How Nevada DUI courts are organised
A DUI charge in Nevada is prosecuted in the Justice Court or Municipal Court that serves the county or municipality where the stop happened, not where you live. The clerk's office in that courthouse controls your hearing dates, accepts motions and continuances, and takes payment of fines and court costs. Calendars, filing hours and remote-appearance rules differ from courthouse to courthouse, so confirm them with the clerk before your first date.
Nevada misdemeanor DUI is heard in justice court or municipal court depending on where the offense occurred, while felony DUI — a third offense, or one causing death or substantial bodily harm — is heard in district court. Appeals from justice or municipal court go to district court, with further review by the Nevada Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.
The state judiciary publishes the authoritative directory of courthouses, judges and calendars at nvcourts.gov. Use it to confirm the address and division for your case number; local listings age quickly.
Courthouse locations, hearing calendars, clerk contacts and self-help forms.
The separate licence action, which the criminal court does not decide.
What happens at each stage in Nevada
A DUI case in Nevada is heard in the Justice Court or Municipal Court, and it runs on two tracks at once: the criminal case and a separate licence action you must challenge within 7 days of arrest.
- 1Arrest, booking and the chemical test — Officers arrest for DUI under NRS 484C.110 and request a breath, blood or urine test under Nevada's implied-consent section, NRS 484C.160. Refusing carries its own licence penalty, separate from the criminal charge.
- 2Licence action — request a hearing within 7 days — On a failed or refused test the officer seizes the licence and the DMV issues an order of revocation under NRS 484C.220. You have 7 days from arrest to demand the administrative hearing with Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles; miss it and the suspension takes effect automatically, whatever happens in court.
- 3Arraignment in the Justice Court or Municipal Court — The charge is read, a plea is entered and conditions of release are set in the Justice Court or Municipal Court. Nevada misdemeanor DUI is heard in justice court or municipal court depending on where the offense occurred, while felony DUI — a third offense, or one causing death or substantial bodily harm — is heard in district court.
- 4Pretrial motions and discovery — Defence counsel obtains the police report, test records and calibration or maintenance logs, and may move to suppress the stop or the test result. Many Nevada judicial districts file through Odyssey eFileNV.
- 5Plea or trial, then sentencing — A first DUI conviction carries a fine of $400–$1,000, jail exposure up to 6 months, a licence suspension of 3 months, an ignition interlock requirement. Prior offenses within 7 years push the case into the enhanced-penalty range. A first offense carries a fine, possible jail, and interlock in most cases.
- 6Reinstatement — Interlock requirements for certain offenders are set out in NRS Chapter 484C. Nevada requires a SR-22 certificate of financial responsibility for 3 years before the licence is restored.
Filing and case handling in Nevada
- Many Nevada judicial districts file through Odyssey eFileNV.
- Municipal courts are courts of record.
- Administrative revocation is handled by the DMV under NRS 484C.220, separate from the criminal case.
- A driver is entitled to one administrative hearing with the DMV to review a revocation order under NRS 484C.230.
Whatever the local practice, take your citation or case number to every call — clerks index by case, not by name — and get the payable amount for fines and court costs in writing before you pay.
Nevada ZIP codes covered
These Nevada ZIP-code pages carry the local court, filing and licensing detail for the area, and each one links back to this resource page.
Counties and cities using these Nevada resources
Counties
Other Nevada official resources
Frequently asked questions
- Which court handles a first DUI charge in Nevada?
- First-offense DUI cases in Nevada are heard in the Justice Court or Municipal Court for the county where the stop happened. The court clerk's office there sets the arraignment date and accepts filings.
- Does the court case decide whether I keep my licence in Nevada?
- No. The criminal case and the administrative licence action run separately. The licence action is handled by the NV driver-licensing agency, and the request for a hearing is due within 7 days of arrest.