or unauthorized speed contests, street racing rarely carries jail for a first-time offense. However, penalties increase with each successive conviction.
Nevada street racing conviction | Misdemeanor penalties |
First time |
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Second time |
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Third or subsequent time |
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*In addition, you face a 6-to-24 month driver’s license suspension and a possible jail sentence of up to 6 months. |
Note that drag racing becomes a category B felony if it resulted in death or substantial bodily harm. Penalties include one to six years in Nevada State Prison and $2,000 to $5,000 in fines.1
If you are convicted of street racing in Nevada, the DMV will suspend your license for six months to two years. In these cases, I would plead with the judge in attempt to save your license or secure the shortest possible suspension period.2
Nevada law also prohibits “trick driving displays,” which are defined as:
using a vehicle to perform tricks, stunts or other maneuvers on a highway, or premises to which the public has access, upon which traffic has been diverted, slowed, impeded or blocked to enable the performing of such tricks, stunts or maneuvers or having such tricks, stunts or maneuvers filmed or otherwise recorded.
Similar to speed racing, the penalties for trick driving increase with successive convictions:
Nevada trick driving display conviction |
Penalties for driving |
Penalties for facilitating |
First time | Gross misdemeanor:
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Misdemeanor:
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Second or subsequent time | Gross misdemeanor:
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Gross misdemeanor:
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*In addition, you face a possible 30-day vehicle impoundment and a possible 6-to-24 month driver’s license suspension.3 |
Here at Las Vegas Defense Group, I have represented literally thousands of people charged with reckless driving charges including street racing. In my experience, the following nine defenses have proven very effective with prosecutors, judges, and juries:
Note that it is not a defense to Nevada speed contest charges that you were being safe, that no one got injured, or that no one else from the public was on the drag strip.
Common evidence in these types of cases includes video (from surveillance cameras or smartphones), eyewitness accounts, and any recorded communications such as emails, voicemails, or text messages that discuss the race.
Misdemeanor drag racing convictions can be sealed from your record one year after the case ends. Meanwhile, gross misdemeanor convictions (only in “trick driving display” cases) can be sealed two years after the case ends. Finally, any felony speed racing convictions can be sealed five years after the case ends.
Note that if the charges get dismissed, then there is no wait before we can pursue a record seal. That is why I fight so hard to try to get your case dropped with no conviction.4
You may be able to lawfully drive fast at the following events/venues:
For more information, see our related articles:
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.