Conducting a Wyoming DUI Records Search

The Wyoming DUI laws are among the toughest in the country. According to the anti-plea bargaining laws, prosecutors are not allowed to dismiss or reduce a Wyoming DUI charge without filing a motion in open court; this indicates that there is insufficient evidence to proceed on the DUI defense.

The Wyoming DUI cases are triggered using two theories, one is the violation of traditional "under the influence" laws and the other is violation of Wyoming's "per se" laws that state driving with blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or more is a crime. Wyoming DUI laws make it clear that driving with an impaired physical and mental state due to the influence of intoxicants is an offense. If you are not impaired, but test positive for the chemical tests that proves you have a BAC of .08% or more, you are held guilty and are liable for punishment.

Enforcement campaigns, mobile videotaping, field breath test machines, and standard field sobriety tests enforce the Wyoming DUI laws. It is also important to note that Wyoming is a part of the Interstate Driver's License Compact, which enables states to share information on DUI and DWI offenders. Such a norm allows an out of state DUI conviction to be considered as a prior conviction for a present Wyoming DUI charge.

Obtaining Wyoming DUI Records

The history of traffic law violations, license revocations and DUI convictions are included in the motor vehicle records. The records also contain all instances of driving under the influence for a total of 5 years. Reckless driving resulting in vehicular homicide or fatal injury including felony convictions for carrying liquor or DWAI/DUI offenses are included within the driving records as well.

Obtaining your own record is possible by visiting the Wyoming Department of Transportation http://www.dot.state.wy.us/wydot/site/wydot/driving_records in person. You are also likely to receive a copy of the record in mail by writing in to the department at Driver Services, Driving Records, 5300, Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82009-3340. The processing of the request is normally completed within 7 to 10 days.

The state of Wyoming also has the provision for obtaining the driving records of another person. The Driver history and disclosure form (DSFR-11C: http://www.dot.state.wy.us/webdav/site/wydot/shared/Driver_Services/Driver%20History%20and%20Privacy%20Disclosure%20Release%2011C.pdf) needs to be completed in order to receive personal information about another party. Obtaining a signed consent from the licensed driver is mandatory if you are unable to submit the request in a specified form.

A fee of $5 is charged for retrieving both your own as well as the driving record of another person. Government agencies and officers of the various law enforcement agencies of the state can obtain the records free of charge.

Wyoming DUI Penalties

If a person is arrested for first Wyoming DUI offense, he/she will be imprisoned for a maximum period of 6 months or pay a fine of $750 or both. The accused can also have his/her license suspended for 90 days. The court can ask the individual to install ignition interlock devices on the vehicle and go for substance abuse assessment.

The second DUI offense will get a person subject to a jail time of 7 days to 6 months and the accused may also have to pay a fine of $250 to $750. The license is suspended for a year. The court imposes installation of ignition interlock devices in the car for 1 year and also asks the individual to go for a substance abuse assessment.

The third DUI offense implies that the accused will have to be in jail for 30 days to 6 months and be fined $750 to $3,000. The individual’s driver’s license will be suspended for a span of 3 years. The court can ask the accused to install ignition interlock devices in the vehicle for 2 years. Other penalties for the third offense include undergoing substance abuse assessment, attending alcohol education program and inpatient treatment program, as well as being on probation.

The fourth DUI offense is considered to be a felony. The convicted person has to serve jail time of a maximum of 2 years and pay a fine of up to $10,000. The person’s license can be suspended and the court may impose installation of ignition interlock device in the vehicle for life; in such a case, you can apply for removal of the device from the car after a period of 5 years. The fourth offense might also call for penalties like attending inpatient treatment program and alcohol education program, being on probation, and undergoing substance abuse assessment.