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Carrying your blue cards in Clark county - what does the law say?

h2ojunkie

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We always hear how you must have your blue card (Clark county registration) with you at all times when carrying. Even the Clark county sheriff's web site says so.

I've searched County ordinances top to bottom and I can not find any ordinance that requires you to have the registration card with you when in possession of the weapon. The only reference I can find is that the weapon must be registered, but no mention requiring you to carry proof of that registration.

I emailed the sheriff via the website asking for the ordinance that requires the proof of registration (blue card) to be carried, and I was directed to contact the Firearms Detail.

When I contacted the Firearms detail and asked if I was required to have the blue card with me, I was of course told "Yes, you must carry the blue card whenever you have the weapon". I then asked them for the ordinance that states I must have proof of registration with me and what the penalty was for not having it, and they were unable to tell me and directed me to try calling firearms registration.

Of course carrying the blue card is the easy solution, but I would like to know exactly what law requires it, and what the penalty is for not having it.

For example, not having your CCW with you while carrying concealed is clearly defined in NRS as a $25 fine and nothing more. I sure would like to know what the law is should I happen to leave the house with the wrong blue card one day.

I've only been stopped while carrying one time, and even though I had the blue card with me, the officer still took the time to run the serial numbers on the gun. To me, the requirement to have the blue card with you at all times appears to be something created by the sheriff's office, and not actually a legal requirement.


I spent Friday making some more phone calls on this issue, one of those calls was to firearms registration.

At first, I was given the standard "you must have the card with you" line, but after asking for more information regarding what county or state ordinance required proof of registration to be carried, the person put me on hold for an extended period to go ask around the office and then came back on the line and stated that there is no law requiring proof of registration to be carried.

The person I spoke with was very professional, and very polite. But they did inform me that if you do not have the registration card with you the officer may confiscate the weapon. I didn't question this as the person I was speaking with is obviously not in a position to make department policy. But her statement did make me wonder. Wouldn't confiscating a legally possessed weapon constitute a violation of unlawful seizure?

I was then directed to contact the public information office. Again they were very polite, but of no further help.

I think my next step will be an attempt to schedule a meeting with the Sheriff. I've never done something like this in the past, so I have no idea if my requests will fall on deaf ears.

I'm trying to go about this in a professional and polite manner to get this matter clarified, so I'm not sure how much pressing will have to be done in order to get to the bottom of it.
 

kenny

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It could be an Administrative Rule. Then there would be no law on the books There is a police sergeant in charge of the CCW Detail perhaps you should speak with him.
 

h2ojunkie

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I did speak with a Lt. or Sgt. (I don't remember which)at the CCW detail, who did know of the NRS requiring you to carry your CCW when carrying. But that law does not apply to the gun registration card whether you are open or concealed carrying.

While I haven't been able to confirm anything one way or the other at this point, I believe you may be correct about an administrative rule.

That is actually why I am concerned. The office of the Sheriff does not have the authority to create new laws through administrative rules. I don't mind the police requesting you carry the registration card to make it easier to verify a registered weapon, but publicly stating on the sheriff's website that it is a legal requirement is false information, and information that appears to be passed down within the department based on the discussions I've had up to this point.

I just don't like the idea that I may have a weapon confiscated when I've violated no law. While it is highly unlikely I would ever have a problem, I have more than one of the same gun in my safe. For example, my wife and myself both own identical S&W Airweights, which we have dual registered so I have a blue card in my name for both of them. It would be an easy mistake to grab the wrong gun/blue card out of the safe before heading out the door since the weapons are identical other than the serial number on them. That is what started me looking into the blue cards in the first place.
 

bobernet

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There is no law in the NRS, or in the Clark County Code that requires posession of a "blue card." In fact, there's not even anything that requires the issuance of a registration card.

The Clark County Code is here: http://ordlink.com/codes/clarknv/_D...D_AIR_GUN/12_04_200_Registration_of_fire.html

You are required to register the gun, not carry proof of such registration. Now, if the cop/DA was a dick, they could charge you with having an unregistered gun, but upon producing a blue card, it would/should be thrown out.

Given that the blue card is the only proof you have that registration took place, I'd be tempted to store it in a safe deposit box, and never carry it. If you want to be a "good guy" and play it safe, maybe use one of those reducing functions on a copier and photocopy all your blue cards on one sheet that you can fold up and carry in your wallet.
 

Bravo_Sierra

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bobernet wrote:
There is no law in the NRS, or in the Clark County Code that requires posession of a "blue card." In fact, there's not even anything that requires the issuance of a registration card.

The Clark County Code is here: http://ordlink.com/codes/clarknv/_DATA/TITLE12/Chapter_12_04_FIREARMS_AND_AIR_GUN/12_04_200_Registration_of_fire.html

You are required to register the gun, not carry proof of such registration. Now, if the cop/DA was a dick, they could charge you with having an unregistered gun, but upon producing a blue card, it would/should be thrown out.

Given that the blue card is the only proof you have that registration took place, I'd be tempted to store it in a safe deposit box, and never carry it. If you want to be a "good guy" and play it safe, maybe use one of those reducing functions on a copier and photocopy all your blue cards on one sheet that you can fold up and carry in your wallet.

I've been stopped once for OCing. they asked for ID and my blue card, which I produced, and was quickly excused without lecture or another word... other than "thank you and have a nice day, Sir."

