Busy, Busy, Busy: Over 100 New Nevada Laws Went Into Effect This Week

As has been noted, over 100 new laws went into effect in the state of Nevada on October 1, 2023. All things considered, it appears the Nevada State Legislature and Governor Joe Lombardo have been keeping very busy. The new laws tackle prison reform, the rising use of fentanyl, animal cruelty, homelessness, and various other topics.

To be exact, 106 bills were passed during the 2023 legislative session. Consequently, new laws went into effect on October 1^st, according to an article by C.C. McCandless on Fox5Vegas.com.

Surely, you’ve been hearing, reading, or watching reports of the rising epidemic of deaths due to the use of synthetic opioid fentanyl. Now, our state’s governor and legislature are cracking down and issuing higher penalties for trafficking in, or possessing, this dangerous drug. Currently, federal laws penalize fentanyl traffickers with minimum sentences of five to ten years for possessing or selling 40-100 grams of this opioid. Henceforth, Nevada’s new law increases penalties up to 15 years in prison.

Meanwhile, the Nevada legislature has also put new guidelines in place affecting the use of jailhouse informants by prosecutors. For example, the prosecutor must disclose an informant’s criminal history. Furthermore, the jury will know about prior cases in which he or she testified. Additionally, the prosecutor must list any benefits the informant receives in exchange for testimony.

Our state’s governing body also put into effect new guidelines for the treatment of pregnant female prisoners. For instance, there will be more “medical and behavioral health services for pregnant women,” according to the Fox5News.com post. Furthermore, during delivery and postpartum time periods, the use of less restrictive restraints for these female prisoners will be in place.

As of October 1, 2023, law enforcement now has the authority to remove dangerous “trick driving” vehicles from the road. Moreover, there are now stiffer penalties for reckless driving. McCandless’s article goes on to report that a new law calls for a penalty of one to five years in prison for having a stolen catalytic converter in one’s possession.

Nevada’s canine population gets a break on the the length of time in restraints. In fact, the new law requires that a dog may not be put into restraints for more than 10 hours a day. There are other provisions in the bill regarding the treatment of animals.

If you’d like to see a comprehensive list of the new laws now in effect, click here.

Each state possesses unique features that distinguish it from others, and this extends to its state patrol vehicles. Over the past decade, the American Association of State Troopers has organized an annual competition to determine the best-looking patrol cruiser among the states.

Virtually all state police agencies participate by submitting a photo of their finest patrol vehicle in hopes of having it featured on the association's yearly calendar. The sales of this calendar contribute to the American Association of State Troopers Foundation, which offers educational scholarships to dependents of troopers who are association members.

According to the association's website, the contest initially started as a friendly rivalry between the state agencies, but it has evolved into an enjoyable and positive way for community members to support and engage with law enforcement.

In the previous year, Kentucky secured the cover spot on the 2023 calendar as the winner of the contest. However, this year, the competition is fierce, and Nevada seems to be a strong contender. As of yesterday, at around 4 p.m., Nevada had taken the lead with over 104,700 votes, though Florida was close behind, trailing by only about 60 votes.

The current top 5 states in the contest are Nevada, Florida, California, Indiana, and Kentucky. To boost their chances, the Nevada State Police are actively encouraging their supporters to cast their votes through their social media channels, where they have gained substantial attention and positive feedback.

Someone commented on Facebook, "At first I liked the navy-blue vehicles but those silver/grey ones are pretty awesome and kinda blend in very well." Another person prefers the beauty of the patrol cruiser from a distance. Most of us would agree unless you enjoy the view of flashing lights from your rearview mirror.

The contest attracts a significant number of votes daily, making it a highly engaging event. Anyone can participate by casting their vote until July 31, with Survey Monkey's rules allowing only one vote per device during the contest period. You can cast your vote here.

Take a look at some of the competition below.

California Highway Patrol showcases their mesmerizing Chevy Tahoe Patrol vehicle, with their CHP Helicopter in the sky. Their photo looks like it's straight out of an action movie with the dramatics of dust blowing in the air and a helicopter whirling in the sky. As of yesterday, they are in third place with over 95,000 votes.

"We’re in it to win it and take home the three-peat! Vote for KSP to be named the best looking cruiser in the nation," says their Instgram post. Kentucky was last year's winner. As of yesterday, they're in fifth place with over 65,000 votes.

Georgia State Patrol is pushing for more votes on their social media pages. "You can't tell us Indiana State Police, Florida Highway Patrol, Kentucky State Police, and California Highway Patrol all have better looking patrol cars than the blue and gray!" they wrote on Instagram. They're currently sitting at sixth place with more than 52,000 votes.

Michigan State Police's photo features a Chevy Tahoe and a Bell UH-1H (Huey) helicopter. While not in the lead, their troopers are making their mark with more then 20,000 votes. To be fair, their car is up against a pretty impressive lineup. Florida has an alligator in front of their patrol cruiser.

Arizona is giving it their all, but they've got quite a way to go with just a little over 2,000 votes. But their car looks great along their mountain backdrop. After seeing some of their Instagram comments, their state is definitely rooting for a win. Who know, maybe they'll make a comeback by the deadline.

Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.

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