JURISDICTION: WYOMING

This chapter summarizes Wyoming State statutes related to speed.

General Reference: Wyoming Statutes Annotated

Basis for a Speed Law Violation:

Basic Speed Rule: No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. §31-5-301(a)

Statutory Speed Limit: 75 MPH on highways outside of urban areas with a population 50,000 §31-5-301(b)(iii) & (v)(A)

65 MPH on other highways outside an urban district §31-5-301(b)(iv) & (v)(B)

30 MPH in an urban district §31-5-301(b)(ii)

20 MPH in a school zone or crossing §31-5-310(b)(i)

Posted (Maximum) Speed Limit: I. Based on engineering and traffic investigations, the State may increase or decrease the above speed limits on the State highway system.⁽¹⁾ §31-5-302 The State highway system includes city streets that are designated as State highways. §24-1-127

II. Based on engineering and traffic investigations, local governments may increase or decrease the above speed limits on the highways or streets under their jurisdiction.⁽²⁾ §31-5-303(a) & (b)

III. Based on investigations, the State or a local government may establish safe maximum speed limits for any bridges or elevated structures under their jurisdiction. §31-5-305(a) & (b)

Minimum Speed Limit: No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. §31-5-304(a)

Posted (Minimum) Speed Limit: Based on engineering and traffic investigations, the State or a local government may establish minimum speed limits on the highways or streets under their jurisdiction. §31-5-304(b)

Other:

Adjudication of Speed Law Violations:

Civil/Criminal Adjudication of Violation: All Speed Law Violations are Misdemeanors. §31-5-1201(a)

Other:

Sanctions Following an Adjudication of a Speed Law Violation:

Criminal Sanctions:

Imprisonment:

Term (Day, Month, Years,

Etc.): Exceeding the 65 MPH Speed Limit >66 but <74 MPH: None

Exceeding the 75 MPH Speed Limit: None

Imprisonment: (continued) Other Speeding or Speed Related Violations: 1st offense-Not more than 20 days 2nd offense (within 1 year)-Not more than 30 days Subsequent offenses (within 1 year)-Not more than 6 months §31-5-1201(b)

Mandatory Minimum Term: None

Fine:

Amount ($ Range): Exceeding the 65 MPH Speed Limit⁽³⁾ 66 but 74 MPH: $5 plus $3 for every MPH >65 MPH §31-5-1201(d)(i)

Exceeding the 75 MPH Speed Limit: $35 but not more than the maximum fines for Other Speeding or Speed Related Violations §31-5-1201(d)(ii)

Other Speeding or Speed Related Violations: 1st offense-Not more than $200 2nd offense (within 1 year)-Not more than $300 Subsequent offenses (within 1 year)-Not more than $500 §31-5-1201(b)

Mandatory Min. Fine ($): Exceeding the 65 MPH Speed Limit >66 but <74 MPH: Note: The above fines for this offense may be mandatory.

Exceeding the 75 MPH Speed Limit: $35 Note: This fine appears to be mandatory.

Other Speeding or Speed Related Violations: None

Other Penalties:

Traffic School:

Other:

Licensing Action:

Type of Licensing Action

(Susp/Rev): Suspension Based Upon Repeated Violations of the Traffic Laws §31-7-129(a)(i)

Term of License Withdrawal

(Days, Months, Years, etc.): Not more than 12 months §31-7-129(a)

Mandatory Minimum Term of

Withdrawal: None Licensing action is discretionary with the licensing agency.

Miscellaneous Sanctions

Not Included Elsewhere:

Other Criminal Actions Related to Speeding:

Speed or Acceleration Contest⁽⁴⁾: Misdemeanor §§6-10-101 & 24-1-110

Sanctions:

Criminal Sanction:

Imprisonment (Term): Not more than 10 days §24-1-110(c)

Mandatory Minimum Term: None

Fine ($ Range): $10 to $100 §24-1-110(c)

Mandatory Minimum Fine: None

Administrative Licensing Action:

Licensing Authorized and

Type of Action: Suspension Based Upon Repeated Violations of the Traffic Laws §31-7-129(a)(i)

Length of Term of

Licensing Withdrawal: Not more than 12 months §31-7-129(a)

Mandatory Action--Minimum

Length of License

Withdrawal: None Licensing action is discretionary with the licensing agency.

Other:

Reckless Driving: Misdemeanor §§31-5-229 & 31-5-1201(a)

Sanction:

Criminal:

Imprisonment (Term): Not more than 6 months §31-5-1201(f)

Mandatory Minimum Term

of Imprisonment: None

Fine ($ Range): Not more than $750 §31-5-1201(f)

Mandatory Minimum Fine: None

Administrative Licensing Actions:

Type of Licensing Action

(Susp/Rev): 1st offense-Suspension §31-7-128(a)(i) 2nd offense (within 5 years)-Suspension §31-7-128(a)(ii) Subsequent offense (within 5 years)-Revocation §31-7-127(a)(iii)

Length of Term of License

Withdrawal Action: 1st offense-90 days §31-7-128(a)(i) 2nd offense (within 5 years)-6 months §31-7-128(a)(ii) Subsequent offense (within 5 years)-1 year §31-7-127(a)(iii) & (b)

Mandatory Term of License

Withdrawal Action: 1st offense-90 days §31-7-128(a)(i) 2nd offense (within 5 years)-6 months §31-7-128(a)(ii) Subsequent offense (within 5 years)-1 year §31-7-127(a)(iii) & (b)

Other:

Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operators⁽⁵⁾:

Grounds for Disqualification: A person is disqualified from operating a CMV if while driving such a vehicle they either (1) commit 2 "serious traffic violations"⁽⁶⁾ within a 3 year period or (2) commit 3 such violations within a 3 year period. §31-7-305(f)

Period of Disqualification: 2 serious violations (within 3 years)-Not less than 60 days 3 serious violations (within 3 years)-Not less than 120 days §31-7-305(f)

Period of Mandatory Disqualification: 2 serious violations (within 3 years)-60 days 3 serious violations (within 3 years)-120 days §31-7-305(f)

1. ¹The State may also establish different highway speed limits (1) for different types of vehicles (e.g., persons, who operate certain types of trucks may be required to drive these vehicles at a slower speed than those who operate other types of motor vehicles), (2) at different times of the day, (3) for various weather conditions or (4) for other factors bearing on safe speeds. §31-5-302

2. ²However, a local government cannot increase a speed to >55 MPH within an urban district and, except as noted, they cannot decrease the speed limit to <35 MPH outside an urban district. However, in a "platted rural subdivision," a local government can reduce the speed limit to <35 MPH. §31-5-303(a)(ii), (a)(iii) & (b)

3. ³On highways, except State highways, that are outside an urban district. §31-5-301(b)(iv)

4. ⁴The law prohibits a person from engaging in either a speed or acceleration contest without State or local government approval. §24-1-110(a)

5. ⁵A person who has obtained a commercial driver's license (CDL) and is qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. A commercial motor vehicle is defined as a vehicle designed to carry either passengers or property and either has a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 lbs., is designed to transport 16 or more persons, or is transporting hazardous materials which requires that the vehicle to be placarded in accordance with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. §31-7-102(a)(viii)

6. ⁶A "serious traffic violation" includes exceeding the speed limit by 15 or more MPH or reckless driving. §31-7-102(a)(xli)