1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not, while operating a motor vehicle on a highway in this State:
(a) Manually type or enter text into a cellular telephone or other handheld wireless communications device, or send or read data using any such device to access or search the Internet or to engage in nonvoice communications with another person, including, without limitation, texting, electronic messaging and instant messaging.
(b) Use a cellular telephone or other handheld wireless communications device to engage in voice communications with another person, unless the device is used with an accessory which allows the person to communicate without using his or her hands, other than to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or function on the device.
2. The provisions of this section do not apply to:
(a) A paid or volunteer firefighter, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, paramedic, ambulance attendant or other person trained to provide emergency medical services who is acting within the course and scope of his or her employment.
(b) A law enforcement officer or any person designated by a sheriff or chief of police or the Director of the Department of Public Safety who is acting within the course and scope of his or her employment.
(c) A person who is reporting a medical emergency, a safety hazard or criminal activity or who is requesting assistance relating to a medical emergency, a safety hazard or criminal activity.
(d) A person who is responding to a situation requiring immediate action to protect the health, welfare or safety of the driver or another person and stopping the vehicle would be inadvisable, impractical or dangerous.
(e) A person who is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as an amateur radio operator and who is providing a communication service in connection with an actual or impending disaster or emergency, participating in a drill, test, or other exercise in preparation for a disaster or emergency or otherwise communicating public information.
(f) An employee or contractor of a public utility who uses a handheld wireless communications device:
(1) That has been provided by the public utility; and
(2) While responding to a dispatch by the public utility to respond to an emergency, including, without limitation, a response to a power outage or an interruption in utility service.
3. The provisions of this section do not prohibit the use of a voice-operated global positioning or navigation system that is affixed to the vehicle.
4. A person who violates any provision of subsection 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor and:
(a) For the first offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, shall pay a fine of $50.
(b) For the second offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, shall pay a fine of $100.
(c) For the third or subsequent offense within the immediately preceding 7 years, shall pay a fine of $250.
5. A person who violates any provision of subsection 1 may be subject to any additional penalty set forth in NRS 484B.130 or 484B.135.
6. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall not treat a first violation of this section in the manner statutorily required for a moving traffic violation.
7. For the purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed not to be operating a motor vehicle if the motor vehicle is driven autonomously and the autonomous operation of the motor vehicle is authorized by law.
8. As used in this section:
(a) "Handheld wireless communications device" means a handheld device for the transfer of information without the use of electrical conductors or wires and includes, without limitation, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a pager and a text messaging device. The term does not include a device used for two-way radio communications if:
(1) The person using the device has a license to operate the device, if required; and
(2) All the controls for operating the device, other than the microphone and a control to speak into the microphone, are located on a unit which is used to transmit and receive communications and which is separate from the microphone and is not intended to be held.
(b) "Public utility" means a supplier of electricity or natural gas or a provider of telecommunications service for public use who is subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.
(Added to NRS by 2011, 3647; A 2013, 959; 2015, 1562; 2017, 4469)
1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not, while operating a motor vehicle on a highway in this State:
(a) Manually type or enter text into a cellular telephone or other handheld wireless communications device, or send or read data using any such device to access or search the Internet or to engage in nonvoice communications with another person, including, without limitation, texting, electronic messaging and instant messaging.
(b) Use a cellular telephone or other handheld wireless communications device to engage in voice communications with another person, unless the device is used with an accessory which allows the person to communicate without using his or her hands, other than to activate, deactivate or initiate a feature or function on the device.
2. The provisions of this section do not apply to:
(a) A paid or volunteer firefighter, emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician, paramedic, ambulance attendant or other person trained to provide emergency medical services who is acting within the course and scope of his or her employment.
(b) A law enforcement officer or any person designated by a sheriff or chief of police or the Director of the Department of Public Safety who is acting within the course and scope of his or her employment.
(c) A person who is reporting a medical emergency, a safety hazard or criminal activity or who is requesting assistance relating to a medical emergency, a safety hazard or criminal activity.
(d) A person who is responding to a situation requiring immediate action to protect the health, welfare or safety of the driver or another person and stopping the vehicle would be inadvisable, impractical or dangerous.
