NRS 484B.403 – Illegal U-Turn – Las Vegas, Nevada Law

Nevada drivers risk getting a traffic ticket for making an improper U-turn by:

1. ignoring a “no U-turn” sign, or
2. making a U-turn on a hill with 500 feet or less of visibility (or 1,000 feet in Clark County), or
3. making a U-turn in a business district or school zone (in certain conditions)

The typical civil penalty for an unlawful U-turn in Las Vegas is $230, and it carries three (3) demerit points on the person’s license. But in most cases, Nevada courts may reduce the charge to an illegal non-moving violation carrying no demerit points.

In this article, our Las Vegas traffic ticket attorneys answer frequently-asked-questions about illegal U-turns laws in Clark County and throughout Nevada. Topics covered include defenses, punishments, demerit points, and other relevant information. Click on a U-turn topic below to jump directly to that section:

• 1. When are U-turns illegal in Nevada?
• 2. How do I fight illegal U-turn charges?
• 3. What are the penalties for an illegal U-turn in Las Vegas, Nevada?
• 4. Can I get the charge reduced to a non-moving violation?
• 5. How many points will go on my driver’s license?
• 6. Will this affect my auto insurance?
• 7. Do I have to do traffic school?
• 8. What happens if I ignore my ticket?
• 9. Will this affect my commercial driver’s license?
• 10. What will happen to my out-of-state driver’s license?
• 11. When can I get an illegal U-turn case sealed?
• 12. Will I get deported?
• 13. Should I fight the ticket or just pay?
• 14. Can I go to trial?
• 15. Do I need an attorney?

If you have been injured by a car that was making an illegal U-turn, you may be entitled to substantial money damages. Contact our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys to learn more.

1. When are U-turns illegal in Nevada?

U-turns are prohibited in Nevada under the five following circumstances:

1. where there is a “No U-turn” traffic sign; and
2. upon any curve or hill, or upon the approach to or near the crest of a grade, where there is 500 feet or less of visibility in both directions (in Clark County, the minimum is 1,000 feet of visibility); and
3. in a business district, except at an intersection or on a divided highway where an appropriate opening or crossing place exists; and
4. in an area designated as a school zone or school crossing zone, except:

• when there are no children present;
• on a day on which school is not in session;
• during the period from a half hour after school is no longer in operation to a half hour before school is next in operation;
• if the zone is designated by an operational speed limit beacon, during the hours when the pupils of the school are in class and the yellow lights of the speed limit beacon are not flashing in the manner which indicates that the speed limit is in effect; or
• if the zone is not designated by an operational speed limit beacon, during the times when the sign designating the school zone or school crossing zone indicates that the speed limit is not in effect.

Otherwise, U-turns are generally allowed on Nevada roadways as long as they can be done safely.

Example: It is Saturday night in North Las Vegas, and Jane is driving through a school zone after missing her turn. So Jane makes a U-turn to get back on her route. Since school is not in session on Saturday, Jane should not be ticketed for making a U-turn in a school zone.

Like it sounds, the legal definition of “U-turn” is the turning of a vehicle upon a highway so as to proceed in the opposite direction, whether accomplished by one continuous movement or not.¹

2. How do I fight illegal U-turn charges?

It is often possible to quickly and favorably resolve an improper U-turn case without extensive litigation. But if the prosecutor is being uncooperative, the defense attorney can always defend the case on the merits.

Typical evidence defense attorneys use to fight Nevada charges of illegal U-turns are:

• surveillance video and photographs that show that the defendant did nothing illegal and/or that there was no signage;
• eye-witnesses to the incident that can attest to the defendant’s legal driving, and/or
• GPS coordinates of the car (from the vehicle’s navigation system or the driver’s phone) that show the driver was not in an area that prohibited U-turns

Often there is no evidence of the alleged U-turn other than the police’s recollection, especially when there was no accident involved. If the defense attorney can show the prosecutors that their evidence is too inadequate and unreliable, the state may be willing to reduce or dismiss the charge.

3. What are the penalties for an illegal U-turn in Las Vegas, Nevada?

In the city of Las Vegas, a first-time illegal U-turn citation carries a $230 civil penalty, and a second-offense carries $280. The civil penalties vary by city and county, but they are typically in the low hundreds. Note that civil penalties can be doubled if the incident occurred in a work zone or pedestrian safety zone. Learn more about work zone penalties.

Like all minor traffic violations in Nevada, illegal U-turns are treated as civil infractions carrying up to $500 in civil penalties.²

Note that many illegal U-turn charges can be reduced to a non-moving or parking violation with lesser penalties. Scroll down to learn more…

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

Most illegal U-turn charges in Nevada can be reduced to an illegal non-moving violation or non-moving violation. The primary benefit of non-moving violations is that they cause no demerit points to be tacked onto the person’s driver’s license.

Note that judges are less likely to reduce a U-turn to a lesser charge if the defendant has a history of traffic violations.

