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Nevada bill seeks to crack down on websites that “scalp” DMV appointments, restaurant reservations

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Nevada bill seeks to crack down on websites that “scalp” DMV appointments, restaurant reservations


LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – An advancing Nevada bill seeks to crack down on websites accused of “scalping” appointments from the DMV and restaurants.

The founder of one of the most popular websites argues that countless consumers want options to “trade.”

Senate Bill 169 requires permission from a business or entity to sell spots or reservations. It creates penalties for sites that engage in sales without permission.

New York has already passed legislation in 2024 against restaurant “scalping,” and other states pursuing legislation include California, Florida, Illinois, Hawaii, Louisiana, according to the National Restaurant Association.

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“Consumers are also misled into overpaying for reservations that were originally free, believing that they were directly booking with the establishment. The deceptive practice exploits limited availability, damages consumer trust and undermines fair business operations,” said State Sen. Fabian Donate at a hearing.

One of the most popular websites, appointmenttrader.com, was inspired by the creator’s two-day-long ordeal to get an appointment at a Las Vegas DMV. Though State Sen. Fabian Donate describes the practice as “pay to play” for a public service, founder Jonas Frey tells FOX5 his perspective.

“It’s not about making that appointment… now a ‘good that costs something,’ where it was free before. The reality is, before, it wasn’t available at all,” Frey said.

“The idea of Appointment Trader is to provide an efficient marketplace where you can exchange a time slot. So if you have a reservation for the DMV or if you have a reservation for a restaurant, you can give it to someone else and you get paid for giving it,” Frey said.

He told FOX5 that his site curbs excess listings and only allows a handful of posts from each user; users will be penalized for chronic unfulfilled listings.

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The practice saves people money when they have to pay a no-show fee for a last-minute cancellation, Frey said, also stating that the site protects users’ information.

Restaurants like the popular Golden Steer, with a massive social media following and fan base from tourists and locals, explain how sellers and “scalpers” abuse the reservation system and make the wait and backlog even longer for legitimate customers.

“It really flared up last fall, when we had a guest call in attempting to make a reservation. They gave us their phone number and what popped up were something like 43 or 44 reservations that this single guest had over the next four to six weeks. It set off, of course, a huge red flag to us of what’s going on,” he said.

The practice among these sites, according to Nick McMillan, also creates a rise in “no shows”– which ultimately hurt small businesses and staff; restaurants also have no way to communicate with customers about crucial information for their reservations, he said.

Though legitimate booking sites have looked into the issue for Golden Steer, McMillan said there’s no telling how many of the reservations, which are made several months in advance, are from “scalpers.”

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“Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Friday night, Saturday night: every every restaurant has these high-demand days. They’re just hurting all of these small businesses that can’t really fight back,” McMillan said.

FOX5 reached out to the Nevada DMV on the issue. A spokesperson provided the following advice for all Nevada residents:

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Nye County Sheriff urges caution after deadly month on rural Nevada roads

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Nye County Sheriff urges caution after deadly month on rural Nevada roads


A string of deadly crashes in and around Pahrump has prompted Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill to push for more safety measures along dark, sidewalk-free roads.

“The worst penalty is death, if you consider that,” McGill said.

The recent deaths include a single-vehicle rollover on State Route 160 during the morning hours of the last Wednesday in January that killed one person and injured another.

Then, into February, two pedestrians were killed in less than three days.

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The first was a 7 p.m. crash on Quarter Horse Avenue. Investigators believe a 2006 Jeep Liberty was driving on the street when it hit a pedestrian, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A few days later, this last Saturday, state troopers responded to a crash just after sundown at Charleston Park Avenue. A sedan hit a pedestrian, who was also pronounced dead at the scene.

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Nevada State Police investigators are still investigating both pedestrian cases before more details are released.

McGill said the recent crashes were enough to spur action.

“When the third one came out, I was sitting at home and watching TV. I looked at my wife and I said, ‘We got to do something about this,’” McGill said.

McGill is responding with a reflective vest giveaway, pointing to limited infrastructure as a possible factor. He noted a lack of street lights off State Route 160 and no sidewalks inside the community.

“The only light that you have is the ambient light from houses and cars so it is really dark,” McGill said.

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John Treanor of AAA Nevada said poor visibility can quickly turn dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians.

“It is very easy to be confronted with a situation that you cannot see coming because the visibility might be bad,” Treanor said.

Treanor encouraged pedestrians to carry lights and drivers to be prepared if they end up outside their vehicles in dark conditions.

“Having lights on you. Even carrying a flashlight allows something where a driver can see it,” Treanor said. “If you are a driver, make sure you have the right stuff in your car, in case you do get in a situation where you are on the side of the road and now you are in dark. Make sure you have a kit with some reflectors, some lights. Anything the trunk of your car in case you need it.”

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McGill said vigilance is important even in daylight.

“Any time of the day, you have got to be vigilant. You have to keep aware of your surroundings if you are a walker or on a bicycle or if you are the driver,” he said.

Authorities also urged caution as more people may pull off roads in rocky areas along the route toward Death Valley National Park during springtime blooms, increasing the need for drivers and pedestrians to stay alert.

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Mansion on the Nevada Side of Lake Tahoe Swiftly Sells for $46 Million

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Mansion on the Nevada Side of Lake Tahoe Swiftly Sells for  Million


A waterfront mansion on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe just sold for $46 million, less than three weeks after hitting the market. 

The speedy deal marks a departure from the typical U.S. market.

Nationwide, homes took a median 78 days to land a buyer in January, five more than the same time last year and the 22nd straight month of homes taking longer to sell on a year-over-year basis, according to data from Realtor.com. 

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The lavish log cabin-like residence, in Incline Village, listed on Jan. 24 for $47.5 million. It sold 20 days later, on Feb. 13, listing records show. 

The more than 7,000-square-foot residence was built in 2014, and has double-height living spaces, walls of windows, beamed ceilings, fireplaces, and plenty of rustic exposed stone and wood, listing images show. 

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There’s also a gym, a wet bar, a spa, a wine room, an office, two separate game rooms, seven bedrooms and dramatic Lake Tahoe views. Outside, there’s a private sandy beach, multiple decks, a heated driveway and two exterior fireplaces, according to listing information. 

MORE: Visited by Kings and Larger Than Manhattan, Giant Scottish Estate Asks £67 Million

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The seller and the buyer are both limited liability companies, according to property records. Both parties were represented by Jeff Brown of Tahoe Mountain Realty, who declined to comment on the deal. 

The median home price in Incline Village was $1.595 million as of December, a fall of 3.3% from a year earlier, according to data from Realtor.com. Listings, meanwhile, spent an average of 130 days on the market. 



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Green Valley edges Liberty in Class 5A softball — PHOTOS

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Green Valley edges Liberty in Class 5A softball — PHOTOS