Wyoming Traffic Tickets

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Wyoming traffic tickets are processed through the local circuit court for state-highway citations and through municipal court for citations issued inside city limits. Most non-criminal traffic violations can be paid online, by mail, or in person at the court of jurisdiction; serious violations require a court appearance.

Reading a Wyoming citation

Every Wyoming citation lists:

The cited statute (Wyoming Statutes Title 31 — Motor Vehicles, or a city ordinance number).
The court of jurisdiction (circuit court for state highway, municipal court for city streets).
The court appearance date and time, if a court appearance is mandatory.
The fine amount on the schedule, or "must appear" if no schedule applies.
The location and date of the alleged violation.
A signature line where the driver acknowledges receipt (signing is not an admission of guilt).

Paying a citation

For most non-criminal traffic violations, payment closes the case as a no-contest plea — equivalent to a conviction for record purposes. Wyoming circuit and municipal courts accept payment:

Online through the Wyoming Judicial Branch portal at courts.state.wy.us, or through the city's municipal court portal.
By mail with a check or money order, using the citation number as the reference.
In person at the clerk of court window during business hours.

Pay before the deadline printed on the citation — typically 30 days. Missing the deadline triggers a failure-to-pay (FTP) hold on your Wyoming driver's license until the citation is resolved.

Contesting a citation

To contest, plead "not guilty" by the deadline printed on the citation. Methods:

In person at the clerk of court window.
By mail with a written not-guilty plea.
Online through the court portal where available.
At the court appearance date listed on the citation, by appearing in person and entering the plea before the magistrate.

The court schedules a pretrial conference and then a bench trial (no jury for routine traffic). The driver may represent themselves or hire counsel. Trial outcomes: not guilty (case dismissed, no record entry), guilty (the original fine and the conviction goes on the record), or a plea bargain (a different charge with reduced penalties).

Defensive driving for dismissal

Wyoming circuit and municipal courts often allow eligible drivers to dismiss a moving violation by completing a state-approved defensive driving course. The court enters a dismissal once the certificate is filed; no conviction appears on the driver record. Eligibility rules:

Typically available for non-aggravated speeding (under 20 mph over the limit) and minor moving violations.
Driver must not have used the defensive driving option in the last 12 months.
CDL holders cannot use defensive driving to mask violations under federal CDL rules.
The course is offered online and in classroom format, typically 4 to 6 hours.

Verify eligibility with the court before paying for the course. The court enters the dismissal once the certificate of completion is filed by the deadline.

Common Wyoming citations

Speeding — fines scale with mph over the limit, typically $20 to $200.
Failure to yield — typically $80 to $120.
Following too closely — typically $80 to $120.
Texting while driving — Wyoming's primary-enforcement texting ban; fines $75 to $200.
Seatbelt violation — primary enforcement; $25 to $50.
Driving without insurance — $250 to $750 fine plus possible license suspension.
Reckless driving — typically a court appearance required; fines $100 to $750 plus possible jail.

Failure to appear or pay

If you ignore a citation, the court issues a failure-to-appear (FTA) or failure-to-pay (FTP) hold. WYDOT then suspends your license until the underlying citation is resolved. To clear an FTA/FTP, contact the court of jurisdiction, pay any accumulated fees and the original fine, and request release of the hold to WYDOT. The license remains suspended until the WYDOT system shows the release. See suspended license reinstatement for the next-step sequence and the conviction record framework for how repeat citations escalate.