Las Vegas Municipal Court information

Las Vegas Municipal Court is located downtown 100 E Clark Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101. It can be reached at (702) 382-6878 (702-38-COURT) or through an online submission form. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 5 PM.

Below our Nevada criminal defense attorneys answer frequently-asked-questions about Muni Court.

• 1. What is Las Vegas Municipal Court?
• 2. What sort of cases does it handle?
• 3. How do I look up my case information online?
• 4. How can I pay my traffic fines?
• 5. What if I cannot afford to pay the fine?
• 6. What if I missed court?
• 7. Can I post bail at Municipal Court?
• 8. Where do I park?
• 9. Is there anything else I should know before going to court?
• 10. Can I get my Municipal Court records sealed?
• 11. What if I live out of state?
• 12. What if I cannot afford an attorney?
• 13. Are there special procedures in light of COVID 19?

1. What is Las Vegas Municipal Court?

It is a local court with jurisdiction over all misdemeanor cases that allegedly occurred within Las Vegas’s incorporated city limits. This includes Downtown and part of Summerlin. But it does not include much of the Strip, Spring Valley, or Paradise.

Note that people who get arrested for misdemeanors within city limits are typically booked at Las Vegas City Jail (which is a different facility from the CCDC).

2. What sort of cases does it handle?

Las Vegas Municipal Court (LVMC) hears only misdemeanor cases. If a gross misdemeanor or felony allegedly occurs within the city limits, then a different court – Justice Court – has jurisdiction over it.

Misdemeanors carry a punishment of up to $1,000 in fines and/or up to six months in jail. But it is rare for judges to impose jail (or house arrest) for a first-offense.

The majority of cases in LVMC resolve through a negotiation (plea bargain). But every defendant is entitled to a bench trial (never a jury trial). Verdicts can be appealed to the Eighth Judicial District Court.

In some cases, defendants are required to complete online classes such as for:

• Traffic School
• Repeat Offenders
• DUI
• Impulse Control
• Extended Impulse Control
• Petit Larceny
• Substance Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Prostitution Prevention
• Defensive Driving

And in other cases, defendants are sentenced to specialty court programs, such as for:

• Mental Health
• WIN (Women in Need of Change)
• HOPE (Habitual Offender Prevention & Education)
• DUI
• Veterans
• YO (Young Offenders)

Defendants who successfully complete specialty programs can often get their charges reduced or dismissed completely.

Ten common misdemeanor offenses in LVMC include:

1. Speeding (NRS 484B.200) and other traffic violations
2. Petit larceny / shoplifting under $1,200 (NRS 205.240)
3. Disturbing the peace (NRS 203.010)
4. Simple battery (NRS 200.481)
5. Battery domestic violence (Las Vegas Municipal Code 10.32.010)
6. First-time DUI or second-time DUI
7. Trespass (NRS 207.200)
8. Solicitation of prostitution (NRS 201.354)
9. Marijuana possession (NRS 453.336) of less than 1 ounce in public
10. Hit-and-run (NRS 484E.020) with only property damage

Note that a conviction for battery domestic violence in LVMC does not cause the defendant to lose his/her gun rights. Read LVMC’s statement on battery domestic violence and gun rights.

3. How do I look up my case information online?

Go to https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Government/Municipal-Court and scroll down to Court Case Lookup. There defendants can enter their case number. Alternatively, go to https://municourt.lasvegasnevada.gov/, and search by name and date of birth.

Defendants can also call (702) 229-5257.

4. How can I pay my traffic fine?

LVMC accepts online fine payments at https://municourt.lasvegasnevada.gov/.

People can also pay over the phone. For defendants who already pleaded guilty or no contest (nolo contendere), call (702) 229-3504. Otherwise, call (702) 382-6878 or 1-800-654-6856. Be sure to have the ticket number, case number, or history number. LVMC accepts Visa, MasterCard or Discover.

Defendants can also pay by mail. Payment must include a Waiver of Rights Form showing the defendant’s guilty or no contest plea. Defendants may enclose payment by money order, cashier’s check, personal check, or an attorney or business check. Make everything payable to the City of Las Vegas, and include the citation or case number and defendant’s name (spelled as it appears on citation). Mail everything to:

Las Vegas Municipal Court

P.O. Box 3950

Las Vegas, NV 89127

Currently, LVMC’s traffic windows are closed due to COVID-19.

Before taking a plea and paying any fine, consider consulting a local criminal defense attorney about fighting the charge. An attorney may be able to get the charge lessened or dismissed with reduced fines or no fines. For instance, most traffic tickets can be reduced to non-moving violations.