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

An improper or prohibited U-turn causes three (3) demerit points to be added to the person’s driver’s license. A demerit point stays on a Nevada driver’s licenses for a full year. Accruing twelve (12) or more demerit points in a year period will cause the license to be suspended for six (6) months. Also note that a defendant can avoid getting any demerit points if the U-turn charge gets reduced to a non-moving violation.³

If a person’s Nevada driver’s license does get suspended for having twelve (12) or more demerit points, the person may request a DMV hearing to contest the suspension. DMV hearings are similar to trials, but they are administrative procedures totally separate from criminal court. And the person has only thirty (30) days from receiving notice of the suspension to request the hearing from the Nevada DMV. It is advised that the driver retain a defense attorney appear for him/her at the DMV hearing.

Note that the Nevada DMV will also suspend a person’s driver’s license if he/she fails to pay the civil penalty for an illegal U-turn or fails to show up at any court appearances. In this event, the driver’s defense attorney can ask the court for a “failure to appear” (FTA) clearance. The driver can then take the “FTA clearance” to the DMV to get the license reinstated.⁴

Also note that driving with a suspended license is a misdemeanor, carrying up to six (6) months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.

6. Will this affect my auto insurance?

Probably yes, though it depends on the individual insurance company’s policies. In general, the more demerit points a person’s driver’s license has, the higher the insurance premium will be.

7. Do I have to do traffic school?

Usually no. However, doing traffic school can cause the case to be amended down to a non-moving violation, and the DMV will not add any demerit points to their license.⁵

8. What happens if I ignore my ticket in Nevada?

You must pay your civil infraction within 90 days of the citation. If you are late, the court can assess a late penalty and send the case to collections. You can also get your license suspended.⁶

9. Will this affect my commercial driver’s license?

An illegal U-turn will cause three (3) demerit points to be added to the person’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Nevada. Note the license will be suspended for six (6) months if the driver ever accrues twelve (12) or more demerit points in a year period.

Note that people with commercial driver’s licenses are required to notify their employer within thirty (30) days of any traffic violation, even if he/she was driving a non-commercial vehicle at the time.⁷

10. What happens to my out-of-state driver’s license?

The Nevada DMV shares its citation information with other states’ DMVs. Therefore an out-of-state driver would be subject to his/her home state’s DMV demerit penalties for an illegal U-turn.

11. When can I get an illegal U-turn case sealed?

Infractions are civil and not criminal, so they do not appear on your criminal record. (However if you do not pay the financial penalty, a civil judgment may show up on your record.)

Old misdemeanor-level convictions from prior to January 1, 2023 can be sealed one year after the case ended. Dismissed cases can be sealed immediately.⁸

Infractions do show up on your driving record, which cannot be sealed.⁹

12. Will I get deported?

Legal aliens will not be deported from the U.S. for committing an unlawful U-turn. This is because an illegal U-turn is not considered a deportable offense, an aggravated felony, or a crime involving moral turpitude.

Note that illegal aliens may be deported at any time even if they are otherwise law-abiding.

Any non-citizen facing traffic charges in Nevada is advised to retain counsel as soon as possible to help safeguard their resident status.

13. Should I fight the ticket or just pay?

It is always recommended that people slapped with an improper U-turn ticket fight the charge. In the majority of cases, the court is willing to reduce an illegal U-turn to a non-moving violation. And a non-moving violation looks better on a driving record than an improper U-turn, it does not raise insurance rates, and it carries lower civil penalties and no demerit points.

14. Can I go to trial?

Anyone charged with making an unlawful U-turn in Nevada may take the case to hearing.¹⁰

15. Do I need an attorney?

Traffic ticket defendants may choose to proceed in traffic court without legal representation, but it is not recommended…

Firstly, prosecutors and judges are usually more open to reducing or dismissing charges when there is a defense attorney involved. And a better case resolution means lower civil penalties, fewer demerit points (if any), and a cleaner driving record.

Furthermore, an experienced criminal defense attorney has long-standing relationships with court personnel and can often predict how specific prosecutors and judges will react to various defense strategies.

Finally, people who hire attorneys for their illegal U-turn cases do not have to go to court. An attorney can make all the court appearances for them. This is especially beneficial for out-of-state defendants as well as Nevadans who do not want to miss work.

Traffic ticket? Call a Nevada traffic defense attorney…

If you have been cited for an unlawful U-turn or other traffic violation in Clark County or elsewhere in Nevada, call our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys for a consultation. We may be able to get the charge reduced to a non-moving violation or dismissed completely with low civil penalties, no traffic schools, and no demerit points.

And if you were the victim of a road accident, our Las Vegas car accident attorneys can fight to help you recover money for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and possibly punitive damages. Even if you were partly to blame for the collision, you may still be eligible for a significant monetary reward.

See our related article on failing to signal.

In California? Please visit our article on Vehicle Code 22100.5 VC. 

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