Getting to Work in Wyoming When Your Driver’s License Is Suspended

What to Do When Your License Is Suspended After a DWUI Charge

If you have been charged with a DWUI in Wyoming, you should have received a temporary driver’s license that is valid for 30 days. Once those 30 days are up, your license will be suspended.

Of course, the world does not stop if you’ve been charged with a DWUI, and you still have responsibilities like a job, school, or caring for a loved one. To keep up with those responsibilities, you may be eligible for a probationary license.

In Wyoming, you only have 20 days from the date you were charged with a DWUI to request a probationary license.

How Long Will My Driver’s License Be Suspended After a DWUI Charge?

If you have been found guilty of a Wyoming DWUI, your license will be suspended. The length of the suspension will vary depending on the severity of the violation and whether this is your first offense.

A license suspension after a first-time DWUI is usually 90 days. A second offense within 5 years will result in a 1-year license suspension.

You are not permitted to drive while your license is suspended, but you may be eligible for a probationary driver’s license.

How Is a License Suspension Different from a License Revocation?

A driver’s license suspension is different from a driver’s license revocation.

If you license was suspended, you cannot drive for a certain period of time or until you have met certain conditions. But you are eligible to get your license back at some point.

If your license was revoked, your driver’s license has been cancelled and you will need to retake your driver’s test before you can obtain another driver’s license.

Are You Eligible for a Probationary Driver’s License After a DWUI Charge?

To determine whether you are eligible for a probationary driver’s license, start by sending a written request for a record review along with $15 to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT). WYDOT will determine whether you are eligible for a probationary license and, if you are eligible, will send you the forms you need to complete.

If you are approved for a probationary license, you will be charged another $50 to have the probationary license issued.

If your suspension is for an alcohol related offense, such as a DWUI charge, you must undergo a mandatory alcohol assessment before a probationary driver’s license will be issued. Attendance is mandatory, and WYDOT will not issue a probationary license without an alcohol assessment, even if the judge in your case did not require one. If the substance abuse counselor recommends additional counseling sessions, those must also be completed before the probationary license will be issued.

If the terms of your suspension required that you obtain an SR-22 bond, it will need to be on file before the probationary license will be issued.

Your request for a probationary license might be denied if:

• Your driver’s license is expired or you never had a driver’s license
• You have been issued another probationary license in the previous 5 years
• Your license is currently under suspension in Wyoming or another state
• The action is an administrative suspension, a second DWUI conviction, or a license revocation, disqualification, or denial
• You are required to have an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installed on your vehicle

Requesting a Probationary License After a License Suspension

If you wish to request a record review in order to obtain a probationary license, you must make the request in writing, before the suspension begins. If you do not request a probationary license before the suspension begins, you will be ineligible for a probationary license.

If you are requesting a record review, you must do so within 20 days after you receive notice of the WYDOT’s intention to suspend your license. This information is written on the back of the ticket you received.

When you request a probationary driver’s license, you must be able to show how a driver’s license suspension will cause an inability to obtain basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter, or education.

If your request for a probationary license is approved, you will receive a notification by mail.

If your request for a probationary license is denied, you can appeal the decision by a written request for a hearing within 20 days of the decision.

If your license has been revoked, you cannot request a record review for limited driving privileges; however, you can contest the revocation of your license.

How a Lawyer Can Help

If you have been charged with a Wyoming DWUI, get a lawyer on your side as quickly as possible. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will know the applicable time limits for requesting a probationary license, can help you prove why you need a probationary license, and might even be able to challenge the license suspension .

You will also need a lawyer to defend you against the DWUI charge. At the Just Criminal Law Group, our team of experienced criminal defense professionals, led by criminal defense attorney Christina L. Williams, will fight hard to protect your one shot at justice.

We will thoroughly investigate the charges against you, challenge the evidence in an effort to have some or all of it excluded, and try to have the charges reduced or even dismissed.

We will help you decide whether it makes the most sense to accept a plea bargain, or take your case to trial. And if you decide to take your case to trial, we will fight to get the justice you deserve.

Learn more about why clients choose the Just Criminal Legal Group and the communities we serve, and contact us today by calling 307-686-6556, emailing inquiry@justcriminallaw.com, or completing our online form.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this article is offered for educational purposes only. This information is not offered as legal advice. A person accused of a crime should always consult with an attorney before making decisions that have legal consequences.