People who don't carry their cards or ID are just trying to dick with the cops and "stick it to the man" and there is NO argument in this matter. Just show your ID and don't be an asshole, otherwise you're just looking to be on T.V. or in the newspaper. You are not that important and you are not "standing up for your rights," You are only making things harder for cops who could be arresting criminals instead of harassing inocent citizens.
 

h2ojunkie

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That was never the intention of this thread.

The point is simple, the office of the Sheriff does not have the legal authority to create law. The sheriff's website states you must carry the card or face a fine, the CCW detail, the office of the sheriff, and firearms registration all stated when asked that you are required to carry the registration card, and one office even went so far to say your weapon could be confiscated if you didn't have the card with you.

This discussion is not about whether or not you should carry the card because it makes good sense, it is about whether or not you arelegally required to carry it.

Personally, I wouldn't object to a law similar to the NRS statue requiring you to carry your CCW permit or face a $25 civil penalty. But I do object to the department making statements about legal requirements that are not true. Just because it may be an oversight on their part, does not make it a question that should be left unanswered.
 

h2ojunkie

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I spoke with the Sgt. at the firearms detail today (I must have spoke with a Lt. last time because this person was not the same one I spoke with last week).

Anyway, he was very helpful and as I suspected he did confirm there is no legal requirement to carry the registration card, and there is no penalty for not having the card as long as the weapon is registered. However, he did state they recommend carrying the registration card as it speeds up the process of verifying the weapons registration (makes sense to me).

He agreed to have the lvmpd website updated to correct the misinformation.
 

Count

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With SB 92 passed, those of us visiting, don't have to register our guns to open carry.... It appears Boulder city and NLV still have a ban on open carry and car carry.
 

timf343

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h2ojunkie wrote:
I spoke with the Sgt. at the firearms detail today (I must have spoke with a Lt. last time because this person was not the same one I spoke with last week).

Anyway, he was very helpful and as I suspected he did confirm there is no legal requirement to carry the registration card, and there is no penalty for not having the card as long as the weapon is registered. However, he did state they recommend carrying the registration card as it speeds up the process of verifying the weapons registration (makes sense to me).

He agreed to have the lvmpd website updated to correct the misinformation.
It occurs to me that the recommendation to carry it would only apply if you have to explain or otherwise justify why you have the gun.

Possession and OC is legal and not enough reason to be stopped. It may apply if you are OC and you are stopped for an illegal activity, such as speeding.

I'm not a dick with the police, but I will assert my rights. On the other hand, if I can easily comply, I would comply with the explanation that I am complying to speed up the process but I am under absolutely no obligation to do so.

Besides, I never know when I might want to go shopping on my lunch hour and pick up a new gun. Having a blue card for an existing gun allows you to take the new one home with you immediately (you still have to pay for the Brady check).

Tim
 

Count

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The new law states that only if you reside in Clark County you need to register and you have 60 days. As a tourist there's no need for registering.
 

Marco

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timf343 wrote:
Having a blue card for an existing gun allows you to take the new one home with you immediately (you still have to pay for the Brady check).

the only thing good about the stupid blue card requirement, no 3 day wait
I still have all mine, since i'm a resident on NV living in VA.
 

cato

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Count wrote:
The new law states that only if you reside in Clark County you need to register and you have 60 days. As a tourist there's no need for registering.
Can you cite (or link)please, thanks.
 

UTOC-45-44

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cato wrote:
Count wrote:
The new law states that only if you reside in Clark County you need to register and you have 60 days. As a tourist there's no need for registering.
Can you cite (or link)please, thanks.
When I had the Chance at 1 time to read the Nevada Statue it does stated that a person has 60 days to register, but as a resident when purchasing a firearm has 24 hours to register it.
 

combatcarry

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I'm not a lawyer and its simply my interpretation.

Read section 5. You are correct the bill went into effect October 1, 2007. However, Clark County is not forced to comply by Nevada law until January 1, 2008.
 

Count

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I saw that. However, the state law that went in effect on Oct. 1st shall supercede the LV ordinance...
 

VegasSig

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Bravo_Sierra wrote:
bobernet wrote:
There is no law in the NRS, or in the Clark County Code that requires posession of a "blue card." In fact, there's not even anything that requires the issuance of a registration card.

The Clark County Code is here: http://ordlink.com/codes/clarknv/_DATA/TITLE12/Chapter_12_04_FIREARMS_AND_AIR_GUN/12_04_200_Registration_of_fire.html

You are required to register the gun, not carry proof of such registration. Now, if the cop/DA was a dick, they could charge you with having an unregistered gun, but upon producing a blue card, it would/should be thrown out.

Given that the blue card is the only proof you have that registration took place, I'd be tempted to store it in a safe deposit box, and never carry it. If you want to be a "good guy" and play it safe, maybe use one of those reducing functions on a copier and photocopy all your blue cards on one sheet that you can fold up and carry in your wallet.

I've been stopped once for OCing. they asked for ID and my blue card, which I produced, and was quickly excused without lecture or another word... other than "thank you and have a nice day, Sir."

People who don't carry their cards or ID are just trying to dick with the cops and "stick it to the man" and there is NO argument in this matter. Just show your ID and don't be an asshole, otherwise you're just looking to be on T.V. or in the newspaper. You are not that important and you are not "standing up for your rights," You are only making things harder for cops who could be arresting criminals instead of harassing inocent citizens.
Exactly....
 

Count

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Well, since I only visit Clark county a couple times a year, I don't need to register my handgun. So, if I am stopped I only tell them that I am not a resident (need to be a resident for 60 days to be required to register it). My Texas I.D. should be a simple proof...
 
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