Nevada lawmakers are considering a proposal to revive a court that adjudicated low-level crimes committed on the Strip and immediately adjacent to it.

Nevada Lawmakers are considering a proposal to bring back a court that imposed bans from the Las Vegas Strip on low-level criminals. (Image: Shutterstock)

Launched two years ago by the Clark County Justice Court, the Resort Corridor Court addressed misdemeanors such as petty theft, drug possession, assault and loitering. It had the power to ban repeat offenders from the Strip for up to a year, and to imprison those who ignored their bans.

The specialty court was praised by Strip casino operators for improving safety. But the local ACLU chapter filed amicus briefs over due process concerns the criminalization of public space.

Ultimately, the Resort Corridor Court was disbanded in 2024 — 22 months after its launch in January 2023 — by a vote of the Justice Court judges, who cited resource allocation and funding responsibility. (The program was straining limited judicial resources amid thousands of cases funneled into only two courtrooms.)

What’s Changed

Now, with an 11% drop in tourism between June 2024 and June 2025, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo wants Las Vegas on its best behavior. The special legislative session he called for November 13 is scheduled to debate proposals including his “Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act,” which would authorize the Justice Court to reestablish the Resort Corridor Court and reinstate order-out zones for repeat offenders.

The bill, AB4/SB 457, also proposes enhanced penalties for crimes such as:

• Smash-and-grab robberies
• DUIs resulting in death
• Possession of child pornography
• Assault and battery against hospitality workers
• Cyberstalking and repeat felony offenses

Once again, the court has the same supporters (casino owners and the local Culinary Union, who want to make the Strip safer for its visitors and employees) and opponents. The ACLU of Nevada condemned the proposal as performative and unconstitutional, arguing that it disproportionately targets homeless individuals and effectively privatizes public sidewalks.

In 2024, Clark County’s homelessness census counted nearly 8,000 unhoused residents, about 1,500 of whom live in storm tunnels beneath the Strip, raising further concerns about enforcement and equity.

More than 4,100 people were banned from the Strip by the original Resort Corridor Court, according to published reports, though no public data was released on outcomes or recidivism. The new proposal includes a requirement for annual reporting on the number of bans issued, the offenses involved, and completion rates.

While no other US city with a major tourist hub operates a separate court for tourism-related crimes, national parks including Yosemite and Yellowstone do maintain federal courts for on-site offenses.

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