In a surprising collaboration, the Nevada Resort Association and Culinary Workers Union Local 226 are advocating for a significant amendment to Governor Joe Lombardo’s criminal justice bill, SB457. This proposed amendment would empower judges to bar individuals convicted of misdemeanor offenses from the tourism corridor — primarily known as the Strip — for up to one year.
This initiative aligns with a new provision introduced by Democratic lawmakers aimed at reestablishing a specialty court dedicated to handling crimes committed within the tourism corridor. The court, which had been operational since 2023, was designed to address offenses specifically on the Strip but ceased to function in the previous year.
In a last-minute letter addressed to Governor Lombardo and members of the Legislature, Virginia Valentine, President and CEO of the Resort Association, and Ted Pappageorge, Culinary Secretary-Treasurer, urged lawmakers to adopt their proposal. They emphasized the need for measures that could combat the alarming rise in crimes affecting both tourists and resort employees.
The letter cited multiple disturbing incidents, including security personnel and hotel staff being assaulted by patrons who were repeat trespassers on gaming properties. Among these was an individual who had trespassed 700 times, as well as another who had trespassed 21 times and was involved in the assault of a security officer.
“The frequency of such incidents is too high to ignore,” the letter stated, asserting that tourists and resort employees are facing daily threats to their safety without proper legal recourse.
The authors highlighted a notable decrease in individuals banned from the Strip, which dropped from 2,560 in July to just 402 at present, indicating a perceived gap in protective measures for the area.
As the Senate voted in favor of Lombardo’s crime bill with a nearly unanimous 20-1 vote on Monday — with only Sen. James Ohrenschall (D-Las Vegas) opposing — the discussion around the tourism corridor intensified. Senator Melanie Scheible (D-Las Vegas), who had previously brokered compromises related to the bill, pointed out during an Assembly Judiciary Committee meeting that the original corridor court lacked clear guidelines and structure. This deficiency contributed to the court’s disbandment as it failed to achieve the intended outcomes, largely due to overwhelming caseloads.
“When the corridor court was established, there were no structured guidelines, which proved to be challenging for both judges and attorneys,” Scheible explained. Her efforts are aimed at implementing clearer protocols this time around, promoting successful outcomes for the reestablished court.
Scheible’s amendment not only seeks to reinstate the specialty court but also intends to impose stiffer penalties for those who commit crimes against hospitality workers in the area. Additionally, it mandates that counties with populations exceeding 700,000 — currently just Clark County — create designated tourist-heavy zones, such as the Strip, as special corridors.
Critically, the amendment also leaves the decision up to local justice courts regarding whether or not the specialty program will be established in their jurisdictions. As Matt Griffin, representing the Resort Association, introduced a crucial amendment mentioned in the joint letter, it specifically addresses the need for accountability within the tourism corridor.
The amendment calls for a one-year ban from the corridor for anyone committing any criminal offense in the area, with penalties escalating for repeat violations. Griffin clarified that a previously mentioned provision that suggested a gross misdemeanor designation for additional offenses on the Strip was simply a misprint.
“Our aim is not to establish new criminal laws but to address a pressing issue,” Walker pointed out, emphasizing the collaborative effort to tackle crime in Las Vegas’ vital tourism sector. This newfound joint initiative represents a concerted attempt by two unlikely allies to navigate the complexities of crime in one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations.
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