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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Housekeeping staff who find paraphernalia in hotel rooms might inform their bosses, who may then call the police. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that tourists not bring, buy, or use any drugs in casinos in Las Vegas or elsewhere in Nevada.
Drug paraphernalia refers to any objects that are used for administering, making, storing, or otherwise using drugs. Examples include:
Under NRS 453.336, adults 21 and older in Nevada are now allowed to possess up to 2.5 oz. of marijuana (or up to 1/4 ounce of cannabis concentrate) in a private residence. Marijuana possession in any location and of any amount is still illegal under federal law. But chances are the feds will not take the time and trouble to arrest and prosecute recreational users.
Since Nevada law now permits people to possess and use a small amount of pot recreationally at home, it is unlikely that police would arrest someone for keeping a bong or similar paraphernalia at home. Users are just advised to keep all the paraphernalia out of view (such as not visible through open windows) so as not to attract over-zealous police.
Nevada law makes it a misdemeanor to smoke or ingest marijuana in a public place, retail marijuana store, or a moving automobile. The penalty is $600. Law enforcement usually issues a citation (similar to a traffic ticket) for using pot in public. Police typically reserve making arrests for suspected pot dealers or traffickers.
The penalty for possessing more than 2.5 ounces (but less than 50 pounds) of marijuana gets harsher with each successive offense. A first or second possession offense is a category E felony, and a third or subsequent offense is a category D felony. The maximum penalties include four years in Nevada State Prison and possibly $5,000 to $20,000 in fines.
Learn more about the Nevada crime of drug paraphernalia.
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.