Is it a crime to carry a gun while drunk in Nevada?

Several lawful activities such as driving a car or a boat become a crime if the driver is intoxicated. This rule also applies to carrying or holding a gun. Specifically, it is illegal in Nevada for a person to have in his or her actual physical possession any firearm if either: The person has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, or the person has ingested, inhaled, applied, or otherwise used too much alcohol, controlled substances, or another substance to operate a gun responsibly.

Can I be forced to take a blood test?

Yes, people arrested for carrying under the influence in Nevada can be forced to take a blood test if: they do not agree on their n to submit to an evidentiary test, and the police officer has reasonable cause to believe that the suspect is or was handling a gun under the influence.

What is the penalty under NRS 202.257?

Being intoxicated or having an illegal BAC while carrying or handling a gun is a misdemeanor in Nevada, carrying: Up to six months of jail time, and/or up to $1,000 in fines.

People suspected of possessing a firearm under the influence in Nevada may have to forfeit their gun if they either: brandished the gun, aimed the gun, or otherwise handled the gun in a manner which endangered others.

How do I fight the charges?

In crafting a defense strategy for charges of carrying a gun under the influence in Nevada, the defendant's attorney would scrutinize all the facts of his/her particular case. A case's facts and available evidence determine which of the following four defenses may be the most effective: 1) Legal BAC and not impaired: Perhaps the breath- or blood-testing equipment the police used was defective. Or perhaps the person who operated the equipment was not licensed or failed to follow proper protocol. And perhaps the cops were mistaken about the defendant being impaired. Either way, the D.A. has the burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had a BAC of at least .08 or was too compromised to handle firearms. If the defense attorney can show that the D.A. lacks sufficient proof, the charge should be dismissed. 2) No actual physical possession: NRS 202.257 only applies to people who are holding a gun, carrying a gun, or have the gun within their immediate control (such as in their car while driving). There is no actual physical possession if someone other than the defendant had sole control of the gun or if the gun was in another room. If the defense attorney can show that the gun in question was outside the defendant's actual physical possession, the case should be dropped. 3) Self-defense in the home: Nevada law permits an inebriated person to handle a gun for self-defense purposes in his/her personal residence. Therefore if the defense attorney can show that the defendant was facing a threat of immediate bodily harm and was using the gun as a reasonable form of self-defense in his/her home, the judge should throw out the case. 4) Lack of probable cause. Police may not place suspects under arrest unless they had probable cause to believe the suspect committed the crime in question. If the defense lawyer can demonstrate that the police lacked sufficient evidence to effectuate a lawful arrest, the entire case could be dropped.

Can the criminal record be sealed?

A conviction for carrying under the influence may be sealed one year after the case ends. But if the charge gets dismissed, the defendant can petition for a record seal immediately.

NRS § 202.257 - Possession of a Firearm Under the Influence

4. Will I lose my gun?

If you are convicted of violating NRS 202.257, the court may order you to forfeit your firearm. This means you will have to give up your gun to the police, who will then destroy it or sell it.⁵

However, if you are a first-time offender and the court believes that you will not be a danger to the public, the court may allow you to keep your gun under certain conditions. These conditions may include completing an alcohol or drug treatment program, not possessing any firearms for a certain period of time, and not committing any other crimes.⁶

5. Defenses

There are several defenses that your attorney can use to fight charges of carrying a gun while under the influence in Nevada. These include:

You were not actually carrying or handling the gun;
You were not under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
The police did not have probable cause to arrest you;
The breath or blood test was not administered properly;
The breath or blood test results were inaccurate;
The police violated your constitutional rights; or
You were not impaired by the drugs or alcohol in your system.

