[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by cjski21

It can be a grey area. When asked, a lot of people admit they have been here for a while not thinking nothing of it. Even if you are a student or tell an officer that you have just moved here, the ticket can still be written and you can deal with the court on that one. 9 times out of 10 the court date is 20 to 25 days away so you will need a local DL anyways. The court can force you to get one if they choose. There is not a student exemption in Nevada, that is just a courtesy many officers afford to students. The only exemption is military. There is not a way for me to tell if you are lying on the street so that is better left to the judges.

cjski, wouldn't you only give a ticket if they have a Las Vegas address? I mean, I know Gibbons is a northern Nevadan, and northern Nevadans hate southern Nevada, but I still can't imagine he'd want to harass the tourists. That, I think, is the reason why it has always been left alone. But I have known people who got a ticket because a trooper saw them driving to work several days in a row with out of state plates. Maybe he too hated the Californication of Nevada.

Anyway, for the OP, if you have no outstanding warrants, and your license is up to date, it's no big deal to trade it in for a Nevada license. You might have to take a written test, but I don't think you even have to do that. Anyway, that's easy. And, when I worked for the State Employment Security Division, the only jobs that I ever heard of that required a Nevada license were driving jobs; and not even all of them required a Nevada license. I used to pi** people off when I told them they had 30 days to get one to be legal, (and I might have implied I hoped they got a ticket. ) But there was no requirement for work except a government issued picture ID and a SSA card.

[jfkIII]

Originally Posted by Sinkbean

To just stop a car for having out of state plates in completely bogus imo. I'm pregnant and my sister is coming to stay with me for about a month when the baby comes this summer...guess what, she is driving from Louisiana with her Louisiana plates...she'll be having to drive in the "local areas" because that's where I live. I'll be damned if she gets stopped and gets a ticket just for going to the store for me. That's not fair. It really isn't. And I have my NV license and plates, so I can complain if I want to.

Suggestion...let her take your car when driving local errands for you.

[cjski21]

Originally Posted by Sinkbean

To just stop a car for having out of state plates in completely bogus imo. I'm pregnant and my sister is coming to stay with me for about a month when the baby comes this summer...guess what, she is driving from Louisiana with her Louisiana plates...she'll be having to drive in the "local areas" because that's where I live. I'll be damned if she gets stopped and gets a ticket just for going to the store for me. That's not fair. It really isn't. And I have my NV license and plates, so I can complain if I want to.

She will be taking up residence in Nevada for more than 30 days? Technically, she is required to get a Nevada DL. Now I have no reason to be that anal about things (and neither do any police officers), but it is one of my pet peeves when people come here to work and they go months and months without converting over, your sister is a rare exception. Most of the people I see are on my normal patrol. My laptop has notes in it. I run the plates of every car I am behind (Yes, if we are going 65 mph down 95, I am running your plate while behind you). I do it to find stolen cars (and we find ALOT of them). But if it is an out of state car, I will flag it. If I see it on more than a few occasions making the same routine, then it is time to make contact with the driver. Like I said, I average about three a day and most of them stick in court or the driver complies. A few are mistakes, but I am human too.

Buzz, we can do it but there is usually a method to my madness. I usually like to stop and talk to drivers and if it sounds halfway legitimate, we let them be on their way. But you would be amazed how many people are just obviously lieing.

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by cjski21

But you would be amazed how many people are just obviously lieing.

I wouldn't be amazed at all. I too worked for a State of Nevada agency.

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by cjski21

She will be taking up residence in Nevada for more than 30 days? Technically, she is required to get a Nevada DL. Now I have no reason to be that anal about things (and neither do any police officers), but it is one of my pet peeves when people come here to work and they go months and months without converting over, your sister is a rare exception. Most of the people I see are on my normal patrol. My laptop has notes in it. I run the plates of every car I am behind (Yes, if we are going 65 mph down 95, I am running your plate while behind you). I do it to find stolen cars (and we find ALOT of them). But if it is an out of state car, I will flag it. If I see it on more than a few occasions making the same routine, then it is time to make contact with the driver. Like I said, I average about three a day and most of them stick in court or the driver complies. A few are mistakes, but I am human too.

Buzz, we can do it but there is usually a method to my madness. I usually like to stop and talk to drivers and if it sounds halfway legitimate, we let them be on their way. But you would be amazed how many people are just obviously lieing.

