Traffic Violations in Wyoming

A Wyoming traffic violation is defined as any violation of the state's traffic laws. Wyoming's traffic laws are specified in the Wyoming Traffic Code and enforced by the Wyoming Highway Patrol. Motorists who are found guilty of violating the traffic code are prosecuted by the state's courts through the Wyoming Attorney General's Office.

In Wyoming, common traffic violations include speeding, failing to yield the right of way, and running a red light. These violations can result in fines, points on the offender's driving record, and in some cases, jail time. More serious traffic offenses, such as DUI or hit and run, are considered felony offenses and can lead to lengthy prison sentences. In addition, records of these offenses are typically featured in the offender's Wyoming traffic record.

Types of Traffic Violations in Wyoming

There are two dominating traffic violations in Wyoming; moving and non-moving violations.

Moving Violations: If an offender's car is in motion while committing a traffic offense, they will be charged with a moving violation. In Wyoming, moving violations includes ignoring the speed limit, driving irresponsibly, failing to obey traffic signs, and failing to stop when an officer says so. Most times, these moving violations are categorized under misdemeanors. If an individual is charged with up to 4 moving violations within 12 months, their license will be suspended. Sometimes, a person's license accused of a moving violation such as reckless driving will be suspended for three months even if they commit the offense for the first time.
Non-Moving Violations: Non-moving or status violations refer to traffic offenses committed when the vehicle is not in motion. This includes meter violations, parking violations, illegal tinted windows, and other illegal modifications done to a car in Wyoming. Most times, people charged with non-moving traffic violations are made to pay fines. In addition, they are not required to appear in court, and the traffic violation is not recorded on their driving record.

Wyoming Traffic Violation Code

The Wyoming traffic code is a set of statutes that govern all aspects of traffic in the state. It includes everything from speed limits to right-of-way rules, and is regularly updated to reflect changes in the law. The code is enforced by the Wyoming Highway Patrol and local police departments in Wyoming.

The code is divided into several sections, each dealing with a different aspect of traffic. They include:

Rules of the road: This section covers basic traffic laws, such as speed limits, right-of-way rules, and turning signals.
Vehicle registration and licensing: This section explains how to register a vehicle and get a driver's license in Wyoming. It also includes information on commercial vehicles and motorcycle licenses.
Drivers' responsibilities: This section outlines what drivers are required to do under the law, such as yield to emergency vehicles and obey traffic signs and signals.
Penalties: This section explains the fines and penalties that can be imposed for violating the traffic code.

Also specified in the Wyoming traffic code are the procedures for contesting a traffic ticket, as well as the appeals process. In addition, the code contains a section on traffic accidents, which covers everything from reporting an accident to exchanging insurance information.

Similarly, Wyoming counties and cities may have their own traffic codes, which supplement the state code. These local codes are usually available online or from the county courthouse.

Wyoming Felony Traffic Violations

A Wyoming felony traffic violation is a criminal offense that is classified as a felony under state or federal law. This type of traffic violation typically involves serious offenses such as hit and run, vehicular homicide, or DUI. Depending on the severity of the offense, a felony traffic violation can result in prison time, large fines, and a driver's license revocation.

In Wyoming, the penalties for a felony traffic violation include a mandatory prison sentence of at least one year. The maximum possible sentence is ten years in prison. In addition, the offender may be required to pay a fine of up to $10,000. If the offender is a repeat offender, the penalties may be increased.

In addition to the above penalties, the offender's driver's license will be suspended for some time. The offender may also be required to complete a drug or alcohol treatment program. If the offense was committed while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the offender might be required to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle.

In addition to longer prison sentences, people charged with a felony in Wyoming are likely to have certain rights restricted. In worst situations, they won't vote, be voted for, or take up certain professions. In addition, they won't be able to join the military or own a gun. When a motorist has been charged with multiple felony traffic violations, the penalties may be compounded life imprisonment.

Wyoming Traffic Misdemeanours

In Wyoming, a misdemeanor is a less severe crime than a felony, but it can still result in significant penalties. In most cases, the punishment for traffic misdemeanors is the payment of a fine or imprisonment in a state jail for a few months. Below are some of the examples of traffic misdemeanors in Wyoming:

Driving when intoxicated by drugs or alcohol (provided their blood alcohol is lower than the state limit).
Driving past a place where an accident has occurred without stopping.
Driving with a license that is expired, revoked, or suspended. This also includes driving with no license.
Driving without obeying all the traffic laws.

Wyoming Traffic Infractions

A Wyoming traffic infraction is a minor crime or offense with lesser punishments than a misdemeanor. Some traffic infractions in Wyoming include:

Disobeying an officer.
Driving too closely behind another vehicle.
Driving over the median separator
Parking a car on the road
Driving very slow
Over speeding
Driving with a suspended or revoked license
Refusal to stop at a railroad crossing
Using warning devices such as a flare improperly.
Using a mobile phone to send an email or text while driving.
Preventing a driver from having a clear view
Driving on a sidewalk

The penalties for traffic infractions are lighter than that for other traffic violations. In most cases, the punishment for traffic infractions is the payment of a fine ranging between $10 to $400.

How to Pay a Traffic Violation Ticket in Wyoming

When issued a traffic violation ticket in Wyoming, individuals can visit the court (indicated on the citation) to make payments or mail a cheque to the court. Since some courts do not allow payments to be made online, offenders have to confirm from the court if the option of online payment is available.

To pay a Wyoming traffic ticket online, visit the website of the court that issued the ticket and enter the case number and payment information. Offenders can also pay through the portal available on the state's court website. To via Wyoming Courts online, log in or create an account. Subsequently, search for the case by name or case number and then click on the "Make a Payment" link. From there, enter the payment information required.

