| The laws against driving under the influence (DUI) in | | | | If you are convicted of your first DUI in Wyoming in |
| Wyoming have always been tough. For example, | | | | criminal court, you can be sent to jail for up to six |
| Wyoming has anti-plea bargaining laws. This means | | | | months, or fined up to $750, or both, and you will be |
| that prosecutors cannot reduce or dismiss DUI | | | | required to undergo substance abuse assessment at |
| charges without filing a motion in court. And in 2009, | | | | your own expense. If your blood alcohol concentration |
| Wyoming legislated tougher DUI penalties with Senate | | | | (BAC) was .15 or above (a BAC of .08 is the legal |
| Bill 88. Among other things, the Bill imposed penalties on | | | | limit), you will be required to install an IID in your vehicle, |
| people who aid drivers in disabling or defeating an | | | | again at your own expense. Finally, your license will be |
| ignition interlock device (IID), as well as providing that | | | | suspended for 90 days. |
| anyone convicted of aggravated homicide while | | | | A second DUI offense brings a jail sentence from |
| operating or driving a vehicle will not be granted an | | | | seven days to six months, fines from $250 to $750, |
| IID-restricted license. Additionally, beginning July 1, 2010, | | | | the installation of an IID for one year, substance abuse |
| Senate File 19 increases Wyoming's "look-back" period | | | | assessment, and a license suspension for one year. |
| from five to 10 years. This means that if you receive a | | | | Your third Wyoming DUI carries a jail term from 30 |
| second DUI conviction within 10 years of the first | | | | days to six months, fines from $750 to $3,000, two |
| conviction, you will face harsher penalties. Conversely, | | | | years with an IID, substance abuse assessment, and a |
| if your second conviction is more than 10 years after | | | | license suspension of three years. Other possibilities |
| your first, the second conviction will be treated as if it | | | | include probation, an in-patient treatment program, and |
| were your first. | | | | or an alcohol education program. |
| Drunk driving in Wyoming will trigger a criminal case in | | | | When is a DUI a felony in Wyoming? The fourth DUI |
| the courts and an administrative case with the | | | | conviction. Convicted felons lose their right to vote and |
| Wyoming Department of Transportation. The criminal | | | | to bear arms; they also are barred from holding certain |
| case determines the jail time, fines and other DUI | | | | jobs, and have a harder time obtaining loans. The jail |
| punishments you will face, whereas the administrative | | | | time for a fourth offense is up to two years, and you |
| case determines the impact to your driver's license. | | | | can be fined up to $10,000. You will also be required to |
| The administrative case precedes the criminal case, | | | | have an IID installed in your vehicle for life, but you may |
| and your driving privileges may be suspended for as | | | | apply to have it removed after five years. And who |
| little as 90 days, or revoked for as long as three years, | | | | knows how long your license will be suspended. It is |
| depending on the offense. When faced with the | | | | also possible that you will be sentenced to probation, |
| potential of losing such a freedom, and all the | | | | an in-patient treatment program, a substance abuse |
| ramifications that go with it, you might want to find the | | | | assessment, and/or an alcohol education program. Isn't |
| best drunk driving attorneys available. | | | | it time you found a DUI defense attorney? |