Arrested While Visiting Las Vegas: Here Is What You Need To Know
There are many events, conventions, and attractions that you can find in Las Vegas every year that attracts very large crowds. Among some of the more notable attractions that draw massive crowds of visitors and tourists are The Las Vegas Strip “New Year’s Eve Celebration”, the National Finals Rodeo, the International Consumer Electronics Show, the Electric Daisy Carnival, and NASCAR Weekend.
All these events are great draws at exceptional venues that are well run and organized, which is why ticket sales are usually very high. However, as most visitors to Las Vegas know, Vegas is classified as a “24-hour town”. There are attractions and things to see and do throughout the day and night, on the Strip and off.
In Vegas, where the tourism boards promote “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” there are many opportunities to participate in safe, family fun activities, as well as ample opportunity to find yourself in trouble. For some people, the lights and attractions of the Vegas strip may result in things they probably would not do in their home towns.
This includes staying out way too late, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, as well as taking part in unusual activities that can lead to scary and dangerous consequences. While there may be the popular slogan that “what happens here will stay here”, in many cases activities of visitors and tourists to Vegas can result in arrests or even a visit to county jail.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the 2016 Electric Daisy Carnival that was held from the 17th June to the 20th June attracted over 459,000 people to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 101 felony arrests were made by law enforcement officers, all were narcotics-related, 19 misdemeanor citations, 5 misdemeanor arrests, 13 traffic accidents occurred, and 8 arrests were made for DUI’s (Driving under the influence).
Many people choose to “enhance” their party experiences by taking substances that are illegal. Ecstasy/MDMA and cocaine, also known as “molly” are 2 popular drugs that are common when it comes to the “party scene”. These are illegal substances to possess, sell or use in Clark County, and throughout Nevada.
Possession of these types of substances results in several arrests of travelers and tourists to Las Vegas. Law enforcement officers will arrest you when these drugs are found on your person, regardless of whether you sell it or use it. Even worse, in certain cases, Nevada Drug Laws permit the police to charge and arrest you with “Trafficking Of A Controlled Substance”, based on just the “weight” of the drugs, even when you only planned to use it for yourself.
This type of accusation is serious. Possession of controlled substances, defined by Nevada Revised Statute 453.336, occurs when an individual intentionally or knowingly has a “controlled substance” in their possession. A PCS or 1st offense possession, in Nevada, is classified as a category E felony and is linked to a 1 to a 4-year prison sentence. A 3rd offense falls under a Category D felony that carries a 1 to a 4-year prison sentence, as well as a maximum fine of $20,000.
When it comes to selling controlled substances, the Nevada Revised Statute NRS 453.321 has made it a criminal offense to sell, import, manufacture, give away, or to import controlled substances. Intending to sell controlled substances is typically established by the drug quantity that the person is found with, and when the individual is caught in an area whereby drug deals commonly occur. Intent to sell has been categorized as a Category D felony, where the person may be faced with a prison sentence of up to 4 years, and a maximum fine of $5,000.
Trafficking controlled substances, according to the Nevada Revised Statute 453.3385 and NRS 453.3395, is defined as intentionally or knowingly bringing, delivering, manufacturing, or selling any Schedule I or Schedule II drug in Nevada. This is a very serious Felony crime that people are charged with when visiting Nevada.
Penalties relating to Trafficking will vary according to the narcotic amounts that are discovered. If convicted, these penalties range from 1 to 6 years in a prison, and a $50,000 fine including and up to life-in-prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. More importantly, Trafficking comes with a “mandatory” prison sentence, which means, once convicted, the individual that is charged will not be eligible for probationary sentences and they will be forced to serve time in the Nevada State Prison.
Nevada Criminal Law Guide
Las Vegas, Nevada