by Jim Thompson |
Last Updated: September 30, 2022 No matter if you’ve been driving for six months or 60 years, getting tickets is a fact of life. Now you’ve found yourself with one. Whether this is your first citation or you’ve had a few, what you do next is what matters.After receiving a Nevada traffic ticket, you are faced with some choices. Do you just pay it and put it behind you? Do you fight it? Do you hire an attorney? Do you “throw yourself on the mercy of the court” and hope they can help? Or, do you just ignore it and hope it goes away? Once you know your options step by step, you can pick the one that works best for you.
Let’s take a look at how you might attack the problem of getting a ticket. Of course, you should start by weighing your options but, after that, what’s next?
- Hire an attorney?
- Talk to the court?
- Take a driver safety course?
(I’m going to save you a little suspense here. That last step, the “safety course” one? That one is almost always your best choice, but who knows? One of the others might work just as well.)
You Got a Ticket. Now What?
Drivers react differently to getting tickets. Some get angry or indignant. Some are gracious, accepting the citation as an invitation to learn better for next time. Others view the infraction karmic-ly, figuring that even if they didn’t deserve the ticket this time, they probably got away with it (or worse) a dozen times in the past.
It’s not important if you experienced one of these reactions or something completely different. What is important is what you choose to do next. All you know is that you want to deal with this inconvenience with as little effort and expense as possible.
You could choose the zero effort and expense route and do nothing. I tried that once. It did not go well.
You could just pay the darn thing and chalk the fine up to hard-earned experience. This option is fairly low on the effort scale but fairly high on the expense side. And it won’t just be expensive now; it’ll be expensive later when your insurance renews.
You may feel that your ticket represented an attack on your driving superiority, and now you’re out for justice. What will it take to beat your ticket with an attorney?
Hire a Lawyer and Fight, Fight, Fight
Maybe you’ve seen billboards with pictures of smiling (or sometimes scowling) attorneys promising to join in your traffic-related crusade. Is this your best answer in terms of time and expense?
The internet is crawling with attorneys ready to go to war for you over your traffic ticket. Don’t believe me? Google “fight ticket with Nevada attorney” and see how many results you get.
Most of these sites will boast of a 90%+ success rate, and many will make promises like
“Full refund if we are unable to keep the ticket off your record!”
Some of these will claim they’ll pay for your ticket as well.
These sites will also offer statistics encouraging you to employ them by implying you’d be stupid not to.
“One in four tickets is issued in error, yet only 5% of drivers contest their traffic tickets.”
Do you want to be in the 95% of suckers who don’t?
If you’re the type who likes to drive fast all the time, this may be an option. Many law firms have monthly memberships that will allow you to have…
“Unlimited back-and-forth with traffic lawyers. Chat with certified lawyers until you’re satisfied. About any legal issue—from big to small, and everything in between.”
The fight-it-with-a-lawyer option works like this:
- Spend time researching traffic lawyers and hire one. Once you’ve paid the required fees, the attorney will:
- Request a contested hearing
- Request discovery for your case
- Represent you in court
- Negotiate with the prosecutor to have your charges dropped or reduced
Factoring in the time spent shopping for a lawyer, this option is fairly moderate on the effort scale. But, depending on what the firm charges, it may remain pretty high on the expense chart. At least your insurance won’t go up if the attorney manages to keep the ticket off your record.
But Your Honor, You Have to Understand…
You could skip hiring an attorney and head to the courthouse yourself and request one of three things:
- A mitigation hearing
- A contested hearing
- Permission to take a driver safety course
A mitigation hearing is one where you request leniency because the fine represents an excessive financial burden. If you are successful, the court may reduce your fine, put you on a monthly payment plan, or allow you to work off your debt with community service.
A contested hearing is one you attend with the purpose of getting the conviction overturned.
Requesting permission to take a driver safety course is exactly what it sounds like.
For most minor violations, traffic courts in Nevada may allow you to dismiss your ticket by completing a traffic school course.
These decisions are made on a case by case basis, depending on the nature of your violation and your previous driving history. The court’s considerations include things like:
- If you have dismissed a ticket with a driver safety course before and, if so, when?
- Was your ticket written for excessive speed over the posted limit? (Generally 25+ MPH over)
- Was your ticket written in a school or work zone?
- Do you hold a Commercial Drivers License (CDL)?
If the answer to these questions is no, you’re generally good to go.
