Court

City of Las Vegas warrant search: find out, then clear it

A City of Las Vegas warrant search starts with one question: did you miss a court date or a payment? That is how most warrants start. This site doesn't run a warrant database. This page tells you where warrants come from, who has the record, and what Nevada law says happens when you deal with one, so you can clear it on your terms.

What to do first

1. Think back to the case. A missed court date, an unpaid ticket, or a missed appearance after you were released from jail are the usual causes. Find any paperwork you have: a ticket, a release form, a court notice. It names the court.

2. Ask the court that has the case. A warrant is an order signed by a judge, and it states the county, city or town where it was issued (NRS 171.108). In Las Vegas that can be the city's municipal court for city cases, a justice court for county misdemeanors, or the district court for felonies. The court that issued it can tell you if it is active and how to clear it. Our court case lookup page explains which court has what.

3. Think about having a lawyer ask for you. A lawyer can check, and can often ask the court to set a new date. If money is the problem, see free legal help.

4. Move quickly. For a missed date after release on bail or without bail, the law gives you 30 days to surrender before missing court becomes a separate crime (NRS 199.335(1)). Details are below.

Where warrants come from

A new charge. When sworn statements show probable cause that you committed a crime, a judge must issue an arrest warrant, or a summons if the district attorney asks for one (NRS 171.106(1)). If you ignore a summons, a warrant must follow (NRS 171.106(5)).

A missed court date (a "bench warrant"). When you don't appear and the court doesn't excuse it, the court must order a warrant within 14 judicial days. For a felony or gross misdemeanor, there's no excuse option. If someone posted bail, it can be forfeited (NRS 178.508(1), (2)).

A traffic ticket with a court date. Missing the date on a criminal traffic ticket can lead to a warrant (NRS 484A.670(3)). For most traffic cases, the court must first give you at least 30 days' grace (NRS 484A.780). For unpaid traffic money, it must first offer you community service (NRS 484A.782).

A parking ticket. A bench warrant can issue only if a notice to appear was mailed to you within 60 days and you didn't appear within 20 days of it, and not if the notice came back undeliverable (NRS 484A.700).

Not from a civil traffic ticket. Most moving tickets are civil infractions now. If you don't answer one in 90 days, the court enters a money judgment against you, not a warrant (NRS 484A.704(4)). See City of Las Vegas traffic ticket.

Deadlines and timing Nevada law sets

Situation	What the law says	Source
You missed a required court date	The court orders a warrant within 14 judicial days	NRS 178.508(1)(b)
You were released on bail or without bail and missed court	Surrender within 30 days of the missed date and it is not the separate crime of failing to appear	NRS 199.335(1)
Bail someone posted for you	Forfeited 180 days after the court mails notice of the missed date	NRS 178.508(2)
Most traffic failures to appear or pay	At least 30 days' grace before a warrant	NRS 484A.780(1)
Parking ticket	Mailed notice within 60 days, then 20 days to appear	NRS 484A.700(2)
After an arrest	Taken before a judge without unnecessary delay; the judge may release you if it takes more than 72 hours, not counting non-court days	NRS 171.178(1), (3)
Pretrial release hearing	Within 48 hours of being taken into custody, with some exceptions	NRS 178.4849(1)

Read 2026-11-03 off the Nevada Revised Statutes: chapters 171, 178 and 199 revision stamped 4/15/2026 (2025), chapter 484A stamped 4/15/2026 (2025).

Why the 30 days matter

If you were released on bail or without bail and miss court, failing to appear is its own crime, on top of the original case, unless you surrender within 30 days (NRS 199.335(1)). How serious it is follows the original case:

Original case	Failing to appear is	Source
A felony	A category D felony	NRS 199.335(2)(a)
A gross misdemeanor	A gross misdemeanor; a category D felony if you left Nevada to avoid prosecution	NRS 199.335(2)(b)
A misdemeanor	A misdemeanor; a category D felony if you left Nevada to avoid prosecution	NRS 199.335(2)(c)

If you turn yourself in

For a misdemeanor, the law usually bars an arrest between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. One exception is when you voluntarily surrender on an outstanding warrant (NRS 171.136(2)(g)). For a felony or gross misdemeanor, an arrest can happen at any hour (NRS 171.136(1)).

After an arrest, you have the right to make a reasonable number of completed phone calls, including one to a friend or bail agent and one to a lawyer. That is right after booking and, where physically possible, within 3 hours of the arrest (NRS 171.153).

If you are brought before a judge here and a misdemeanor warrant from another Nevada county turns up, the judge may release you if you give an address where the other court can notify you. Missing that later date is failing to appear (NRS 171.1845).

What a real warrant must say

An arrest warrant is a written order in the name of the State of Nevada. It must be signed by the judge, name you or describe you clearly, give the date and the place it was issued, state the offense, and order you brought before the nearest available judge (NRS 171.108).

Be careful with calls or messages that say you have a warrant and must pay right now to clear it. Check with the court yourself before you pay anyone.

Good to know

Once the case is over, an old arrest or conviction may be sealable. See seal your record.

This page is general information, not legal advice. To learn whether a warrant is active and how to clear it, check with the court that has your case. Call 211 if you need help.