Federal public lands
Cited on federal land in Nevada?
Lake Mead, Red Rock Canyon, Mount Charleston and the Spring Mountains are federal land. A citation there is a federal matter, heard in federal court — not a Nevada traffic ticket.
Much of the land around Las Vegas is administered by the federal government. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is run by the National Park Service; Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the land around it are run by the Bureau of Land Management. An offense committed there is charged under federal regulations and heard in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, usually before a magistrate judge.
That surprises people. A citation handed to you by a park ranger is not a Nevada traffic ticket, and the rules that govern it are not the ones you would find in the Nevada Revised Statutes.
Andrew Wong practices federal criminal defense. He previously served as an assistant federal public defender in the District of Nevada and in the Eastern District of California, and the ACLU of Southern Nevada invited him to speak on federal public land offenses.
Guides
Federal Crimes on Public Land in Nevada
draftWhy a ticket at Lake Mead and a ticket at Red Rock Canyon are governed by different rules, different penalty ceilings, and different rights.
Citations at Lake Mead National Recreation Area
draftA citation at Lake Mead is a federal charge under 36 CFR, heard in the District of Nevada. What the violation notice, the CVB and Box A mean for you.
Citations at Red Rock Canyon and BLM Land
draftRed Rock Canyon is BLM land, not Park Service land. Under 43 CFR 8360.0-7 the ceiling is $1,000 and 12 months — which is not a petty offense.
Boating Under the Influence at Lake Mead
draftA BUI at Lake Mead is a federal charge under 36 CFR 4.23, heard before a magistrate judge in the District of Nevada — not a Nevada state DUI.
Federal Violation Notices and the Central Violations Bureau
draftWhat the ticket a ranger hands you on federal land in Nevada actually is, what the Central Violations Bureau does with it, and what Box A changes.
Traffic and Speeding Citations on Federal Land
draftA speeding ticket at Lake Mead or Red Rock Canyon is a federal charge heard by a magistrate judge in the District of Nevada, not a Nevada traffic ticket.
What Happens at a Federal Petty Offense Hearing
draftWhere a federal petty offense case is heard in Nevada, who presides, and why Rule 58(b)(2) means no jury and no automatic right to appointed counsel.
Holding a federal citation?
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