Electric Daisy Carnival (“EDC”) is back from May 20 to 22, 2022 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And with this electronic music festival will almost certainly be a slew of arrests and prosecutions.
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. Dozens of security guards man EDC’s entrances to search patrons’ bags for drugs and weapons. If you refuse to be searched, you must leave the premises.
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.
Private security guards are not bound by the same constitutional restraints as police officers: Security guards do not have to read you Miranda rights. And security guards can interrogate you even if you demand an attorney. So remember to remain silent because your words can be used against you.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. Ketamine and ecstasy are particularly prevalent controlled substances at EDC. Even as felonies, most first-time drug crimes are probationable.
(Remember that possession of marijuana in public is still a crime in Nevada. Recreational possession of marijuana is legal only in a private residence, and the amount cannot exceed one ounce.)2
It is not unusual for fights to break out in big crowds. So some EDC patrons get arrested for assault and battery, which is usually a misdemeanor as long as no one gets seriously hurt.3
Narcotics offenses are common at EDC.
In addition, the Nevada Highway Patrol makes many DUI arrests of EDC patrons who leave the festival intoxicated. Although drunk driving (or drugged driving/DUID) is usually a misdemeanor, it carries additional penalties including a driver’s license revocation. And while most misdemeanor convictions can be sealed from your record after one or two years, DUIs cannot be sealed for seven years.4
Finally, law enforcement in and around the EDC is also on the lookout for such crimes as:
- indecent exposure,
- drug paraphernalia,
- theft,
- sexual assault,
- solicitation of prostitution,
- public urination or defecation, and
- disorderly conduct.
EDC has strict rules governing the possession of weapons, drones, and laser pointers at the festival. It is recommended that you check with 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.
Las Vegas judges understand that many people who go to EDC are tourists and have full-time jobs, and they will not penalize you for having an attorney appear in your place in court. 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 because they know criminal defense attorneys fight.
If you take a bad plea deal just to make the case “go away” and to get on with your life, the consequences will haunt you for years. Any future employers may pass you over after running your background check, and your current employer can fire you.
In short, hiring a Nevada criminal defense lawyer gives you the best odds of keeping your criminal record 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 venue),
- The security company,
- Third-party vendors,
- The performers and promoters,
- Other EDC attendees,
- EDC organizers, employees and volunteers,
- Police and/or firefighters, 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.
Nevada has a two-year statute of limitations for bringing negligence lawsuits, but you should consult a Las Vegas personal injury attorney as soon as possible.5 The longer you wait to file suit, the harder it is to find evidence and eyewitnesses to prove your case.
Note that if someone dies at EDC – such as from a drug overdose – the victim’s family or estate may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit.6
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 charges lessened or dropped.
See our 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.
- NRS 453.336. See, for example: Palmer v. State, (1996) 112 Nev. 763, 920 P.2d 112; Maskaly v. State, (1969) 85 Nev. 111, 450 P.2d 790.
- NRS 200.481. NRS 200.471.
- NRS 484C.110. NRS 179.245.
- NRS 11.190.
- 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). See Harley Brown, Festival Deaths on the Rise in the EDM World, Billboard (July 29, 2014)