Jail risk, really? Las Vegas Strip pedestrian bridge rule goes into effect
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A national news report that tourists risk jail time for stopping to take pictures on Las Vegas Strip pedestrian bridges exaggerates how police plan to approach the situation.
A headline by The Associated Press today warned, “Think twice before stopping to take photo on a Las Vegas Strip pedestrian bridge, or risk jail time.”
When county officials passed an ordinance on Jan. 2, police were already indicating they have no intention of targeting visitors who were simply taking a photo. And the Nevada ACLU seconded that, with concerns about even enforcement of laws.
Undersheriff Andy Walsh said officers will be instructed to educate those defying the ordinance first before citing or arresting any individual. He pointed to the need to keep the bridges clear for emergencies.
But no one expects police to crack down as the ordinance goes into effect on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Social media users weighed in on the exaggerated consequences of stopping for a photo.
“This won’t be enforceable in the slightest,” said Laura, an X user.
“That’s ridiculous,” said Richard Wong on X. “How about focus on things that truly improve public safety.”
“Zero people will serve jail time for this,” X user Iceberg Theory said.
When 8 News Now reported on the Clark County Commission’s passage of the ordinance, we talked to the ACLU of Nevada. Athar Haseebullah, ACLU executive director, described it as “a setup for disproportionate enforcement.”
Commissioner William McCurdy II agreed. “How are we going to make sure that person is not getting a slap on the wrist and another person, who may have done the exact same thing, is not getting up to 6 months in jail?”
Haseebullah said to expect a challenge in court.
“You can’t have laws on the books that only apply to some folks and not to others,” Haseebullah said. “To us, if you’re going to say you need more action, you could put police up there permanently, but they don’t want to do that. It’s not bad enough for that, but it’s so bad that you have to enact a proposal that if you’re stopping for a selfie, you need to be subjected to a criminal penalty.”
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