NRS 706.756 is the Nevada law that penalizes taxi drivers for working without a permit from the Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA). Taxi drivers also need a current and valid driver’s license from the Nevada DMV.
Operating a taxi in Nevada without first obtaining a certificate, permit or license is a misdemeanor, carrying:
- $100 to $1,000 in fines and/or
- up to six months in jail.
Note that the same penalties apply to driving without a driver’s license, whether you are operating a taxi or not.
In this article, our Las Vegas criminal defense attorneys will address the following key issues regarding driving a taxi without a permit in Nevada:
- 1. Defenses to NRS 706.756 Charges
- 2. Immigration Consequences
- 3. Record Seals
- 4. Getting a Taxi Permit
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Resources
1. Defenses to NRS 706.756 Charges
Here at Las Vegas Defense Group, we have represented countless people accused of vehicle-related crimes such as driving a taxi without a permit. In our experience, the following five defense have proven very effective with prosecutors and judges at getting these charges reduced or dismissed.
- You did possess a valid permit.
- Government records indicating you had no permit were incorrect.
- You were the victim of mistaken identity.
- You were not operating the vehicle.
- You were not offering taxi services.
Note that it is not a defense to NRS 706.756 charges that you honestly but erroneously believed you had a valid driver’s permit, or that you forgot to renew the permit.1
2. Immigration Consequences
In most cases, a misdemeanor conviction for driving a taxi without a permit is not considered a crime involving moral turpitude or an aggravated felony. However, non-citizens should always consult an immigration attorney because immigration consequences depend on a person’s complete criminal history and immigration status.
3. Record Seals
If you are convicted of driving a taxi without a license in Nevada, you may be eligible for a criminal record seal one year after the case ends. If the charge gets dismissed, you can petition for a seal immediately.2
Taxi drivers need a driver’s license and a taxi driver’s permit in Nevada under NRS 706.756.
4. Getting a Taxi Permit
For the most up-to-date information on how to apply for a taxi driver’s permit in Nevada, contact the NTA at 702-486-3303 or 775-688-2800. In general, you need to submit the following four items:
- fingerprints (which the NTA will use to run background checks), and
- proof of employment from a taxi company, and
- proof of a Nevada driver’s license, and
- fingerprint processing fees as well as permit application fees, which may be up to $50.
The NTA may refuse to issue a taxi driver’s permit if you have past criminal convictions from any jurisdiction for either:
- a DUI within the last 3 years, or
- a felony within the last 5 years, or
- any sexual offense at any time
The NTA may also decline your application for a taxi driver’s permit if they deem that you could hurt public health, welfare or safety by driving a cab.
Note that driver’s permits issued to taxi drivers are valid for up to three years in Nevada as long as you are employed at the same company. Whenever you leave a company, the permit automatically lapses. To obtain a new permit, you must notify the NTA within 10 days of the lapse.3
Driving a cab without a Nevada driver’s permit carries up to $1,000 in fines and/or up to 6 months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive for Uber or Lyft without a Nevada taxi permit?
Usually yes. Uber and Lyft drivers operate under Nevada’s transportation network company (TNC) laws rather than the taxi regulations that govern traditional taxicabs. As long as you are properly authorized to drive for a TNC, you generally do not need a taxi driver’s permit.
What happens if I accidentally let my taxi permit expire?
Driving a taxicab after your permit expires can still lead to criminal charges. However, prosecutors may be more willing to reduce or dismiss the case if the permit was valid for years, the expiration was recent, and you promptly renewed it after learning of the problem.
Can I be convicted if I did not know my taxi permit was suspended or expired?
Possibly. Whether lack of knowledge is a defense depends on the facts of the case. Evidence showing that you never received notice of a suspension, revocation, or expiration may help your attorney negotiate for a dismissal or reduction of the charge.
What disqualifies someone from getting a Nevada taxi driver’s permit?
Nevada regulators conduct background checks and may deny permits based on certain criminal convictions, recent DUI offenses, false statements on the application, or other factors that affect a driver’s qualifications and fitness to transport passengers.
Do taxi permit rules differ in Las Vegas and Clark County?
Yes. Taxicab operations in Clark County have historically been subject to specialized regulation that differs from the rules applicable to many other passenger carriers elsewhere in Nevada. Drivers and taxi companies operating in the Las Vegas area must comply with the regulations that specifically govern Clark County taxicab services.
Can a taxi company be penalized for allowing an unpermitted driver to operate a cab?
