Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 488 - Watercraft
NRS 488.920 - Citation; taking person before magistrate.


1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, whenever any person is halted by a game warden, sheriff or peace officer for any violation of this chapter, the person:
(a) Must, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), be given a citation, if the violation is punishable as a misdemeanor; or
(b) May, in the discretion of the game warden, sheriff or peace officer either be given a citation or be taken without unnecessary delay before the proper magistrate, if the violation is punishable as:
(1) A felony or gross misdemeanor; or
(2) A misdemeanor that constitutes a repeat offense or a prohibited offense.
2. A person described in subsection 1 must be taken before the proper magistrate in either of the following cases:
(a) When the person does not furnish satisfactory evidence of identity; or
(b) When the game warden, sheriff or peace officer has reasonable and probable grounds to believe the person will disregard a written promise to appear in court.
3. As used in this section:
(a) "Prohibited offense" means:
(1) A crime of violence as defined in NRS 200.408.
(2) A violation of NRS 488.410.
(b) "Repeat offense" means an offense for which the person has previously been arrested, convicted or issued a citation.
(Added to NRS by 1971, 830; A 2021, 3469)

Structure Nevada Revised Statutes

Nevada Revised Statutes

Chapter 488 - Watercraft

NRS 488.015 - Short title.

NRS 488.025 - Declaration of policy.

NRS 488.035 - Definitions.

NRS 488.045 - Regulations of Board of Wildlife Commissioners: Adoption.

NRS 488.055 - Regulations of Board of Wildlife Commissioners: Filing and publication.

NRS 488.059 - Applicability; local regulation.

NRS 488.065 - Operation of unnumbered or uncertified motorboat prohibited.

NRS 488.075 - Number, certificate of number and certificate of ownership: Application; issuance; fees; location of number on boat; regulations.

NRS 488.078 - Department to submit certain information to Division of Welfare and Supportive Services. [Effective until the date of the repeal of 42 U.S.C. § 666, the federal law requiring each state to establish procedures for withholding, suspendin...

NRS 488.085 - Recordation in this State of number previously awarded pursuant to federally approved numbering system of another state.

NRS 488.105 - Conformity of state numbering system with federal system.

NRS 488.115 - Awarding of certificates of number; authorization of agents; retention of fee by agent; public records.

NRS 488.125 - Certificates of number effective for 1 year; exception; renewal; fees; regulations.

NRS 488.135 - Department to fix date on which certificates of number expire.

NRS 488.145 - Destruction or abandonment of motorboat: Owner to furnish notice to Department; termination of certificate of number.

NRS 488.155 - Change of address of holder of certificate of number or ownership: Holder to notify Department and furnish new address; surrender and replacement or alteration of inaccurate certificates.

NRS 488.165 - Display of unauthorized number or decal prohibited.

NRS 488.169 - Hull numbers: Process for issuance and verification must comply with United States Coast Guard requirements; regulations.

NRS 488.171 - Hull numbers: Prohibited acts; assignment to handmade vessels; penalty.

NRS 488.175 - Exemption from requirements for numbering and titling; exception for certain residents of other states; issuance of exempt numbers.

NRS 488.1793 - Requirements for transfer of ownership or interest in certain motorboats; exceptions.

NRS 488.1794 - Certificate of ownership in beneficiary form: Application; issuance to tenant in common prohibited; contents; effect; revocation; encumbrances; duties of Department; transfer upon death not testamentary.

NRS 488.1795 - Transferee to file certificates, pay fee and apply for new certificates.

NRS 488.1797 - Requirements for issuance of certificate of ownership.

NRS 488.1801 - Owner of motorboat to notify Department of sale or transfer of title or interest; exception; information to be furnished.

NRS 488.1803 - Dealer’s report of sale, lease or other transfer; exception.

NRS 488.1805 - Interest of registered owner not affected by assignment by legal owner.

NRS 488.1807 - Endorsement of certificate upon transfer of title or interest of legal owner; exception.

NRS 488.181 - Endorsement of certificate on transfer by registered owner.

NRS 488.1813 - Issuance of duplicate certificate on loss, destruction or mutilation of original.

NRS 488.1815 - Failure to endorse or deliver certificate to transferee unlawful.

NRS 488.1817 - New certificate not required on substitution of security interest between same parties; time limit.

NRS 488.182 - Transfer of ownership not required on pledge of security interest.

NRS 488.1823 - Procedure for perfection of security interest.

NRS 488.1825 - Method prescribed for perfecting security interest is exclusive.

NRS 488.1826 - Suspension of certificate of number or validation decal for failure to pay child support or comply with certain subpoenas or warrants; reinstatement of certificate of number or validation decal. [Effective until the date of the repeal...

NRS 488.1827 - Suspension or revocation of certificate or number if fraudulently obtained or fee was unpaid.

NRS 488.185 - Classification of motorboats.

NRS 488.187 - Lights.

NRS 488.193 - Personal flotation devices; fire extinguishers; flame arrestors; ventilation of bilges; modification of requirements.

NRS 488.195 - Muffling devices.

NRS 488.197 - Sirens.

NRS 488.257 - "Mooring buoy" defined; requirements for colors and lights.

NRS 488.259 - Mooring buoy: Permit required; exception; permit for placement in navigable waters.

NRS 488.261 - Mooring buoy: Permit for placement in nonnavigable waters; permit for temporary placement; regulations and enforcement.

NRS 488.263 - Permit not required for temporary mooring buoy.

NRS 488.265 - Anchoring or mooring vessel which obstructs passageway prohibited; exceptions.

