Existing law requires any pedestrian, other than a person who is blind and using a service animal or carrying a cane or walking stick, to yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the highway if crossing a highway: (1) at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection; or (2) at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided. (NRS 484B.287, 484B.290) Existing law also prohibits a pedestrian from: (1) crossing a highway at any place except in a marked crosswalk if between adjacent intersections at which official traffic-control devices are in operation; or (2) crossing an intersection diagonally, unless the pedestrian is authorized to cross the intersection diagonally by official traffic-control devices and the pedestrian crosses in accordance with such official traffic-control devices. (NRS 484B.287) Under existing law, the commission of any such prohibited act by a pedestrian: (1) is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or by both fine and imprisonment; and (2) may subject the pedestrian to additional penalties if the violation is committed in a pedestrian safety zone. (NRS 484A.900, 484B.135, 484B.287) Section 2 of this bill decriminalizes the commission of such prohibited acts by pedestrians by specifically providing that a violation is not a misdemeanor and is instead punishable by a civil penalty of not more than $100. Section 1 of this bill removes the reference to the statute that prohibits such acts by pedestrians, thereby providing that a violation is no longer subject to any additional penalties if the violation is committed in a pedestrian safety zone. Section 2.5 of this bill provides that the amendatory provisions of this bill apply retroactively to any person who has committed such a violation, unless the person was convicted of the violation before July 1, 2021. Section 2.5 further requires: (1) each court in this State to cancel each outstanding bench warrant issued by the court for a person who failed to appear in court in relation to such an alleged violation; and (2) the Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History to remove from each database or compilation of records of criminal history maintained by the Central Repository all records of bench warrants issued for a person who failed to appear in court in relation to such an alleged violation.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 484B.135, 484B.287
Reprint 1: 484B.135, 484B.287
As Enrolled: 484B.135, 484B.287