10 WEIRD NEVADA LAWS YOU WON’T BELIEVE
10 WEIRD NEVADA LAWS YOU WON'T BELIEVE
Did You Know? 10 Weird Nevada Laws You Wont Believe
In Nevada, the law is constantly changing. There are good reasons to pass new laws as communities grow. However, when those laws address specific needs that no longer apply, unintended consequences tend to look more absurd over time.
When this occurs, it seems evident that local and state law enforcement agencies would no longer enforce these old rules. Regardless, these laws technically still exist. Some of these laws have context, but in many cases, we have no idea what led to their creation, much less their passage!
Let's take a look at some of the weirdest ones below:
1. It's Illegal to Feed Any Wild Animals
On the Las Vegas strip, you can carry an alcoholic beverage on the sidewalk, gamble, and even get married with no waiting period. However, since November 2017, it's been illegal to feed the pigeons (sorry, Mike Tyson), with the associated threat of a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.
2. No Lying Down on the Sidewalk
The wisdom behind this law's drafting, passage, and enforcement is up for debate, but in Reno, Nevada, it's illegal to sit down or lie down on a public sidewalk. Specifically, the law states that "no person shall sit or lie down upon a public sidewalk, or upon a blanket, chair, stool, or any other object placed upon a public sidewalk in the Downtown Reno Regional Center."
3. Don't Swear on the Las Vegas Strip
We've already discussed the list of things you can do on the Las Vegas Strip that you can't do in other places. However, it's illegal to swear on a public street in Las Vegas. City municipal ordinance 10.40.030 says you can't say anything vile, obscene, or profane on a public street, alley, or highway in the city.
Fortunately, this law has not been enforced in decades, so you're safe breaking this and a few other laws in Sin City.
4. Nevada Traffic Violations are Often Misdemeanors
Nevada has some of the strictest traffic laws around. The majority of states categorize most traffic offenses as civil infractions. The offender pays a fine and may have to attend a class. That is not true in Nevada.
Nevada categorizes many of their driving offenses as misdemeanors. Even if the same thing would be a civil infraction in your home state, you might end up as a convicted criminal simply for violating a Nevada traffic law. If you are from out of town, violate one of Nevada's traffic laws, and have a professional license like a FINRA license, your failure to report this "conviction" can have severe consequences for your employment or professional license.
5. Nevada Has a Fascination with Pawn Shops
Las Vegas, Nevada is home to the world's most famous pawn brokers. Coincidentally, the Nevada Revised Statutes has an entire chapter devoted to the activities of pawn brokers. As you'd imagine, the legislature has to cover some inane topics to have this much legislation on pawn shops. One of the weirdest is NRS 646.060, which prohibits a pawnbroker from accepting property from people who are intoxicated.
6. Funeral Processions Can Run Red Lights
Nevada law confusingly permits a vehicle escorting a funeral procession to: (1) go through a red light or stop sign after slowing down as necessary; (2) exceed the posted speed limit by up to 15 miles per hour to overtake the procession and direct traffic at the next intersection; and (3) disregard regulations on the direction of movement or turning when directing the movement of the other vehicles in the procession This is the same statute authorizing police and other emergency vehicles, so at least it also requires some audible or visual signals. This could cause unfortunate results.
7. There is No Lottery in Nevada
You often hear of record-breaking lottery jackpots on the news. However, Alabama, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, or Nevada residents must travel to another state to buy a ticket.
These five states do not offer government-operated lotteries or participate in interstate drawings with rollover jackpots such as Powerball or Mega Millions. They are the last remaining lottery holdouts in America. In Nevada's case, public lotteries have been blocked by the powerful casino industry, which views sales of lotto tickets in convenience and grocery stores as competition — even though many stores have slot machines instead of lottery tickets.
8. May Is Prehistoric Camel Preservation Month
Ok, Nevada Revised Statutes 236.075 actually designates May as Archeological Awareness and Historic Preservation Month. However, the statute explains that part of the purpose of this month is recognizing the importance of specific historic, archeological, and cultural sites in Nevada. Apparently, Tule Springs in southern Nevada is an area well known in the scientific community as one of the best Pleistocene paleontological sites in the western United States and an area in which the fossil remains of many extinct animals have been found, including ground sloths, mammoths, prehistoric horses, giant American lions, giant bison, llamas, and American camels.
9. You Can Legally Horde Cats in Las Vegas
A "Cat fancier," according to Las Vegas municipal code section 7.04.140, is any person owning, keeping, or possessing on his property, provided such person has safe, adequate cages in a completely enclosed building on the property, at one location, up to six adult cats for the purpose of showing, in recognized cat shows, or for improving the variety of breed in temperament or conformation to exhibit in shows or feline events and must be entered in at least one cat show each calendar year; said cats shall be registered with at least one association recognized by the Animal Regulation Officer or, if spayed and neutered, need not be so registered or shown.
10. Don't Hula Hoop on Freemont Street
Freemont Street in Downton Las Vegas is home to some of Las Vegas' first casinos, like Binion's Horseshoe, the Golden Nugget, and the Pioneer Club. However, don't dare hula hoop if you visit. Las Vegas municipal code section 11.68.100 prohibits hula hoops within the pedestrian mall on Fremont Street. The code specifies it only applies to hula hoops more than four feet in diameter. The Las Vegas City Council apparently thought that hula hoop rentals were impeding pedestrian traffic.
Using the Law to Protect Our Clients' Futures
The law is a powerful thing. While we can point to some trivial (or downright harmful) laws on the books, there's no question that our lives are deeply affected by the law. As plaintiff attorneys, we believe the law is used for its highest purpose when it's used to help the injured rebuild their lives.
That's why we've committed ourselves to represent the victims of every kind of accident—so they can get everything they need to recover. Whatever it takes.