Yes. In addition to penalties imposed on individual drivers, taxi companies may face administrative sanctions, licensing consequences, or other regulatory penalties if they knowingly allow unqualified or unpermitted drivers to transport passengers.
Will driving a taxi without a permit show up on a background check?
A conviction can appear on criminal background checks unless and until the record is sealed. Because many transportation employers conduct background screenings, resolving the case favorably and pursuing a record seal when eligible can be important for future employment opportunities.
Do taxi drivers need a special type of driver’s license?
No, taxi drivers do not need a special class of driver’s license from the Nevada DMV. A Class C license is sufficient.
Additional Resources
For more information, refer to the following:
- Nevada Taxicab Authority (NTA) – state regulatory agency responsible for overseeing the taxicab industry in Nevada counties with populations of more than 700,000 (which includes only Clark County).
- History of Nevada Taxicab Authority – timeline of key dates and events.
- Laws Regulating Taxis – Code sections from the Nevada Revised State, Clark County, and Las Vegas.
- Ride Along: Nevada Taxicab Authority cracks down on illegal operators – recent piece by KTNV Channel 13 (ABC).
Legal References
- NRS 706.756 – Unlawful acts; criminal penalties.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, any person who:
(a) Operates a vehicle or causes it to be operated in any carriage to which the provisions of NRS 706.011 to 706.861, inclusive, apply without first obtaining a certificate, permit or license, or in violation of the terms thereof;
(b) Fails to make any return or report required by the provisions of NRS 706.011 to 706.861, inclusive, or by the Authority or the Department pursuant to the provisions of NRS 706.011 to 706.861, inclusive;
(c) Violates, or procures, aids or abets the violating of, any provision of NRS 706.011 to 706.861, inclusive;
(d) Fails to obey any order, decision or regulation of the Authority or the Department;
(e) Procures, aids or abets any person in the failure to obey such an order, decision or regulation of the Authority or the Department;
(f) Advertises, solicits, proffers bids or otherwise is held out to perform transportation as a common or contract carrier in violation of any of the provisions of NRS 706.011 to 706.861, inclusive;
(g) Advertises as providing:
(1) The services of a fully regulated carrier; or
(2) Towing services,
–> without including the number of the person’s certificate of public convenience and necessity or contract carrier’s permit in each advertisement;
(h) Knowingly offers, gives, solicits or accepts any rebate, concession or discrimination in violation of the provisions of this chapter;
(i) Knowingly, willfully and fraudulently seeks to evade or defeat the purposes of this chapter;
(j) Operates or causes to be operated a vehicle which does not have the proper identifying device;
(k) Displays or causes or permits to be displayed a certificate, permit, license or identifying device, knowing it to be fictitious or to have been cancelled, revoked, suspended or altered;
(l) Lends or knowingly permits the use of by one not entitled thereto any certificate, permit, license or identifying device issued to the person so lending or permitting the use thereof; or
(m) Refuses or fails to surrender to the Authority or Department any certificate, permit, license or identifying device which has been suspended, cancelled or revoked pursuant to the provisions of this chapter,
Ê is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months, or by both fine and imprisonment.
2. Any person who, in violation of the provisions of NRS 706.386, operates as a fully regulated common motor carrier without first obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity or any person who, in violation of the provisions of NRS 706.421, operates as a contract motor carrier without first obtaining a permit is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished:
(a) For a first offense within a period of 12 consecutive months, by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000. In addition to the fine, the person may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months.
(b) For a second offense within a period of 12 consecutive months and for each subsequent offense that is committed within a period of 12 consecutive months of any prior offense under this subsection, by a fine of $1,000. In addition to the fine, the person may be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months.
3. Any person who, in violation of the provisions of NRS 706.386, operates or permits the operation of a vehicle in passenger service without first obtaining a certificate of public convenience and necessity is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
4. If a law enforcement officer witnesses a violation of any provision of subsection 2 or 3, the law enforcement officer may cause the vehicle to be towed immediately from the scene and impounded in accordance with NRS 706.476.
5. The fines provided in this section are mandatory and must not be reduced under any circumstances by the court.
6. Any bail allowed must not be less than the appropriate fine provided for by this section.
- NRS 179.245. NRS 179.255.
- NRS 706.462. See also Myers v. Reno Cab Co. (Nev. 2021) 492 P.3d 545; A-NLV Cab Co. v. State, Taxicab Authority (Nev. 1992) 825 P.2d 585.