NRS 488.285 - Mooring to buoy or navigational aid prohibited; interference with buoy or navigational aid without written authorization prohibited; exception; penalties.

NRS 488.291 - Abandonment prohibited; evidence of responsibility for abandonment; removal of vessel from public waterway.

NRS 488.293 - Authority of peace officer to identify registered owner of vessel abandoned on private property; peace officer to notify Department of removal of abandoned vessel; law enforcement agency to notify owner or holder of security interest re...

NRS 488.295 - Duties of owner; records and equipment.

NRS 488.305 - Authority of Department to authorize events; regulations concerning safety; application for permission; reimbursement of Department; contents of application; compliance with federal law.

NRS 488.310 - Display of diver’s flag required; operation of vessel within 100 feet of flag prohibited; operation of vessel within 200 feet of flag limited; exception for emergencies.

NRS 488.320 - Use of approved marine sanitation device required; unlawful to discharge sewage; regulations; penalties.

NRS 488.400 - Operation of vessel or manipulation of water skis or surfboard recklessly or while intoxicated or under influence of controlled substance prohibited.

NRS 488.405 - "Concentration of alcohol of 0.08 or more in his or her blood or breath" defined. [Effective until the date of the repeal of the federal law requiring each state to make it unlawful for a person to operate a motor vehicle with a blood a...

NRS 488.410 - Unlawful acts; penalty. [Effective until the date of the repeal of the federal law requiring each state to make it unlawful for a person to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or greater as a condi...

NRS 488.420 - Penalty if death or substantial bodily harm results; exception; segregation of offender; plea bargaining prohibited; affirmative defense; aggravating factor. [Effective until the date of the repeal of the federal law requiring each stat...

NRS 488.425 - Homicide by vessel: Penalty; segregation of offender; plea bargaining prohibited; affirmative defense; aggravating factor. [Effective until the date of the repeal of the federal law requiring each state to make it unlawful for a person...

NRS 488.427 - Penalty for second or subsequent felony; exception; segregation of offender; plea bargaining prohibited; aggravating factor.

NRS 488.430 - Evaluation of certain offenders before sentencing.

NRS 488.440 - Fee for chemical analysis.

NRS 488.450 - Implied consent to preliminary test of breath; failure to submit to test; use of results of test.

NRS 488.460 - Implied consent to evidentiary test; exemption from blood test; choice of test; circumstances in which peace officer may request person to submit to blood test; restrictions on requesting urine test; failure to submit to test; notificat...

NRS 488.470 - Requirements for evidentiary test of breath to determine concentration of alcohol in breath; refusal or failure to submit to test.

NRS 488.480 - Admissibility of evidence of failure to submit to evidentiary test and results of test; availability of results of test; presumption of accuracy and reliability of testing device; judicial notice of certification of operator of testing...

NRS 488.490 - Opportunity of arrested person to choose qualified person to administer test; substitution of test prohibited.

NRS 488.500 - Admissibility of results of blood test in criminal action; immunity from liability for person administering blood test in certain circumstances.

NRS 488.510 - Presumption that solution or gas used to calibrate or verify calibration of device for testing breath is properly prepared.

NRS 488.520 - Analysis of blood of deceased victim of accident involving vessel to determine presence and concentration of alcohol.

NRS 488.530 - Unlawful acts; inspections; authority of peace officers.

NRS 488.533 - Impoundment or quarantine.

NRS 488.536 - Fees; decal; regulations; exceptions.

NRS 488.540 - Commission may establish and maintain pilot rules; operator to maintain proper lookout; operation of vessel without required equipment prohibited.

NRS 488.550 - Collisions, accidents and other casualties.

NRS 488.560 - Transmittal of information regarding collision or accident to federal agency.

NRS 488.570 - Operation of vessel towing person on water skis, surfboard, inflatable device or similar device; operation of vessel within 100 feet of person being towed.

NRS 488.575 - Wearing of personal flotation device by passenger younger than 13 years of age: Duty of person who operates, owns or controls vessel; exceptions.

NRS 488.580 - Operation of personal watercraft.

NRS 488.585 - Operation of motorboat in excess of certain speed prohibited unless engine cut-off switch is present, connected and operating properly; attachment of engine cut-off switch link.

NRS 488.590 - Overloading vessel prohibited.

NRS 488.600 - Unlawful operation of vessel: Reduced speed required in certain areas.

NRS 488.610 - Unlawful operation of vessel in restricted area; designation and marking of restricted areas.

NRS 488.620 - Operation of vessel in area marked for bathing, wading, diving, floating or swimming.

NRS 488.630 - Operation of vessel in unsafe condition; penalties.

NRS 488.730 - Operation of certain motorboats on interstate waters of State by persons born on or after January 1, 1983: Requirements; presentation to peace officer of certain documentation; duties of certain persons engaged in business of renting or...

NRS 488.740 - Department to certify persons to provide instruction in safe boating; powers and duties of Department concerning courses in safe boating.

NRS 488.750 - Persons born on or after January 1, 1983, to submit to Department certification of completion of course or passage of proficiency examination in safe boating; database of certificates.

NRS 488.900 - Enforcement by game wardens and other peace officers; inspection of vessel.

NRS 488.910 - Seizure of vessel to preserve evidence of crime; payment of storage fees.

NRS 488.915 - Seizure of vessel by peace officer: Criteria; duties of law enforcement agency.

NRS 488.920 - Citation; taking person before magistrate.

NRS 488.950 - Penalty for violating provision of chapter: Criminal penalty; authority of court to require successful completion of course in safe boating as prerequisite to operation of motorboat upon interstate waters of State.