If the court does grant permission, you will be given information as to how the process works, including:
- The type of course you will need to take
- The date by which that course must be completed
- If you will need to provide any other documentation
- If there are additional fees you may owe
IMPORTANT NOTE: Just like playing “Mother May I” when you were a kid, DO NOT start a defensive driving course before receiving permission. You’ll wind up paying for a second one and starting all over. Also, while most courts will accept an online course, you’ll want to make very sure your court will.
Taking Your Nevada Traffic School Course
All driver safety courses follow the same basic curriculum. Your course will touch on topics such as:
- Nevada traffic law
- Safe driving techniques
- How to avoid an accident
- How to handle an emergency
- How to share the road safely with others
At the end of the course, you will be required to pass a test over the presented material to be awarded a completion certificate. This certificate of completion can then be submitted to your court, keeping the conviction and associated points off of your driving record.
Nevada drivers who complete defensive driving may be eligible for one of the following benefits:
- Traffic ticket dismissal
- Fulfillment of a court order
- The possibility of lower insurance premiums
You can find traffic school courses taught both live in classrooms and online. Online is often the more convenient option because it can be worked on wherever and whenever the student has the time.
Most courts in Nevada will dismiss tickets with defensive driving if you meet their qualifications. Each court is individual in its requirements, but generally, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You must hold a valid Nevada driver’s license
- You must not have more than one current violation
- Your citation must not have been received while driving a commercial vehicle
If you meet these requirements, you may be eligible for ticket dismissal. In some cases, depending on the severity of your violation and previous driving history, you may be required to take defensive driving as a part of your sentencing.
In either case, you will receive procedural instructions from your court about which course you must take, the date the course must be completed, and any additional fines, fees, or documents you may need to submit.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: Depending on individual circumstances, some drivers may not be approved for ticket dismissal with a driver safety class, but it never hurts to ask!
If Your Court Says Yes
Nevada DMV-Approved Traffic School
Nevada traffic school can be completed online or in a classroom. The most important point here is that the course must be approved by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
For most busy folks, an online traffic school course makes the most sense. Taking your course this way allows you to complete it all at once or a piece at a time, whenever you have the time. Online traffic school is fast becoming the first choice for many Nevada drivers. Start your search with some of Nevada’s top online providers.
Best DMV-Approved Nevada Traffic School Providers
Website | Name | Phone | Register NOW! |
 | |||
 | |||
 #1 in NV! | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 | |||
 |
A Final Word
Ticket dismissal is not the only reason to take traffic school. Find out how taking a course can keep you safer and put money in your pocket.
More Questions? We Have More Answers!
If this is your first time taking a Nevada traffic school course, or it’s been a minute since your last one, here is some more useful information just in case.
How long is traffic school in Nevada?
Nevada state law requires an approved traffic school to be five hours in length. This time length applies to both online and in-person classes.
How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record in Nevada?
Traffic violation points remain on a driving record for 12 months from the date of conviction. The conviction itself will remain a part of your driving record.
Is going to traffic school worth it?
In Nevada, traffic school offers drivers two possible benefits, benefits that can help with citations past and present.
Nevada drivers with a current citation can complete a traffic school class to prevent points from being added to their records. Drivers that already have 3-12 points on their records can complete a course to make 3 of their points go away. While you can only take advantage of one or the other at a time, either benefit certainly makes a trip to traffic school worth it.
Recommended Reading
The Kentucky Guide to Dealing with Traffic Tickets
Get a ticket? Learn how traffic school courses can benefit your driving record (and wallet!) while discovering where to take one online.
The Alaska Guide to Dealing with Traffic Tickets
Get a ticket? Learn how defensive driving can benefit your driving record (and wallet!) while discovering where to take one online.
Driving Course Guide
Ready to get your license? Need a driver safety course for a ticket or to save some insurance money? If you have questions, we have answers!
The Massachusetts Guide to Dealing with Traffic Tickets
Get a ticket? Your next steps can be costly and time-consuming if you're not careful. Could Massachusetts traffic school be a good choice?
The California Guide to Dealing with Traffic Tickets
Get a ticket? Your next steps can be costly and time-consuming if you're not careful. Could CA traffic school be a good choice?
The Illinois Guide to Dealing with Traffic Tickets
Get a ticket or overpaying for car insurance? Learn how Illinois traffic school can benefit your wallet and your driving record.