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    NRS 484B.260 – Unsafe Turning Onto Roadway – Nevada Law

    Nevada law requires drivers turning from a private driveway onto a public road to yield to any approaching vehicles on the public road. Drivers who make unsafe turns face getting a traffic ticket.

    Penalties

    Violating NRS 484B.260 is a civil infraction. In Las Vegas, the civil penalty is $305. And the Nevada DMV will add four (4) demerit points to the person’s license.

    Defenses

    It is often possible to get unsafe turning charges reduced to a non-moving violation or even dismissed. Typical defenses are:

    • The defendant broke no law,
    • There was an emergency, or
    • The defendant was falsely accused

    In this article, our Las Vegas traffic ticket attorneys will discuss:

    Cartoon rendering of car leaving private driveway

    Making an unsafe turn from a private way to a street carries a $305 civil penalty in Las Vegas.

    1. Do drivers have to yield when leaving a private driveway in Nevada?

    Yes. Drivers on a private driveway who are approaching a public street are supposed to yield the right-of-way to any vehicles currently on the public roadway. If necessary, drivers should stop and wait on the private roadway until there is a sufficient break in traffic in order to merge onto the roadway.1

    2. How do I fight the charges?

    There are three common defenses to allegations of NRS 484B.260 violations:

    1. The driver sufficiently yielded right-of-way
    2. The failure to yield was a reasonable reaction to an emergency situation
    3. The driver was falsely accused

    2.1. The driver sufficiently yielded right-of-way

    In a street setting where there may be several cars driving at once, law enforcement may have a difficult time discerning whether a driver yielded while turning from a private to a public road. What seems safe from one perspective may seem risky from another vantage point. And in busy times such as rush hour, an officer may be especially prone to misinterpreting a legal turn as unsafe.

    Defense attorneys would try to compile as much evidence as possible to show that the driver did nothing wrong. Typical evidence includes eyewitnesses and smartphone footage. Surveillance footage would be ideal, though chances are residential streets may not have any cameras mounted anywhere.

    2.2. The failure to yield was a reasonable reaction to an emergency situation

    Car speeding on street

    An emergency may justify a temporary traffic violation in Nevada.

    Private driveways and residential streets are frequently the scenes of unexpected situations, such as trees falling or running children. Under such circumstances, a driver may have to break the law in order to avoid an accident.

    Nevada courts recognize the “sudden emergency doctrine,” which acknowledges that people who act reasonably under emergency conditions should not be liable for any damage they cause.2 If the defense attorney makes a convincing argument that the defendant was justified in making an unsafe turn from a private to public street, the D.A. may be willing to drop the case.

    2.3. The driver was falsely accused

    Drivers may be in a rush or short-tempered. So it is not uncommon for drivers to accuse each other of traffic law violations, either out of rage, revenge, or an innocent misunderstanding.

    These situations are often cases of one driver’s word against the other. Therefore, the defense attorney would try to produce evidence such as text messages or eyewitnesses that show that the accuser had an ulterior motive to blame the defendant.

    Chances are a traffic charge will get resolved without extensive investigation or litigation. Prosecutors are usually willing to extend a reasonable offer, saving defendants the trouble of having to defend themselves on the merits.

    3. What are the penalties for unsafe turning from a private to public road in Las Vegas, Nevada?

    In the City of Las Vegas, courts levy a $305 civil penalty for violating NRS 484B.260.3 In the City of Reno, the civil penalty is $170.4. In other Nevada cities and counties, the civil penalty usually falls somewhere in that range.

    4. Can I get the charge reduced to a non-moving violation?

    Station wagon turning from private driveway to street

    Drivers are supposed to yield to existing traffic when turning from a private way to a public highway.

    It is very possible, particularly when the defendant has no or minimal prior traffic violations. And if the D.A.’s case is at all weak, the defense attorney may even be able to persuade the D.A. to dismiss the charge outright.

    5. How many points will go on my driver’s license?

    Four (4) demerit points are the Nevada DMV penalty for making an unsafe turn from a driveway to a roadway. These points disappear after one (1) year.5

    Note that accumulating twelve (12) or more demerit points results in a six (6)-month license suspension. Also note that the driver can contest the suspension at a DMV administrative hearing, which is like a trial but on a much smaller scale.6

    6. Will my auto insurance rates go up?

    Yes. Any moving violation no matter how minor usually causes an auto insurance premium hike. Therefore, people facing traffic charges of violating NRS 484B.260 should try to get the case reduced to a non-moving violation or dismissal to avoid insurance consequences.

    7. Do I have to do traffic school?

    It is usually not required. But the prosecutor may extend a plea deal whereby the charge will be reduced to a non-moving violation in exchange for the defendant completing a short online traffic class.7

    8. What happens if I ignore my ticket?

    Car on gravel driveway

    You have 90 days to pay your ticket before incurring a late penalty. A bench warrant will not issue, but your case may be sent to collections. The court can also order that your license be suspended.8

    9. What will happen to my commercial driver’s license?

    Commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are subject to the same demerit point penalties as non-commercial licenses. Therefore, a commercial driver will have four (4) demerit points added to his/her CDL for unsafe turning.9

    9.1. CDL Suspension

    It is a “serious offense” under federal law to make improper traffic lane changes, which may include not yielding when turning from a private to public road. Two serious offenses within three years carry a 60-day CDL suspension. A third within three years increases the CDL suspension to 120 days.10

    10. What will happen to my out-of-state license?

    It depends on the individual state’s laws. Therefore, non-Nevadans should consult with an attorney in their home state to learn how their DMV may penalize their license.