6. Record Seals

If you are convicted of carrying a gun while under the influence in Nevada, you may be able to get your criminal record sealed after a certain period of time. This means that the public will not have access to your criminal record, and you can legally say that you have never been convicted of a crime.⁷

The waiting period to get a record seal depends on the severity of the crime. For a misdemeanor, you must wait one year after the case is closed. For a felony, you must wait three years.⁸

7. Additional Reading

For more information on related offenses, please see our articles on:

- DUI (NRS 484C.110);
- BAC limit (NRS 484C.110);
- DUI penalties (NRS 484C.400);
- DUI defenses (NRS 484C.160);
- DUI blood tests (NRS 484C.150);
- DUI breath tests (NRS 484C.160);
- DUI refusal (NRS 484C.240);
- DUI under 21 (NRS 484C.350);
- DUI drugs (NRS 484C.110);
- DUI marijuana (NRS 484C.110);
- DUI prescription drugs (NRS 484C.110);
- DUI accidents (NRS 484C.430);
- Vehicular homicide (NRS 484C.130);
- Leaving the scene (NRS 484E.010);
- Child endangerment (NRS 484C.430);
- Boating under the influence (NRS 488.410);
- Commercial driver DUI (NRS 484C.110);
- DUI for immigrants (NRS 484C.110);
- Teen DUI (NRS 484C.350);
- DUI penalties (NRS 484C.400);
- DUI plea bargaining (NRS 484C.350);
- DUI traffic school (NRS 484C.340);
- DUI ignition interlock (NRS 484C.460);
- DUI record sealing (NRS 179.245);
- DUI immigration consequences (8 USC 1227);
- DMV hearings (NRS 483.460);
- DMV suspensions (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV points (NRS 483.473);
- DMV fees (NRS 483.473);
- DMV restricted license (NRS 483.460);
- DMV surrendering license (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);
- DMV reinstatement (NRS 483.460);
- DMV revocation (NRS 483.460);

Tenga en cuenta que este delito es un delito menor, ya sea que sea su primer delito o un delito sucesivo. A diferencia de DUI, la posesión de un arma de fuego ebrio no conlleva castigos más severos con cada condena.

4. ¿Perderé mi arma?

Si es declarado culpable de poseer un arma de fuego bajo la influencia en Nevada, es posible que tenga que renunciar a su arma si:

- - Mostró el arma,
  - Apunó el arma, o
  - Manejó el arma de manera que puso en peligro a otros o la salud y seguridad pública.⁵

Simplemente manejar el arma de manera peligrosa es suficiente para justificar la confiscación. No es necesario que se dispare el arma. Además, no importa si es un arma descargada o cargada.

Ejemplo: Tom y Tim salen del Green Valley Ranch ebrios. Tom mantiene sus manos en los bolsillos y nunca toca el arma en su funda. Mientras tanto, Tim mantiene su arma en la mano mientras agita los brazos para mantener el equilibrio.

Si tanto Tom como Tim son declarados culpables de violar NRS 202.257, es probable que Tom pueda quedarse con el arma porque nunca la usó de manera peligrosa. Sin embargo, como Tim mantuvo el control del arma mientras agitaba las manos y, por lo tanto, arriesgaba que una bala golpeara a alguien más, es posible que tenga que entregar el arma.

5. Defensas

Aquí en Las Vegas Defense Group, hemos representado literalmente a miles de personas acusadas de delitos relacionados con armas, como llevar un arma bajo la influencia de alcohol o drogas. En nuestra experiencia, las siguientes cuatro defensas han demostrado ser muy efectivas con los fiscales y jueces.

- 1. Su BAC era legal y no estaba bajo los efectos. Tal vez el equipo de prueba de aliento o sangre que usó la policía estaba defectuoso. O tal vez la persona que operó el equipo no estaba autorizada o no siguió el protocolo adecuado. O tal vez la policía se equivocó al pensar que estaba bajo los efectos. Si el fiscal no puede demostrar más allá de una duda razonable que tenía un BAC de al menos 0.08% o estaba demasiado comprometido para manejar armas de fuego, el cargo debería ser desestimado.
  2. No estaba en posesión física real del arma. NRS 202.257 solo se aplica si tenía, llevaba o tenía un arma bajo su control inmediato (como en su automóvil mientras conducía). No hubo “posesión física real” si alguien que no sea usted tenía el control exclusivo del arma o si el arma estaba en otra habitación. Si podemos demostrar que el arma en cuestión estaba fuera de su posesión física real, el caso debería ser desestimado.
  3. Estaba actuando en defensa propia en su hogar. La ley de Nevada le permite manejar un arma para defenderse en su residencia personal incluso si está ebrio. Por lo tanto, si podemos demostrar que estaba enfrentando una amenaza de daño físico inmediato y estaba usando el arma como una forma razonable de defensa propia en su hogar, el juez debería desestimar el caso.
  4. La policía no tenía causa probable para arrestarlo. La policía no puede arrestarlo a menos que tuvieran causa probable para creer que cometió el delito en cuestión. Si podemos demostrar que la policía no tenía suficiente evidencia para hacer un arresto legal, todo el caso podría ser desestimado.

