Wyoming DUI Arrest Process: What Happens Step by Step

Most people going through a Wyoming DUI arrest have never interacted with the criminal justice system before. The process moves fast, involves multiple agencies, and generates a stack of paperwork that is difficult to sort through while still processing what happened. Here is what the sequence actually looks like, from the moment you see the lights in your mirror to the morning after release.

The Traffic Stop

A DUI investigation in Wyoming typically starts with a traffic stop based on reasonable suspicion — weaving, erratic speed, a broken taillight, or an equipment violation. Wyoming does not currently operate sobriety checkpoints the way some states do. DUI arrests generally result from individual traffic stops or accident investigations.

Once the officer approaches your vehicle, they are trained to observe indicators of impairment: odor of alcohol, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, open containers, and how you handle basic requests like producing your license and registration.

Field Sobriety Tests

If the officer suspects impairment, they will ask you to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) outside the vehicle. The three standard tests are:

• Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN): The officer watches your eyes track a stimulus (usually a pen or finger) to detect involuntary jerking
• Walk-and-Turn: A divided attention test where you walk heel-to-toe along a line, turn, and walk back
• One-Leg Stand: You stand on one foot for approximately 30 seconds while the officer counts

These tests are voluntary — you are not required to perform them. However, refusing may not help your case, because the officer can still arrest you based on other observations. The results of field sobriety tests, along with the officer's observations, form the basis for establishing probable cause.

The officer may also administer a roadside Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) using a handheld device. The PBT can be refused without triggering implied consent penalties — it is not the same as the post-arrest evidentiary test at the station.

The Arrest

If the officer determines probable cause exists, you will be placed under arrest and transported to the police station or county detention facility. At this point:

• Your physical driver's license is confiscated by the officer
• You are served with a 30-day temporary driving permit, which also contains the formal Notice of Administrative Suspension from WYDOT
• You are asked to submit to an evidentiary chemical test (breath, blood, or urine) under Wyoming's Implied Consent Law

The evidentiary test is the one that carries administrative consequences. Submitting and testing at 0.08% or higher triggers a 90-day administrative suspension. Refusing triggers a 6-month suspension. Either way, the 20-day clock to request an administrative hearing runs from the date on the notice (typically the arrest date).

Booking and Bond

After the chemical test (or refusal), you are booked into the detention facility. This includes fingerprinting, photographing, and completing intake paperwork. For a first-offense misdemeanor DUI, most defendants are released on bond relatively quickly — sometimes within hours.

Bond conditions for a first-offense DUI typically include:

• A promise to appear at your initial court hearing
• Restrictions on alcohol or controlled substance use (often with random testing)
• A requirement to maintain contact information with the court

You receive a criminal citation that specifies the charges and your initial court date.

What to Do Immediately After Release

The first 24–72 hours after release are when most critical mistakes happen. Prioritize these steps:

1. Preserve every document — the temporary driving permit, the criminal citation, bond paperwork, and any arrest-related papers. The temporary permit is especially important because it contains your administrative suspension notice and the instructions for requesting a hearing.
2. Note the date on the notice — your 20-day deadline to request an administrative hearing with WYDOT runs from that date (typically the arrest date). Mark it clearly.
3. Evaluate legal representation — decide whether to consult a private defense attorney or apply for a public defender at your initial court appearance. The Office of the State Public Defender handles criminal cases for eligible defendants, but does not represent you in the WYDOT administrative hearing.
4. Do not drive after day 30 unless you have filed the hearing request or obtained a restricted license. The temporary permit expires on day 30, and driving without a valid license or restricted permit is a separate misdemeanor with mandatory jail time.

The Wyoming First-Offense DUI Guide walks through the complete first-30-days timeline with every deadline, fee, and action step for both the administrative and criminal tracks — organized by day so nothing falls through the cracks during the most chaotic stretch of the process.

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