In Nevada, a new law mandates that individuals found guilty of their second DUI within seven years must serve 20 days in jail. This change comes after Governor Joe Lombardo signed Senate Bill 309, which was proposed by Republican State Senator John Steinbeck. The bill not only adjusts the jail time for repeat offenders but also lowers the blood-alcohol threshold for mandatory treatment.
Previously, Nevada law required a sentence of 2-180 days for a first DUI offense, which could be substituted with community service or treatment. The focus of the recent legislative session was on imposing stricter penalties for DUI offenses, although some proposed changes, such as allowing DUI-related deaths to be charged as second-degree murder, did not pass.
The new law aims to create more significant consequences for repeat offenders, reflecting a broader effort to improve road safety and deter dangerous driving behaviors. Lawmakers in Nevada will not meet again until February 2027, unless a special session is called by the governor.