Got a Traffic Ticket in Las Vegas, NV? Here’s What To Do Next
A plain-English guide for Las Vegas (Clark County) drivers: where to pay, whether to fight it, whether traffic school can save your record, and when a lawyer is worth it.
The 30-second answer
You usually have four options: pay the fine, contest it yourself, take traffic school, or hire a lawyer. The right choice depends on whether it’s a moving violation and whether you have a good-driving record to protect.
👉 Use the free decision tool below — it tells you which option fits your ticket.
1Where do I pay the ticket?
Never pay through a random site. Use the court’s official portal:
🔗 Las Vegas Justice Court - look up and pay a traffic citation
Your ticket names the court handling your case. If you’re not sure which court, use the official finder:
🔗 Las Vegas Justice Court (Clark County) official site
Las Vegas details, verified against Las Vegas Justice Court
- Most traffic citations in the Las Vegas valley are filed with the Las Vegas Justice Court (Clark County), 1st floor, Regional Justice Center, 200 Lewis Ave. The court's own site is where you check whether your citation has been loaded yet - it is common for a citation not to appear for days after the stop, and the court's advice is to check back weekly rather than assume it is missing.
- Two different lanes since Nevada's 2023 changes (Assembly Bill 116 of the 81st session): a civil infraction and a criminal traffic violation. A civil infraction gets a window measured from the date the citation is made available online. If there is a court date printed on your citation, it is a criminal traffic case and you must appear.
- Paying: uncontested civil infractions can be paid online on the court's site. Contesting a civil infraction is in person only - you must go to the court's Customer Service Division on the 1st floor of the Regional Justice Center; there is no online contest for a civil infraction.
- Regulatory criminal citations - licence, registration, insurance and handicap placard violations - can be handled online on the same court site.
- Points: Nevada's DMV removes 3 demerit points for a DMV-approved traffic safety course if you have between 3 and 11 active points, generally once every 12 months (Nevada DMV points page). Twelve points in 12 months can suspend your licence, and at that level the voluntary reduction no longer helps.
- Check the court name. Henderson and North Las Vegas have their own justice courts. If your citation names Henderson Justice Court, that court handles it - and it does not take payment by phone. Juveniles under 18 are not eligible for online payment anywhere and must appear with a parent or guardian.
2How much will it cost?
Nevada now splits traffic citations into civil infractions and criminal traffic violations. The fine depends on the violation and is set by the court - the citation shows your response date.
Don’t just look at the fine. For a moving violation, the real cost is the fine plus the insurance increase, which can last up to three years. Nevada counts demerit points: 12 or more in a 12-month period can suspend your licence.
3Should I fight it, or just pay?
| Option | Best when | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Just pay | It’s a non-moving / fix-it ticket, or you don’t mind the point | Just the fine |
| Contest it yourself | The officer’s account is wrong, or the sign/light was unclear | Free (your time) |
| Traffic school | You’re eligible and want to keep the point off your record | Fine + small course fee |
| Hire a lawyer | A moving violation + a record you can’t afford to damage | $250-$500 typical |
Free decision tool: what should you do?
Answer three questions. There is nothing to type — no name, no citation number. We only record which options people choose (anonymously, so we know which cities and questions need work); the recommendation itself is calculated in your browser.
4Can traffic school save my record?
Nevada does not dismiss a ticket with a course, but the DMV gives a 3-point demerit reduction for a DMV-approved traffic safety course when you have 3-11 active points, generally once every 12 months. A course you take under a court plea agreement does not earn that reduction.
🔗 Check the official list of approved schools: https://dmv.nv.gov/dlpoints.htm
How traffic school works in every state we cover →
5Do I need a lawyer?
For a simple moving violation a lawyer typically costs $250-$500 typical. It’s usually worth it when the insurance increase, or your job (CDL, company car), outweighs that fee.
6Do I have to show up in court?
It depends on the ticket. Many moving violations can be handled online or by mail; others require a court date. Check the court named on your ticket before the deadline — missing a deadline can add penalties or suspend your license.
Another Nevada city we cover
Common questions
Will paying the ticket raise my insurance?
For a moving violation, usually yes — often for up to three years. Non-moving and parking tickets usually don’t.
What if I just ignore it?
Don’t. Unpaid tickets can lead to extra fines, a suspended license, or a warrant. Every option above is better than ignoring it.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general information to help you understand your options. For advice about your specific case, talk to a licensed attorney in Nevada.
Tell us what’s missing for Las Vegas and we’ll add it — email privacy@ticketsimplified.com.
⚠️ Items still to verify for Las Vegas: the fine for your specific violation (Nevada courts set it case by case). Last checked 2026-10-12.