Fight Traffic Ticket in Nevada

Know Your Options

There are three ways to plead after getting cited with a traffic ticket in Nevada: guilty, no contest (nolo contendere) and not guilty. Regardless of your plea, you must notify the court before the expiration date posted on your citation.

What it Means to Fight Your NV Traffic Ticket

Tickets are handled differently by each court. To challenge your ticket you will need to follow the procedures dictated by your presiding court. If you're unsure on how to proceed, contact the court.

Before submitting your not guilty plea, be aware of what it means:

• If you appear before a judge to enter your not guilty plea, you will most likely forfeit any chance of negotiating a plea bargain agreement for a lesser charge. These agreements usually occur before the hearing.
• Even if the judge dismisses your case, you will still be required to pay all court fees and, if applicable, all attorney fees.
• If found guilty, you will be required to pay the ticket fine and all related court and legal fees. In addition, you will be penalized with all related penalties, including demerit points possibly being added to your driving record.

  Pleading Guilty or No Contest

  Submitting your traffic payment is an admission of guilt, waiving your right to a trial by court. No further action is required on your behalf. Read more on our Paying Your Traffic Ticket section.

  Avoid Being Issued a Bench Warrant

  If you fail to respond to your ticket with either a plea or a payment, you will be issued a bench warrant for your arrest.

Notify the Nevada Court

The court handling your case will be listed on your citation. If you've misplaced your ticket, read what to do on our Lost NV Traffic Ticket page.

In most cases, you will be required to appear in court to enter your not guilty plea. Some courts may allow you to enter via mail. If you have any doubts on how to submit your plea, call the court and ask.

Hire a Traffic Ticket Attorney

If you must appear in person, consider consulting with a traffic ticket lawyer. Legal counsel will advise you on what to expect during the initial hearing and how best to plea. If you live across state, the court may allow your traffic ticket attorney to appear for you.

Prepare Your Case

After entering your not guilty plea, the court will issue a trial date. If your budget allows, consult with a traffic ticket lawyer on how to build your case. Otherwise, if you elect to represent yourself you'll need to gather evidence, might want to obtain your driving record, and possibly subpoena witnesses.

Plead Your Case Before a Judge or Jury

After presenting your defense before a judge, the court will issue a verdict. If found guilty, you will be informed on how to proceed with settling fines and/or penalties. Learn more on {I{Point Reduction}Nevada traffic fines and penalties.

Check Your Driving Record

Check your driving record to confirm that it accurately reflects the verdict. Any unwarranted points could have adverse consequences. Your NV driver's license could be suspended, and/or you could see a jump in your car insurance rates.

Shop for Better Auto Insurance Rates

A guilty verdict will add points to your driving record. Depending on the policies of your car insurance provider, this may cause a rise in your insurance premiums at renewal time. You can always counter this by shopping online to compare auto insurance rates from a long list of car insurance companies.