DUI & DWUI Defense in Wyoming

Wyoming Underage DUI Defense Attorney

Wyoming has zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving. Any detectable amount of alcohol in a driver under 21 is enough for a charge — there is no .08% threshold. But a charge at 17 or 19 should not follow someone into their adult life. There are wa

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    Home » DUI Defense » Underage DUI

    Wyoming’s zero-tolerance law for underage drivers

    Wyoming, like every other state, has a zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21. Under Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-233, a driver under 21 can be charged with DWUI for having any amount of alcohol in their system. There is no 08% BAC limit. A BAC of.02%—which is one drink for most people—is enough to get a charge. This is a very low standard, so underage drivers can be charged with DUI even when adults would not be.

    In Wyoming, the consequences of a DUI conviction for someone under the age of 21 go beyond the usual ones. A conviction can make it harder to get into college, get financial aid, get a scholarship, get a job, or get a professional license in the future. This is an unusually high charge for a driver who is 17 or 18.

    Penalties for underage DUI in Wyoming

    In Wyoming, if you are caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol while underage, you could go to jail for up to six months, pay fines, and have your license suspended. If the driver is under 18, the case may go to juvenile court, which has different rules and, most importantly, different effects on their record. A juvenile adjudication is not the same as a public adult criminal conviction, and the record is better protected. If the driver is between 18 and 20 years old, the case goes to adult court and has the same penalties as an adult DWUI.

    BAC threshold Any detectable amount
    Jail exposure Up to 6 months
    License suspension 90 days minimum
    Long-term impact Financial aid, employment, licensing

    How we defend underage DUI cases in Wyoming

    The same defenses that work for adults who drive under the influence also work for teens who drive under the influence. The zero-tolerance standard also opens up some unique defense options. The equipment used to test for very low BAC levels must be properly calibrated and functioning. A breathalyzer that reads .02% can be changed by drinking alcohol, breathing patterns, and mistakes with the device in ways that a higher reading can’t. We carefully look at the tests in every case of underage DUI.

    We also look at whether the juvenile court system is better for drivers under 18 than the adult court system. Specifically, whether diversion programs or deferred adjudication might be available to keep the case off a permanent record. You don’t have to have a criminal record when you’re 17, and the first step to protecting your future is to know all your options. Get in touch with us. Before we make any decisions, let’s talk about what’s possible.

    Frequently asked questions about underage DUI charges in Wyoming

    Wyoming’s zero-tolerance law says that any amount of alcohol that can be detected is too much. This is usually thought to be .02% BAC to take into account differences between instruments, but in practice, any amount of alcohol that can be measured is enough for a charge. Drivers under 21 are not subject to the normal adult limit of.08%.

    It depends on how old you are and how the case ends. A driver under 18 who is charged through the juvenile court system has more protection for their record. This is because juvenile adjudications are not automatically public, unlike adult criminal convictions, and can be erased. A driver between 18 and 20 years old who is found guilty in adult court has a regular adult criminal record. In either case, the charge should be taken seriously and defended properly from the start.

    Yes, a lot. On applications, many colleges want to know about any criminal convictions. Drug-related convictions can affect federal financial aid programs, and some scholarship programs have rules about behavior that a DUI conviction can break. These are not just hypothetical worries; they are real problems that have affected students we have worked with. Taking care of the record is like taking care of the future.

    If there are problems with the evidence, such as an illegal stop, testing issues, or insufficient proof of impairment, the case may be thrown out. After the required waiting period, it may be possible to have the record erased for juvenile cases. Wyoming’s expungement options for DUI are limited for adults who have been found guilty in court. This is one reason why it is better to fight the charge from the start than to settle it quickly.

    Before your child talks to the police, goes to court, or agrees to a plea deal, you should call a lawyer right away. The choices made in the first few days after a charge have a big impact on the possible outcomes. For drivers under 18, getting a lawyer involved early can also help keep the case in juvenile court instead of moving it to adult court, which would leave a permanent record..

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    Underage DUI charge in Wyoming?

    A mistake at 18 shouldn’t follow someone for decades. Let’s talk about what’s possible.

    (307) 686-6556