LAS VEGAS — Failure to appear for court appearances in Clark County can trigger a warrant, additional fees, and license suspension.
While Nevada traffic laws treat many traffic violations, such as speeding, failure to obey traffic signals, and improper lighting, as civil infractions, offenses like reckless driving and driving under the influence remain criminal offenses. Civil citations will include a period during which payment must be made or the citation contested prior to the response/appearance.
Criminal traffic citations, such as reckless driving, will require a mandatory court appearance. Failure to appear will result in a “Failure to Appear” (FTA) bench warrant for your arrest, accompanied by a minimum $100 warrant fee added to the cost of the ticket. Drivers with a bench warrant risk arrest during a routine traffic stop or losing their driving privileges.
Residents can verify the status of their case via the Las Vegas Justice Court website, Las Vegas Municipal Court (Traffic Division) website, using their case number or name to find the status. Officials advise residents to wait several business days, as it can take up to three weeks for the traffic ticket to appear in the court system.