(e) A person who is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission as an amateur radio operator and who is providing a communication service in connection with an actual or impending disaster or emergency, participating in a drill, test, or other exercise in preparation for a disaster or emergency or otherwise communicating public information.
(f) An employee or contractor of a public utility who uses a handheld wireless communications device:
(1) That has been provided by the public utility; and
(2) While responding to a dispatch by the public utility to respond to an emergency, including, without limitation, a response to a power outage or an interruption in utility service.
3. The provisions of this section do not prohibit the use of a voice-operated global positioning or navigation system that is affixed to the vehicle.
4. A person who violates any provision of subsection 1 is guilty of a civil infraction punishable pursuant to NRS 484A.703 to 484A.705, inclusive, and:
(a) For the first violation within the immediately preceding 7 years, shall pay a civil penalty of $50.
(b) For the second violation within the immediately preceding 7 years, shall pay a civil penalty of $100.
(c) For the third or subsequent violation within the immediately preceding 7 years, shall pay a civil penalty of $250.
5. A person who violates any provision of subsection 1 may be subject to any additional penalty set forth in NRS 484B.130 or 484B.135.
6. The Department of Motor Vehicles shall not treat a first violation of this section in the manner statutorily required for a moving traffic violation.
7. For the purposes of this section, a person shall be deemed not to be operating a motor vehicle if the motor vehicle is driven autonomously and the autonomous operation of the motor vehicle is authorized by law.
8. As used in this section:
(a) "Handheld wireless communications device" means a handheld device for the transfer of information without the use of electrical conductors or wires and includes, without limitation, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a pager and a text messaging device. The term does not include a device used for two-way radio communications if:
(1) The person using the device has a license to operate the device, if required; and
(2) All the controls for operating the device, other than the microphone and a control to speak into the microphone, are located on a unit which is used to transmit and receive communications and which is separate from the microphone and is not intended to be held.
(b) "Public utility" means a supplier of electricity or natural gas or a provider of telecommunications service for public use who is subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.
(Added to NRS by 2011, 3647; A 2013, 959; 2015, 1562; 2017, 4469; 2021, 3330, effective January 1, 2023)
Structure Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 484B - Rules of the Road
NRS 484B.007 - "Administrative roadblock" defined.
NRS 484B.010 - "Business district" defined.
NRS 484B.017 - "Electric bicycle" defined.
NRS 484B.018 - "Electric scooter" defined.
NRS 484B.020 - "Flammable liquid" defined.
NRS 484B.023 - "Freight curb loading zone" defined.
NRS 484B.027 - "House coach" defined.
NRS 484B.029 - "Mobile carrying device" defined.
NRS 484B.030 - "Parking meter" defined.
NRS 484B.033 - "Passenger curb loading zone" defined.
NRS 484B.037 - Person with a disability of moderate duration" defined.
NRS 484B.040 - Person with a permanent disability" defined.
NRS 484B.043 - Person with a temporary disability" defined.
NRS 484B.047 - "Railroad sign" and "railroad signal" defined.
NRS 484B.050 - "Railroad train" defined.
NRS 484B.053 - "Residence district" defined.
NRS 484B.057 - "Safety zone" defined.
NRS 484B.060 - "School crossing zone" defined.
NRS 484B.063 - "School zone" defined.
NRS 484B.067 - "Taxicab stand" defined.
NRS 484B.070 - "Temporary roadblock" defined.
NRS 484B.073 - "Two-directional highway" defined.
NRS 484B.077 - "U-turn" defined.
NRS 484B.103 - Rights and duties of person riding animal or driving vehicle drawn by animal.
NRS 484B.110 - Driving through safety zone prohibited.
NRS 484B.113 - Limitations on backing.
NRS 484B.120 - Driving on defiles, canyons or mountain highways.
NRS 484B.123 - Coasting prohibited in certain circumstances.
NRS 484B.153 - Boarding or alighting from vehicle; opening door of vehicle.
NRS 484B.167 - Riding in house trailer.
NRS 484B.220 - One-way highway; rotary traffic island.
NRS 484B.250 - Vehicle approaching or entering intersection.
NRS 484B.253 - Vehicle turning left.
NRS 484B.257 - Vehicle entering intersection marked stop or yield.
NRS 484B.260 - Vehicle entering highway from private way.
NRS 484B.263 - Vehicle entering or exiting controlled-access highway: Duty to yield right-of-way.