6. Sellado de registros

Una condena en Nevada por llevar un arma bajo la influencia puede ser sellada un año después de que termine el caso. Aunque si el cargo es desestimado, puede solicitar un sellado de registros de inmediato.⁶

Aprenda cómo sellar registros penales en Nevada.

Es ilegal para una persona que:

(a) Tenga una concentración de alcohol de 0.08 o más en su sangre o aliento; o

(b) Esté bajo la influencia de cualquier sustancia controlada, o esté bajo la influencia combinada de licor intoxicante y una sustancia controlada, o cualquier persona que inhale, ingiera, aplique o use de otra manera cualquier producto químico, veneno o solvente orgánico, o cualquier compuesto o combinación de cualquiera de estos, en un grado que lo incapacite para ejercer de manera segura el control físico real de un arma de fuego, tener en su posesión física real cualquier arma de fuego.

Nevada Revised Statute 202.257 – Possession of firearm when under influence of alcohol, controlled substance or other intoxicating substance; administration of evidentiary test; penalty; forfeiture of firearm.

Any person who violates the provisions of subsection 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor. Upon conviction, the court shall:

(a) For a first offense, order the person to pay a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 and to perform not less than 48 hours nor more than 96 hours of community service.

(b) For a second offense within 7 years after the date of the first offense, order the person to pay a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 and to perform not less than 100 hours nor more than 200 hours of community service.

(c) For a third or subsequent offense within 7 years after the date of the first offense, order the person to pay a fine of not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000 and to perform not less than 200 hours nor more than 480 hours of community service.

2. In addition to any other penalty, the court shall order the person to surrender any firearm in his or her possession to the sheriff of the county in which the person resides or to the chief of police of the city in which the person resides if the city has a full-time police department, if the person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1.

3. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

4. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

5. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

6. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

7. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

8. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

9. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

10. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

11. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

12. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

13. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

14. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

15. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

16. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

17. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

18. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

19. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

20. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

21. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

22. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

23. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

24. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

25. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

26. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

27. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

28. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in NRS 484C.480.

29. If a person is convicted of a violation of subsection 1 and the person has a concentration of alcohol of 0.18 or more in his or her blood or breath, the court shall order the person to attend and complete a program of treatment for the abuse of alcohol or drugs as provided in

Esta prohibición no se aplica a la posesión física real de un arma de fuego por parte de una persona que estaba dentro de su residencia personal y tenía el arma en su posesión únicamente para defensa personal.

Tenga en cuenta que la legislatura de Nevada redujo el límite de BAC de 0.10% a 0.08% en AB 291 (2019). Véase también Morton v. State (Nev.App. 2022) 517 P.3d 244.
Véase también Byars v. State (2014) 130 Nev. 848, 336 P.3d 939.
NRS 202.257 (“Cualquier prueba de evidencia para determinar si una persona ha violado las disposiciones del párrafo 1 debe ser administrada de la misma manera que una prueba de evidencia que se administra de conformidad con NRS 484C.160 a 484C.250, inclusive, excepto que se requiere la presentación a la prueba de evidencia de cualquier persona que sea solicitada por un oficial de policía. Si una persona a ser sometida a prueba no se somete a una prueba requerida solicitada por un oficial de policía, el oficial puede solicitar una orden judicial o una orden judicial que ordene que se utilice la fuerza razonable en la medida necesaria para obtener las muestras de sangre de la persona a ser sometida a prueba, si el oficial tiene causa razonable para creer que la persona a ser sometida a prueba estaba en violación de esta sección.“). Missouri v. McNeely (2003) 569 U.S. 141, 133 S. Ct. 1552.
NRS 202.257.
Igual.
NRS 179.245; NRS 179.255.

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NRS 202.257 – Poseer un arma de fuego bajo la influencia