    11. When can I seal the case?

    Unsafe turning is a civil infraction, which does not show up on criminal records (though a civil judgment against you can show up if you do not pay the ticket).

    If you had a misdemeanor conviction before January 1, 2023, then you can seek a record seal one year after the case closes. Dismissed charges can be sealed right away.11

    Your DMV driving record does display all your traffic infractions. You cannot seal DMV driving records.12

    12. Will I get deported?

    No. Violating NRS 484B.260 is not a deportable offense. But immigrants facing any traffic charges should still meet with a criminal defense attorney to discuss their case since immigration law is always in a state of flux.

    Remember that undocumented immigrants are susceptible to deportation at any time even if they do not commit a separate crime. Illegal aliens are advised to consult with a Nevada immigration attorney to learn if and how they may achieve legal residency in the U.S.

    13. Should I fight my citation or just pay?

    There is no downside to fighting the case. So fight. Chances are the prosecutor will agree to reduce the ticket to a non-moving violation, in which case the DMV and insurance company will not levy any penalties.

    14. Can I go to trial?

    Yes, people facing NRS 484B.260 infractions are entitled to a hearing (like a mini-trial) to contest the citation.13

    15. Do I need an attorney?

    Need? No. Should have? Definitely. Retaining an attorney has three main advantages:

    Parked car with a person holding a key

    A criminal defense attorney is often the key to a significant traffic charge reduction or dismissal.
    1. Attorneys are skilled in achieving the best plea deal possible.
    2. Prosecutors are more likely to extend plea deals to defendants who have attorneys.
    3. With rare exceptions, attorneys can appear in court in the defendant’s place. This means defendants do not have to miss work for court.

    16. If a driver causes an accident by unsafe turning, can I file a lawsuit?

    Yes. Nevada law permits car accident victims (the plaintiffs) to sue the alleged culprit (the defendant) under the legal doctrine of negligence per se. A defendant may be found liable under negligence per se if:

    1. the defendant violated a statute (such as a traffic law);
    2. this violation caused an injury (such as an automobile collision); and
    3. the victim is part of the class of people that the statute is meant to protect (such as fellow drivers and passengers).14

    In a negligence per se case, the judge may presume that the defendant breached his/her duty of care to the plaintiff. All the plaintiff has to prove is that the defendant’s breach caused the accident and injuries.

    Depending on the case, a good Las Vegas car accident attorney can recover compensatory damages to cover the victim’s:

    Even plaintiffs who were partially at fault could still be eligible for a large financial settlement. Learn more about our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys.

    17. Related traffic violations

    17.1. Unsafe passing (NRS 484B.203)

    Unsafe passing occurs when a driver does not leave sufficient space to pass a vehicle or does it at a dangerous speed. It is a civil infraction carrying a $305 civil penalty in the City of Las Vegas and four (4) demerit points. The civil penalty doubles if it occurred in a work or pedestrian safety zone.15

    17.2. Turning from the wrong lane (NRS 484B.400)

    Making an improper turn is a civil infraction carrying a $305 civil penalty and four (4) demerit points. There is no added penalty if the incident occurred in a work or pedestrian safety zone.16

    17.3. Turning left without yielding (NRS 484B.253)

    Failure to yield before turning left is a civil infraction carrying a $305 civil penalty in the City of Las Vegas and four (4) demerit points. It makes no difference if the incident resulted in no collision.17

    Were you cited for an unsafe turn in Nevada? Then our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys want to help. Call us for a consultation, and we will talk about how we will fight to get your citation dismissed or lessened to a non-moving violation.

    Cited in California? Contact our Los Angeles traffic attorneys.

    Cited in Colorado? Contact our Denver traffic attorneys.

    Legal References:

    1. NRS 484B.260 Vehicle entering highway from private way. The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a highway from a private way shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on such highway.NRS 484A.095 “Highway” defined. “Highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way dedicated to a public authority when any part of the way is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular traffic, whether or not the public authority is maintaining the way. NRS 484A.190 “Private way” and “driveway” defined. “Private way” or “driveway” means every way or place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons. Nevada DMV Violation Codes; the Nevada DMV considers unsafe turning onto highways as “Failure to Yield Right of Way,” Violation Code 421 or ACD Code N01.
    2. See Posas v. Horton, 228 P.3d 457, 126 Nev. 112 (2010)(“[A] sudden emergency occurs when an unexpected condition confronts a party exercising reasonable care.”).
    3. Las Vegas Municipal Bail Schedule & Sentencing Guidelines; The violation is for “Unsafe Turning Movement — Lane Change” is 806.
    4. Reno Municipal Bail Schedule; the violation code for “Right of Way, On/Off Ramp” is 6.06.175(2). AB 116 (2021) (this crime is no longer a misdemeanor).
    5. Nevada DMV Violation Codes.
    6. NAC 483.500; NAC 483.510; NAC 483.764.
    7. See, for example, Traffic School Information, North Las Vegas Municipal Court; Las Vegas Justice Court Traffic School.
    8. Nevada DMV Suspension Information Page. NRS 484C.7047.
    9. NAC 483.500; NAC 483.510.
    10. 49 CFR §383.51.
    11. NRS 179.245. NRS 179.255.
    12. Nevada Official Driving Records Online, Nevada DMV
    13. Sixth Amendment.
    14. Sagebrush Ltd. v. Carson City, 660 P.2d 1013, 1015, 99 Nev. 204, 207, (Nev.,1983).
    15. Las Vegas Municipal Bail Schedule & Sentencing Guidelines; Nevada DMV Violation Codes.
    16. Id.
    17. Id.

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