Memo to Nevada motorists: License plates aren’t optional
License plates aren’t an optional decoration. They’re a requirement so that your vehicle legally can hit the road in Nevada and every other state.
Apparently, some motorists don’t realize that as several of you have sent emails or placed a call to the Road Warrior to complain about cars driving around town without their front or rear license plates.
There were even a couple of questions about the legality of plates that are obscured by plastic “protective” coverings.
Law enforcement officers need to be able to see license plates from 100 feet during the day and 110 feet at night, Nevada Highway Patrol trooper Jason Buratczuk said. If your vehicle is equipped with a front bracket, then a license plate needs to go there, too.
Buratczuk noted that some sports cars or luxury vehicles don’t provide a place to display front-facing license plates. If that’s the case, then you aren’t breaking the law.
“However, if your vehicle is equipped with a front bracket and you are displaying a novelty plate from your favorite sports team, then you will get a ticket for improper display,” Buratczuk said.
NHP also enforces laws that prohibit the obstruction of license plates, including those plastic covers. Buratczuk said that he and other troopers “see it all the time.”
Failing to display license plates, or having them obscured, are misdemeanor traffic offenses that can land violators a maximum $1,000 fine and six months in jail, said Kevin Malone, a spokesman for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles.
No red-light photos
Anita from Las Vegas wanted to know why local traffic signals aren’t equipped with cameras capable of snapping photos of vehicles that illegally run through a red light. Cities equipped with these systems typically send tickets in the mail to scofflaw drivers.
Hundreds of traffic signals are equipped with cameras throughout Clark County, but the footage is relayed to the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada’s traffic management center to keep an eye on clogged roadways.
Nevada has a law that states video recordings cannot be used to determine a traffic citation unless an active-duty law enforcement officer is operating the camera at that specific time, RTC spokeswoman Angela Castro said.
Castro added that local transit officials don’t see a need for red light cameras now.
No flashing yellow arrows
Marilyn from Las Vegas wanted to know whether the “incredibly long” signal timing could be adjusted at Rainbow Boulevard and Craig Road in the northwest valley.
“Since there isn’t much traffic here, it seems like a perfect place for flashing yellow left-turn arrows,” Marilyn wrote in an email to the Road Warrior. “I can’t tell you how much gas I’ve wasted by just waiting to turn left.”
Both directions of Craig have dual left-turn lanes at this intersection, which makes it a bad idea for flashing yellow arrows, said Gena Kendall, the traffic engineer for the city of Las Vegas.
This signal is coordinated with other nearby signals during the daytime to keep traffic moving on Craig and reduce the number of stops and delays.
“Coordinating the signals requires the use of a longer cycle length,” Kendall said. “Drivers and pedestrians that need to stop at the signal will generally have to stop and wait for a longer time during the day.”
The signal cycle should change over more quickly at night based on the decreased amount of traffic recorded at this intersection, Kendall said.
Right on Tropicana
Duane from Las Vegas wants to know whether a right-turn-only lane could be designated at northbound Fort Apache Road at Tropicana Avenue in the southwest valley.
“Most of the cars in this lane are turning right to either go under the 215 Beltway, or they are headed onto the Beltway,” Duane said. “It always seems like someone gets in this right lane for no reason other than gaining a few car lengths, and holds everyone up from turning.”
Improvements are slated for both of these roads within the next year, Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said. After the project is completed, Kulin said that the county will examine whether a dedicated right-turn lane is needed here.
Waiting on Revere
Matt from North Las Vegas wanted to know when the Revere Street exit will open to traffic on the 215 Beltway.
Revere doesn’t extend that far north yet, Kulin said. The new interchange eventually will connect to Revere, but it’s unclear when that might happen. The exit was built while the Beltway was being extended last year because it would have been more cost-effective, rather than waiting to rebuild the intersection later on.
Questions and comments should be sent to roadwarrior@reviewjournal.com. Please include your phone number. Find @RJroadwarrior on Twitter.
Road work ahead
Downtown
■ The carpool lane for southbound U.S. Highway 95 is closed between Decatur Boulevard and Rancho Drive through mid-September. Crews are erecting traffic management signs.
■ Martin Luther King Boulevard offramp from northbound U.S. Highway 95 is closed through mid-September. Crews are rebuilding the ramp.
■ Martin Luther King Boulevard onramp to southbound U.S. Highway 95 is closed through mid-September. Crews are building a carpool ramp.
■ Washington Avenue is restricted between Robin Street and Rancho Drive through Oct. 19. Crews are working on a channel project.
■ Main Street is restricted between Fremont Street and Ogden Avenue through Dec. 20. Crews are demolishing a building.
■ Ninth Street is closed between Carson and Main streets through Dec. 31. Crews are installing water and sewer lines.
■ U.S. Highway 95 is restricted between Rancho Road and just east of Interstate 15 through January 2018. Crews are building a new flyover ramp for high-occupancy vehicles as part of Project Neon.
■ The Martin Luther King Boulevard onramp to northbound Interstate 15 is closed through January 2018. Crews are building a carpool ramp.
■ The ramp connecting southbound U.S. Highway 95 to northbound Interstate 15 is closed through January 2018. Crews are building a carpool ramp.
■ Main Street is restricted between Bonneville Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard through May 2018. Crews are working on a storm drain.
■ Sections of Bonneville Avenue, Charleston Boulevard, Grand Central Parkway and Martin Luther King Boulevard will have closed or disrupted lanes surrounding the Spaghetti Bowl as crews work on Project Neon through July 2018.
East valley
■ Eastern Avenue is restricted between Flamingo Road and Tompkins Avenue through Sept. 29. Crews are doing sewer work.
Southwest
■ Cactus Avenue will closed between Las Vegas Boulevard and Interstate 15 Monday to Friday. Crews are installing flood control improvements.
■ Fort Apache Road is restricted between Sunset and Post roads through Oct. 31. Crews are doing sewer work.
■ Sunset Road is restricted between Fort Apache Road and Ivesdale Street through Oct. 31. Crews are doing sewer work.
Henderson
■ Appaloosa Road is restricted between Wagonwheel Drive and Rawhide Drive through late October. Crews are installing a storm drain.
■ Center Street is restricted between Burkholder Boulevard and Lake Mead Parkway through June 2018. Crews are making various road improvements.
North Las Vegas
■ Nellis Boulevard is restricted between Cheyenne Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays through July 2018. Crews are installing sewer pipes.
Gasoline prices
The average gasoline price Friday in the Las Vegas Valley was $ per gallon. It was $ in Nevada. The national average of $ is cents from a week ago, cents from a month ago and cents from a year ago.
Las Vegas Review-Journal
