CAN I GET A BENCH WARRANT IF I WASN'T DRIVING?

In Nevada, the legally registered owner of a vehicle CAN receive a bench warrant for illegally parking (a non-moving violation) even if the owner did not actually sign (or receive) the parking violation, if the owner fails to respond to a mailed notice of the parking ticket. If you allow someone else to drive your car, and a parking ticket is issued to that other driver, you must respond to any written notice to appear, even if you were not the person who received the parking citation.

As always, it is important to respond to any notification to appear in court. It is also important that you maintain your current address with DMV so that you will receive any official notices sent to you. By law, you must notify the Nevada Division of Motor Vehicles of any address changes. So, you have no excuse if you didn't get your mail because you moved. You can visit the Nevada DMV's website at www.dmvnv.com to find the link for change of address.

NRS 484.810 Issuance of warrant for failure to obey citation for parking violation.

1. A traffic citation for a parking violation may be prepared manually or electronically.

2. When a traffic citation for a parking violation has been issued identifying by license number a vehicle registered to a person who has not signed the citation, a bench warrant may not be issued for that person for failure to appear before the court unless:

(a) A notice to appear concerning the violation is first sent to the person by first-class mail within 60 days after the citation is issued; and

(b) The person does not appear within 20 days after the date of the notice or the notice to appear is returned with a report that it cannot be delivered.

(Added to NRS by 1977, 576; A 1981, 401; 1999, 1148)

NEVADA CURFEW FOR UNDERAGE DRIVERS

In Nevada, a minor (age 16-17) is subject to curfew restrictions while operating a motor vehicle. Generally, a minor CAN NOT drive between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily. Because this offense is not considered to be a primary offense, a citing officer must have other probable cause to stop the vehicle and then determine that the driver is in violation of this statute.

The curfew laws allow an employed minor thirty minutes to travel home after work ends. The minor must carry a letter from the employer or a work permit stating the work hours. The minor should carry this documentation in the vehicle in the event of a traffic stop.

NRS 484.466 Violation of curfew by drivers who are 16 or 17 years of age; exception for scheduled events; violation does not constitute primary offense.

1. A person to whom a driver’s license has been issued pursuant to NRS 483.2521 shall not operate a motor vehicle between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless he is operating the vehicle to drive to or from a scheduled event. A peace officer shall not issue a citation to a person for operating a vehicle in violation of this section if the person provides evidence satisfactory to the peace officer that the reason that the person is operating the vehicle between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. is because he is driving to or from a scheduled event.

2. A peace officer shall not stop a motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether the driver of the vehicle is violating subsection 1. A citation may be issued for a violation of subsection 1 only if the violation is discovered when the vehicle is halted or its driver is arrested for another violation or offense.

(Added to NRS by 1997, 1521; A 2005, 2309)