Arrested at EDC? Our defense lawyers can help

Q: Do EDC staff have the right to search me and detain me?

You must consent to be searched in order to enter the Electric Daisy Carnival. If security guards find contraband on you or see you committing a crime, they can lawfully perform a citizen's arrest on you. Security can then lawfully detain you in a holding area, where Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers will formally arrest you.

Q: What if I get injured at EDC?

If you get injured at the Electric Daisy Carnival, you may have grounds to bring negligence lawsuits against: Insomniac (EDC's parent company), Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the security company, third-party vendors, the performers and promoters, other EDC attendees, EDC organizers, Police/Clark County Sheriff, and/or the government agency that issued the permits. Depending on your case, you can seek money damages for your medical bills, lost wages from being too injured to work, pain and suffering, and possibly punitive damages.

Electric Daisy Carnival (“EDC”) will take place May 17 to 19, 2024 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Here are five things to know:

Police routinely arrest Electric Daisy Carnival-goers for drug possession, battery, DUI, weapons offenses, and other crimes.
To enter the EDC, you must consent to be searched by security guards. If they find you with marijuana or other narcotics, they can detain you until the police arrive.
If you get arrested, you will likely be booked at the Clark County Detention Center (CCDC) at 330 South Casino Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89101.
As long as you hire a Nevada attorney to represent you, you probably never have to appear personally in court.
Our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys have a long track record of getting EDC patrons’ charges reduced or dismissed.

Below our Las Vegas Electric Daisy Carnival lawyers answer your faqs about what happens if you get into trouble at the EDC.

1. Do EDC staff have the right to search me and detain me?

You must consent to be searched in order to enter the Electric Daisy Carnival. If security guards find contraband on you or see you committing a crime, they can lawfully perform a citizen’s arrest on you.

Security can then lawfully detain you in a holding area, where Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers will formally arrest you. Always remain silent because your words can be used against you under federal and state law.¹

2. Where do people arrested at EDC get taken?

Following an Electric Daisy Carnival arrest, you get transported 15 minutes southwest to the Clark County Detention Center (CCDC), located at 330 South Casino Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89101.

Most arrestees are released on their own recognizance or low bail. Arrestees who cannot bail out will be arraigned at the 72-hour hearing.

You can search for CCDC inmates and bail amounts here. Or call the CCDC at (702) 671-3900.

3. What are the common crimes people at EDC get busted for?

Drug use and possession are the most common crimes police arrest concert-goers for at the Electric Daisy Carnival.²

Some EDC patrons get arrested for assault and battery, which is usually a misdemeanor as long as no one gets seriously hurt.³

Electric Music Concert from audience view

EDC is a three-day electric dance music festival with concerts, carnival rides, fireworks, and games.

In addition, the Nevada Highway Patrol makes many DUI arrests of EDC patrons who leave the festival intoxicated.⁴

Finally, law enforcement in and around the EDC is also on the lookout for such crimes as:

drug sales,
indecent exposure,
drug paraphernalia,
theft,
sexual assault,
solicitation of prostitution,
public urination or defecation, and
disorderly conduct from public intoxication.

EDC has strict rules governing the possession of weapons, drones, and laser pointers at the festival. It is recommended that you check the EDC guidelines to make sure you understand the restrictions.

4. If I get charged with a crime, do I have to come back to Vegas for court?

If you get arrested or cited at the Electric Daisy Carnival, you usually do not have to show up to court in Las Vegas as long as you hire a Nevada attorney to appear on your behalf.

The only times you usually need to be present are at preliminary hearings or trials, but most criminal cases resolve well before then.

5. Do I need a lawyer?

It is highly recommended. Prosecutors are much more willing to offer favorable plea deals – including full dismissals – to EDC defendants who are represented by counsel. This is because D.A.s know criminal defense attorneys will fight to keep their clients’ records clear.

6. What if I get injured at EDC?

If you get injured at the Electric Daisy Carnival, you may have grounds to bring negligence lawsuits against:

Insomniac (EDC’s parent company),
Las Vegas Motor Speedway,
The security company,
Third-party vendors,
The performers and promoters,
Other EDC attendees,
EDC organizers,
Police/Clark County Sheriff, and/or
The government agency that issued the permits

Depending on your case, you can seek monetary damages for your medical bills, lost wages from being too injured to work, pain and suffering, and possibly punitive damages.

For help with your case…

Arrested at EDC Las Vegas? Contact our criminal law firm for legal advice. Our experienced Las Vegas criminal defense lawyers will fight to get your state and federal court charges lessened or dropped.

See our EDC lawyers’ related articles, What happens if I’m arrested for drugs at EDC in Las Vegas? and Who can I sue if I get injured at the Electric Daisy Carnival?

Legal References:

NRS 171.126. See Rong-Gong Lin II, Matt Hamilton, These are the stories of 29 rave-goers who died of drug-related causes, Los Angeles Times (July 5, 2017); McCarton Ackerman, Death and Drug Arrests Headline EDC Festival, AmericanAddictionCenters (February 2, 2023).
NRS 453.336. See, for example: Palmer v. State (Nevada Supreme Court, 1996) 920 P.2d 112; Maskaly v. State (Nev. 1969) 50 P.2d 790.
NRS 200.481. NRS 200.471.
NRS 484C.110. NRS 179.245.

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