5. What if I cannot afford to pay the fine?

LVMC judges usually allow defendants to do community service in lieu of paying fines. One hour of work equals $10.

Defendants – or their attorneys – can ask the judge for community service instead of fines. Note that the judge must pre-approve the specific community service the defendant intends to do.

6. What if I missed court?

If defendants do not show up to a required appearance date, the judge may issue a bench warrant for their arrest. (With traffic tickets, there is a 30-day grace period before the judge will issue a warrant.)

To check if there is a warrant, go to https://secure3.lasvegasnevada.gov/ewarrantlookup/. If there is a warrant, the defendant may then be arrested at any time and brought before the judge. And paying any outstanding fines will not get the warrant recalled.

It is highly recommended that people with warrants contact a Nevada criminal defense attorney to discuss how to recall (“quash”) the warrant. The procedure involves filing a motion to quash and having a hearing.

7. Can I post bail at Municipal Court?

Currently, people can post bail online at the LVMC bail website for someone in custody at Las Vegas City Jail. Or people can pay in person at the jail’s bail window at 3200 Stewart Ave.

Acceptable forms of payment include:

• Visa
• MasterCard
• Discover
• Cash (exact amount)

For more information, call the bail hotline at 702-229-6460.

8. Where do I park?

Several metered lots are within walking distance of LVMC. One near the courthouse is at 455 South 3rd Street. Drivers can pay by credit card.

Always arrive early and feed the meter with extra time. It may take longer than expected to find an available parking spot and to get through security at the courthouse. And defendants may need to wait a while in the courtroom before the case is called or if they are on line to see a clerk.

9. Is there anything else I should know before going to court?

Everyone who enters the courtroom building must go through a metal detector. Therefore, do not bring any weapons.

Anyone appearing before a judge should dress conservatively: No shorts, tank tops, or offensive T-shirts. Shoes are required, and hats must be removed. Smoking is prohibited.

No food or drinks are allowed in the courtroom, including water and chewing gum. All mobile devices must be turned off in the courtroom. And it is a crime to try to communicate with any in-custody defendants, whether they are in the courtroom in person or appearing through video.

If defendants need a foreign language interpreter, call the court well before the court date at (702) 382-6878.

10. Can I get my Municipal Court records sealed?

All cases in LVMC are sealable eventually. Cases that get dismissed may be sealed immediately. Otherwise, there is a waiting period:

Nevada conviction	Record sealing waiting period
Most misdemeanors	1 year after the case closes
Misdemeanor battery, harassment (NRS 200.571), stalking (NRS 200.575), or violation of a protection order (NRS 33.100)	2 years after the case closes
Misdemeanor DUI and battery domestic violence	7 years after the case closes

The record seal process requires substantial paperwork and can take months. Defendants are advised to hire a Nevada criminal defense lawyer to handle it.

11. What if I live out of state?

Anyone with a case in LVMC is advised to hire a local Nevada criminal defense attorney. The attorney can appear on the defendant’s behalf for all appearances (unless there is a trial, which is rare). That way, the defendant never has to lose time or money to come back to Nevada.

For out-of-state residents who do not want to hire an attorney and have a mandatory traffic violation court appearance, they have the option of mailing in the following:

• Notarized copy of plea
• Proof of residency (such as lease or rental agreements or utility bills in the defendant’s name. LVMC does not accept cell phone bills and bank statements.)
• Brief letter of explanation
• Citation or case number
• Return mailing address and phone number

Mail everything to:

Las Vegas Municipal Court

P.O. Box 3950

Las Vegas, NV 89127

Call (702) 382-6878 if there is no word back within 30 days.

12. What if I cannot afford an attorney?

LVMC defendants are entitled to a public defender only if (1) prosecutors are seeking jail time, and (2) the defendant cannot afford private counsel.

Defendants who think they cannot afford an attorney are encouraged to call around to law offices anyway. Many offer reduced rates and payment plans. And in practice, prosecutors offer better plea bargains to defendants who have their own attorney.

Another benefit of hiring an attorney is that defendants should never have to appear in a courtroom themselves (unless the case goes to trial). That way, defendants never have to miss work or school.

13. Are there special procedures in light of COVID 19?

Yes. Defendants can ask for a continuance (postponement) of their appearance dates by calling (702) 229-5257.

Currently, the traffic windows are closed to avoid high-risk crowding.

And LVMC is accepting filings by email at [email protected].