I don't believe it is required that snowbirds get locally licensed. I know hey don't. I had a run in some years ago on the issue when I had residences in both CA and NV. Won in court though not sure I was actually correct. If you are willing to fight you often win these things by default.

The statutes appear relatively ambiguous. Often the case with "residency".

[cjski21]

There are exceptions, but few. But the court is the only place to deal with it. The hassle alone will make the dishonest comply. I'm just referring to what state statute says. If wither side wanted to fight it hard enough, they would win. State or citizen. But the state has more important things to deal with. So I am told to just write the ticket and be done with it. ( out of 10 people will comply on their own, the rest will be tossed. It's a win/win for all agencies involved.

[Piyi]

Anyway, for the OP, if you have no outstanding warrants, and your license is up to date, it's no big deal to trade it in for a Nevada license. You might have to take a written test, but I don't think you even have to do that.

Only if you're under 25 (unless it's change recently)-I remember because I got my license in August '05 and I would have been 25 in November; I didn't want to take the written test, and I only missed not taking it by like 3 months... it kind of sucked 'cause it takes more time to have to wait there to take the test, but it's relatively easy---I just get stressed when I have to take any kind of test!!!

***sorry, that first paragraph there is a quote from Buzz123---speaking of tests, I have one on Friday, so I think my brain is already getting fried from the studying (...deleted the "[quote]" thingy that I'm not suppose too...)***

[Buzz123]

Originally Posted by cjski21

There are exceptions, but few. But the court is the only place to deal with it. The hassle alone will make the dishonest comply. I'm just referring to what state statute says. If wither side wanted to fight it hard enough, they would win. State or citizen. But the state has more important things to deal with. So I am told to just write the ticket and be done with it. ( out of 10 people will comply on their own, the rest will be tossed. It's a win/win for all agencies involved.

Don't you have to have some other reason to pull someone over though?

[olecapt]

Just for fun here is the actual definition of resident from the statutes.

NRS 483.141 “Resident” defined.

1. “Resident” includes, but is not limited to, a person:

(a) Whose legal residence is in the State of Nevada.

(b) Who engages in intrastate business and operates in such a business any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, or any person maintaining such vehicles in this State, as the home state of such vehicles.

(c) Who physically resides in this State and engages in a trade, profession, occupation or accepts gainful employment in this State.

(d) Who declares himself to be a resident of this State to obtain privileges not ordinarily extended to nonresidents of this State.

2. The term does not include a person who is an actual tourist, an out-of-state student, a foreign exchange student, a border state employee or a seasonal resident.

3. The provisions of this section do not apply to drivers of vehicles operated in this State under the provisions of NRS 706.801 to 706.861, inclusive, 482.385, 482.390 or 482.395.

(Added to NRS by 1973, 1569; A 1989, 706; 1997, 1221)

So in fact cjski really does not have a basis to give a ticket to anyone who claims to be a seasonal resident. In fact on the plain language "seasonal resident" overrides any of the other causals.

Now cjski, as a matter of police force policy, may give such a ticket anyway and let the court sort it out. But in doing so he is, in fact, violating the statutes.

I doubt it is criminal but he or his department or both could be sued for damages. Might even get it into Federal court.

Now would that not be fun...

[pipingplumber]

It's all a total bunch of absolute crap. They can't force anyone to change their plates and/or license. It's the Nevada way of trying to squeeze more money out of the people that live/work there just to feed the corruption.

I recently returned to my home state after living and working there for a little more than five months. Prior to taking up 'residence' there, I read all the garbage on here about having to change plates etc, and I willingly chose to risk it after seeing all the out of state plates at the garage for the place I was working. (Union construction working on the strip). Why the h*ll should I have to legally become a resident of LV by changing my plate and DL just because I am uprooted from my home state to continue working??

It's total crap.

Las Vegas should feel lucky that they have thousands of people TEMPORARILY living there, pumping millions into the economy, buying your gas, fueling your utilities, paying for your liquor, dropping their paychecks at the casinos.

It's a racket what the police do, targeting out of state drivers. But then again, Las Vegas is a racket in and of itself.

I can see if someone was RELOCATING permanantly to Vegas, but thousands of people have left homes, wives, husbands, and children in their home state to go and work there. That does not constitute becoming a resident.

Here's a new slogan for the tourism industry: Visit Las Vegas - The Trailer Park of the West! It's like you've never even left home!!!!

Just my 2 cents.....