Settling into a new place also means becoming familiar with laws in an unfamiliar locale.
For those who come to UW from a different state, it is important to be aware of the current Wyoming driving laws.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association website, all drivers are prohibited from texting while driving in Wyoming.
If a driver is caught texting and driving anywhere in the state, he will receive a $75 fine, according to the Hands-Free Info website.
Handheld bans vary throughout the state, however.
Drivers are permitted to talk on handheld cell phones in Laramie. However, just over the hill in Cheyenne, or across the state in Green River, the use of handhelds while driving is not permitted and is subject to a fine, according to the Hands-Free Info website.
Beyond texting, the use of cell phones is not clear-cut throughout the state and can vary from town to town.
According to the Wyoming Senate’s “text-based communications while driving” bill, as posted by the Hands-Free Info website, it is prohibited to “write, send or read a text-based communication” while driving. However, exceptions for this were if someone was to “contact an emergency response vehicle” or “to write, read, select or enter a telephone number or name” in a telephone with the purpose of making a phone call, with the exception of certain towns.
In addition to the use of cell phones while driving, Wyoming also has strict driving while intoxicated laws.
Across the state, Wyoming has a zero tolerance policy, meaning that any person under the age of 21 who is caught driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .02 or greater will most likely receive a driving under the influence citation, per the Wyoming DUI Penalties website.
Wyoming also operates under implied consent laws, meaning that if a person is suspected of drunk driving, that driver must submit to a blood alcohol content test, according to the Wyoming DUI Penalties website.
Failure to do so could result in a driver’s license suspension for up to one year.