NRS 484B.293 - Direction of movement on crosswalk.
NRS 484B.310 - Flashing signals.
NRS 484B.353 - Overtaking and passing school bus: Duties of driver; exceptions; penalties.
NRS 484B.360 - Maximum speed of school bus.
NRS 484B.400 - Required position and method of turning at intersections.
NRS 484B.407 - Turning on curve or crest of grade prohibited in certain circumstances.
NRS 484B.410 - Starting parked vehicle.
NRS 484B.413 - Requirements for turning on highway; signal for stopping or decreasing speed.
NRS 484B.417 - Signal by hand and arm or signal lamp or device authorized.
NRS 484B.420 - Methods of giving signals by hand and arm.
NRS 484B.440 - Stopping, standing or parking outside of business or residence district.
NRS 484B.447 - Preservation of criminal evidence when vehicle is removed from highway.
NRS 484B.450 - Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in specified places; exceptions.
NRS 484B.453 - Prohibited parking in front of theaters, hotels and other buildings.
NRS 484B.460 - Parking at angle designated by devices permitting angle parking.
NRS 484B.473 - Parked vehicle at nighttime: Reflectors; lights.
NRS 484B.477 - Stopping, standing or parking in alley.
NRS 484B.480 - All-night parking.
NRS 484B.483 - Parking for certain purposes prohibited.
NRS 484B.487 - Parking adjacent to school.
NRS 484B.490 - Parking on narrow highway.
NRS 484B.493 - Standing or parking on one-way street.
NRS 484B.497 - Standing or parking on one-way roadway.
NRS 484B.500 - Stopping, standing or parking near hazardous or congested place.
NRS 484B.503 - Stopping, standing or parking in zone for loading passengers at curb.
NRS 484B.507 - Stopping, standing or parking in zone for loading freight at curb.
NRS 484B.510 - Stopping, standing or parking in restricted parking zone.
NRS 484B.513 - Stopping, standing and parking of bus or taxicab.
NRS 484B.517 - Restricted use of bus and taxicab stands.
NRS 484B.520 - Regulation of stopping, standing or parking by local authority.
NRS 484B.523 - Stopping, standing or parking in metered parking zone; unlawful tampering with meter.
NRS 484B.530 - Unattended motor vehicle: Stopping engine, locking ignition and removing key.
NRS 484B.533 - Unattended motor vehicle: Standing on grade.
NRS 484B.557 - Stop required at certain railroad grade crossings.
NRS 484B.563 - Moving heavy equipment at railroad grade crossing.
NRS 484B.570 - Administrative roadblock: Establishment; minimum requirements.
NRS 484B.573 - Temporary roadblock: Establishment; minimum requirements.
NRS 484B.577 - Authority of police officers not limited by provisions relating to roadblocks.
NRS 484B.580 - Failure to stop at roadblock; penalties.
NRS 484B.607 - Duties of driver when approaching traffic incident; penalty.
NRS 484B.623 - Slow driving; establishment of minimum speed limit.
NRS 484B.633 - Special limitations on speed.
NRS 484B.703 - Driving through funeral or other procession.
NRS 484B.707 - Driving in procession.
NRS 484B.710 - Following fire apparatus prohibited.
NRS 484B.740 - Fusee: Limitation on color.
NRS 484B.743 - Reflective material required for person directing or controlling traffic near school.
NRS 484B.757 - Use of flashing amber warning lights by private patrol officer.
NRS 484B.773 - Attaching to vehicle upon roadway prohibited.
NRS 484B.777 - Operating bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter on roadway.
NRS 484B.780 - Carrying articles on bicycle, electric bicycle or electric scooter.
NRS 484B.803 - "Department" defined.
NRS 484B.807 - "Disability" defined.
NRS 484B.810 - "Gender identity or expression" defined.
NRS 484B.813 - "Law enforcement agency" defined.
NRS 484B.817 - "Law enforcement officer" defined.
NRS 484B.820 - "Profiling" defined.
NRS 484B.823 - "Sexual orientation" defined.
NRS 484B.827 - "Traffic stop" defined.
NRS 484B.903 - Putting glass or other injurious substance on highway prohibited.
NRS 484B.910 - Motor must be shut off when supply tank being filled with fuel.