Per NRS (Nevada Revised Statutes) 484A.900
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/NRS-484A.html#NRS484ASec900:
It is unlawful and, unless otherwise declared in chapters 484A to 484E, inclusive, of NRS with respect to a particular offense, it is a misdemeanor
That means that any violation of the Nevada traffic laws is a misdemeanor, which is a crime, and thus police have the authority to detain you.
The ticket I received at McCarran was a civil parking citation for "loading/unloading zone violation". And while refusing to pay such a citation may not result in your arrest, there are "administrative" penalties, such as DMV will not renew your registration. Unfortunately, one must allow this to happen to show harm to have standing in a local court, and the administrative appeals process is a joke with no due process procedures whatsoever. This is why you need to go to federal court over the constitutional violation of having detained you to cite you civilly in the first place.