Ticket Fines and Penalties in Wyoming

Wyoming Traffic Ticket Fines and Costs

WY traffic tickets fines vary by violation, but cost the same amount throughout the state.

Check your ticket for the fine amount; if you can’t find it or the officer left it blank, contact the court.

NOTE: Can’t find your citation? Head over to Lost WY Traffic Tickets.

Court Costs and Other Surcharges

Generally, court costs are the same throughout the state, too―but they do depend on the court. For example, Circuit Courts currently charge $30, and Municipal Courts charge $10.

DWUI Surcharges

Your judge can charge the following DWUI surcharges:

• First Offense: $200-$750
• Second Offense: $200-$750
• Third Offense: $750-$3,000
• Fourth Offense: Up to $10,000

Understand there are other charges associated with DWUI violations, as well as penalties. Refer to WY DWUI for more information.

Driving Record/Violation Surcharges

Wyoming doesn’t assign points for violations, but the state does record violations on your driving record.

If you accumulate four violations within a 12-month period, you face paying:

• Up to $200 the first offense.
• Up to $300 the second offense.
• Up to $500 the third offense.

NOTE: The first “offense” is the first time you accumulate four violations in a 12-month period, but each reference to “offense” after that relates to additional violations on top of those original four.

Generally, fourth, fifth, and subsequent offenses cost the same as third offenses; however, the associated suspension times increase by 90 days for each offense.

Auto Insurance Rate Increase

Your auto insurance company probably will increase your rates after a traffic conviction.

Fortunately, rate increases typically don’t take place until it’s time to renew the policy, which gives you time to:

• Ask your provider if taking a defensive driving course would make you eligible for a discount.
• Look for more affordable car insurance rates online.

Wyoming Traffic Ticket Penalties

Similar to traffic ticket fines, traffic ticket penalties are the same throughout the state. The most common penalties include license suspension and revocation.

WY Driver’s License Suspension, Revocation, and Cancellation

License Suspension: Wyoming has two types of suspension: Mandatory, which lasts for a specific amount of time, and indefinite, which has no definite end date. Which one applies, as well as eligibility for a probationary driver’s license, depends on the violation and the suspension type.

License Revocation: License revocation is the equivalent of license cancellation. You can apply to have them reinstated, but you must undergo an investigation after you finish the revocation period.

License Cancellation: In Wyoming, license revocations are considered license cancellations. However, there are times when the state might cancel a driver’s license due to issues unrelated to violations, such as providing false information during the application process.

“Losing the Privilege to Drive” in the Driver License Manual explains how a person can lose his license to suspension and revocation.

Examples include certain moving violations, and violations involving:

• DWUI offenses.
• Leaving the scene of an accident.
• Reckless driving.
• Homicide by vehicle.
• Commission of a felony related to operating the vehicle.

Driving Record Suspensions

Wyoming doesn’t use a point system, but the state does record each moving violation on your driving record; if you accumulate four violations within a 12-month period, the state will suspend your license for 90 days.

Each subsequent violation carries an additional 90-day suspension.

NOTE: Each offense requires fine payment, too. See “Driving Record/Violation Surcharges” above.

Penalties for Drivers Younger than 21

The WY Driver License Manual fully outlines penalties drivers younger than 21 face for certain violations.

For quick reference, note that if you’re younger than 21, two of the most common concerns are driving while under the influence (DWUI) and having any of your restricted license privileges suspended.

DWUI

For drivers younger than 21, DWUI means operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.02% or higher.

It also means license suspension.

• First Offense: 90-day license suspension.
• Second and Subsequent Offenses (within two years): Six-month suspension.

Drivers who haven’t been issued probationary licenses in the last five years or previously convicted of DWUI might be eligible for limited driving privileges.

Suspended Privileges

Drivers with instruction permits or intermediate licenses can’t move on to the next licensing phase (an intermediate or full license) if any of their restricted license privileges are suspended.

The suspended privileges must be restored before the driver can apply for the next license. Reinstatement requirements vary.

Penalties for Wyoming Commercial Drivers

CDL drivers must notify their employers within 30 days of a violation.

Some violations carry federally-mandated penalties serious enough to impact a driver’s income and even career.

Major Offenses

You face a one-year license suspension of disqualification for the following major offenses:

• Operating any vehicle with a BAC of 0.08% or higher.
• Operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a BAC of 0.04%.
• Refusal of a sobriety test.
• Leaving the scene of an accident.
• Commission of a felony with the vehicle.
• Operating a CMV with a suspended, revoked, or canceled CDL.
• Negligent driving resulting in fatality.

Serious Offenses

The following are considered serious offenses:

• Driving (speeding) 15 miles or more over the limit.
• Reckless driving.
• Improper lane changing.
• Driving too closely behind another vehicle.
• Operating a CMV without having a CDL.
• Operating a CMV without having your CDL in your possession.
• Operating a CMV without the proper CDL endorsement.
• Violating a state law of texting while driving.

Subsequent offenses bring more serious penalties:

• Second Offense: 60-day license suspension/disqualification.
• Third Offense: 120-day license suspension/disqualification.

CDL Disqualifications

You can lose your license for 180 days to one year if you violate a driver or vehicle out-of-service order while transporting:

• Nonhazardous materials.
• Hazardous materials required to be placarded, or while driving a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers.

Refer to the FMCSA’s Rules and Regulations for full outlines of CDL driver penalties, and check out the state’s Driver License Manual for Commercial & Heavy Vehicles for additional information.