To pay a traffic ticket by mail in Wyoming, requestors can send a check or money order to the court that issued the ticket. Requests must include the case number on the payment and be sent to:

Wyoming Courts
P.O. Box 2199
Cheyenne, WY 82003-2199
(307) 777-7291

Interested persons may also make payments in person to the court that issued the ticket. They will accept cash, check, or money order.

Fortunately, a ten-day grace period is offered after the due date by courts in Wyoming. This ensures that offenders have enough time to pay for the traffic violation tickets. After the ten-day grace period, offenders in Wyoming who do not pay the traffic violation tickets will have their driving licenses suspended by the court. In worst cases, the court will issue a warrant for their arrest.

Traffic Violation Lookup in Wyoming

To look up a traffic violation, offenders will need to know their ticket number and the county in which they were issued the ticket. This information is usually included on the paperwork that was given to the offender when they were issued the ticket.

With this information, inquirers can visit the website of the Wyoming Department of Transportation. On the homepage, click on the link that says "Traffic Violations". and navigate to the search page. On the search page, enter the ticket number and county in the appropriate fields and click "Search". This will bring up the traffic violation records. From there, they can choose to pay the fine or contest the ticket.

Further questions regarding traffic violations within state limits may be directed to the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Interested persons may also look up Wyoming traffic violations through third-party sites. These online directories access public records to provide users with extensive background checks and reports. Reports typically include an individual's contact information, criminal records, arrest records, mugshots, and more.

The information contained in a traffic violation lookup typically includes:

The name, address, and driver's license number of the person charge
The violation codes and brief description of each violation
The date of the violation
The location of the violation
Whether or not the person charged pleaded guilty or was found guilty by the court

A traffic violation lookup can be a useful tool for employers, landlords, and others who want to screen applicants or tenants.

How to Plead not Guilty to Traffic Violation in Wyoming

There are two ways individuals can plead not guilty to a traffic violation in Wyoming.

Through a written declaration: If they don't want to appear in court to plead not guilty to a traffic violation charge, they can do so using a written declaration. They will need to give an account of the incident and mail it to a court in Wyoming without appearing in court. The officer who charged the offender with a traffic violation will also write an account of the incident and mail it to the court. Armed with the two written declarations, the judge will decide whether the offender is guilty as charged, not guilty or if the fine will be reduced. If the individual loses the case after a written declaration, they can still appear in court to plead not guilty.
Appear in court: The first step individuals who want to appear in court to plead not guilty should take is to hire a traffic attorney. Fortunately, the fees for hiring a traffic attorney are usually less than the ticket fee. Offenders charged with multiple traffic offenses and risk having their licenses suspended will find hiring a traffic attorney less expensive than paying the fines. On the other hand, individuals can plead not guilty and argue their case personally in court. Most times, the officers who charge them with traffic violations do not appear in court, so they stand a chance of winning their cases.

What Happens if You Plead No Contest to a Traffic Violation in Wyoming?

If an accused motorist pleads no contest to their charges, they are automatically deemed guilty of the offense. Subsequently:

They will be penalized for the offense or required to pay the fine initially designated for the offense
The offense is featured in their driving record
All traffic offenses committed in Wyoming are recorded and sent to the Wyoming Drivers Services Division. In addition, the state will send details about people who are convicted of traffic crimes to other states from time to time.

How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Your Record?

In Wyoming, the length of time a traffic violation stays on the driver's record depends on the type of traffic offense committed. Offenses like driving without insurance, moving violations, and committing a traffic violation in another state will stay for three years on the offender's driving record. Other traffic violations like driving after drinking, driving irresponsibly, driving past an accident scene, and committing a felony will last five years on the driver's driving record. Notwithstanding, driving records spanning over ten years can be requested by select institutions and authorities, including employers.

Can Traffic Violations Be Expunged or Sealed in Wyoming?

Yes, traffic violations can be expunged or sealed in Wyoming. When offenders are charged with traffic violations and have paid the fines, their criminal records will still be available to the public. This prevents past offenders from getting employed and admitted into a school or an apartment. When records of traffic violations are expunged or sealed, they are only accessible to law enforcement agents. Fortunately, traffic violators in Wyoming can have their records expunged or sealed by following these steps:

Write a petition of expungement: An individual who wants the record of their traffic violations expunged must prepare a petition of expungement themselves or hire an attorney to do so. This expungement petition will be sent to all the courts where the respective traffic violations have been filed.
Inform all parties involved in the case: After sending the petition of expungement to the court, offenders required to are to send copies of it to the people involved in the case and to the victims of the offense. However, if the people involved in the case object to its expungement, the court will choose a hearing date for the offender and their attorney. During this expungement hearing, the court will review the case and decide if it can be expunged or not.
Retrieve order of expungement: If the court has agreed to the expungement, the individual or their lawyer will write an expungement order so that the judge can sign it. This can be prepared before the hearing. Immediately, the judge signs the order of expungement, the records of the traffic violations will be sealed and can only be viewed by law enforcement agencies.
The expungement process: Documents relating to the individual's arrest and documents of the traffic violation charges will not be available to the public. In addition, a copy of the order of expungement will be sent by the court to the law enforcement department responsible for handling the case.

What Happens if You Miss a Court Date for a Traffic Violation in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, if a traffic violator fails to appear in court, they will be given a failure to appear charge. In some cases, the court will issue a warrant for their arrest. If such an offender is stopped because they have committed another traffic violation they will immediately be arrested.

If individuals charged with serious traffic violations fail to appear in court, a warrant for their arrest will be issued. Whether the traffic violation charge is a light or serious one, an offender who has failed to appear in court will be made to pay a heavy fine.

When offenders have genuine reasons for missing the court date, they can petition the court with their reason or enquire from their legal counsel what steps would be most appropriate.