While it may not be known as the “City of Love,”
Las Vegas is actually known as "The Marriage Capital of the World,"
especially for those looking to move as quickly as possible through the wedding
nuptials to the honeymoon.
With so many impromptu marriage ceremonies,
there are also numerous quick-turnaround divorces,
both of which present certain legal issues that are unique to this desert
oasis.
But is Las Vegas really the frontier town some
people describe, with loosely applied laws and easy virtue? Not hardly.
The Myth of the Quickie Divorce
Okay. It is not a total myth but it also isn't a
walk in the park. It is only easy when compared to the protracted war a typical
divorce can be. The rules still read like the instructions to defuse an
atom bomb; and it is still a good idea to get an attorney. A badly structured
divorce will follow you home from Vegas.
If you do retain a divorce attorney, a Las Vegas
Divorce is quicker than, say, a divorce in 49 other states. However, if you
don't live in Vegas it isn't without residency requirements and other
inconvenient things, called laws, that you must still obey.
Finders Keepers?
We all know that famous adage, meaning that
whatever you find on the ground is yours to keep - it is a phrase that kids
across the country use to govern daily activities.
These words though, have virtually no force in
the casinos of Las Vegas, as all tickets and chips left behind by an unknowing
visitor may quickly become the property of the management. While a gambler may
assume they have struck gold by finding a winning ticket by the door,
attempting to cash this check may be considered petit larceny (a misdemeanor)
if the value is less than $650, or grand larceny (a felony) if worth more. This
only applies to specific casinos though and is a rather native concept to this
mecca of gambling where the house always seems to have the advantage.
Find the Right Place to Drink
Unlike many places in the rest of the United
States, it is legal to have an open container of alcohol when in designated
areas on the Strip and downtown. Furthermore, possessing an open container on
public transportation is also permitted. This leads some to the erroneous
conclusion that the drinking laws in Las Vegas allow consumption of alcohol
virtually anywhere.
Though it is legal to possess an open alcohol
container on the Strip, the containers must be made of plastic. Also
certain dates make outdoor drinking in most locations illegal. Any
violation of these laws may result in an arrest.
Because of the leniency of the laws governing
open containers in certain parts of the city, many people unknowingly violate
the law. Some believe that 40% of all tourist arrests involve a violation of
the open container laws. When in doubt, ask.
Know the rules
No matter what you have heard, read or seen
about the Las Vegas marriage, divorce
or party scene, you have not entered a lawless backwater town built
specifically for your care-free escape.
Like any other place in the nation, residents
and visitors in Las Vegas are subject to rules and regulations that help
support a stable society. With the flashy lights, exciting venues and hoards of
visitors roaming the streets, the last thing on your mind is police, security
guards, attorneys, and courts of law still, but they do still exist.
On the other hand, if it is your first time in
Vegas, we might be lenient. You never know. After all, we want you to come
back!
This guest post is contributed by Farhan
Naqvi, an attorney at Naqvi Law in Las
Vegas, NV. He was voted 2012 top personal injury lawyer by Vegas INC magazine.
