Wyoming DUI With BAC .15+: Aggravated DUI and Probationary License

Wyoming classifies DUI with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher as aggravated DUI under W.S. 31-5-233, separate from standard first-offense DUI. The distinction matters immediately: aggravated DUI extends your mandatory hard suspension period before you can apply for a probationary license, extends ignition interlock device requirements, and changes eligibility timelines even if this is your first DUI arrest. Standard first-offense DUI in Wyoming carries a 90-day administrative per se suspension under W.S. 31-6-104, with probationary license eligibility after the first 90 days. Aggravated DUI at .15 BAC or higher extends that hard suspension period before probationary eligibility opens. The exact extension varies by county court discretion and whether your case includes refusal, accident, or injury aggravators stacked on top of the .15 threshold. Wyoming's ignition interlock program, administered by Wyoming Driver Services under W.S. 31-5-233, becomes mandatory for probationary license approval in aggravated DUI cases. Where standard first-offense DUI allows ignition interlock as a condition of probationary driving, aggravated DUI makes it non-negotiable. The device stays installed for the duration of your probationary period and often extends into reinstatement, typically 12 to 18 months total for aggravated first offense.

Wyoming requires a mandatory 90-day hard suspension for standard first-offense DUI before probationary license eligibility. Aggravated DUI at .15 BAC or higher extends that waiting period, though the exact duration is not codified uniformly across Wyoming's 23 counties. Most county courts impose a 120- to 180-day hard suspension before probationary eligibility for aggravated first offense, but the actual waiting period is set at sentencing or administrative hearing. The 90-day minimum applies from the date of conviction or administrative per se hearing, not from arrest. If your arrest occurred in February and your court date is in May, the 90-day clock does not start until May. For aggravated cases, the extended waiting period means you could face four to six months without any driving privileges before the probationary window opens. Second-offense DUI or aggravated DUI with prior alcohol-related convictions within 10 years triggers an 18-month administrative suspension with no probationary eligibility in most counties. Wyoming does not maintain a statewide hardship program for repeat DUI offenders the way Texas or Illinois do. The probationary license program is functionally limited to first-offense cases, including aggravated first offense.

Wyoming mandates ignition interlock device installation as a condition of probationary license approval for all aggravated DUI cases under W.S. 31-5-233. The device must be installed before the probationary license is issued, and installation confirmation from a Wyoming-approved interlock vendor is part of the probationary application documentation reviewed by Wyoming Driver Services. Installation costs in Wyoming typically run $100 to $150, with monthly lease and calibration fees of $70 to $90. Over a 12-month probationary period, total ignition interlock costs reach $940 to $1,230. Wyoming does not subsidize interlock costs for low-income drivers, though some vendors offer payment plans. The device stays installed for the full probationary period and often extends beyond probationary expiration as a condition of full reinstatement. Violating interlock conditions during the probationary period—failed breath tests, skipped calibration appointments, or tampering—triggers automatic probationary license revocation. Wyoming Driver Services does not issue warnings for first violations. You return to full suspension status, and reapplying for a new probationary license restarts the waiting period and application process from zero.

Wyoming probationary licenses restrict driving to specific purposes defined at the time of approval: employment, education, medical appointments, court-ordered obligations (DUI education, community service, probation check-ins), and essential household needs. The license does not permit recreational driving, social errands, or driving outside approved hours unless explicitly authorized by the court or Driver Services. Route restrictions are common. If your employer is located 15 miles from your home, the probationary license typically restricts you to the direct route between those two locations during work hours only. Deviating from approved routes—stopping at a grocery store on the way home from work, for example—constitutes a probationary license violation and triggers revocation. Wyoming law enforcement can verify probationary status during any traffic stop, and officers routinely check route compliance against the approved application. Time restrictions apply. Most probationary licenses limit driving to daylight hours or specific windows tied to your work schedule. If you work 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the license may restrict driving to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. only. Driving outside approved hours, even on an approved route, counts as driving on a suspended license under Wyoming law, a separate criminal charge carrying up to six months in jail and $750 in fines.

Wyoming probationary license applications are filed through Wyoming Driver Services, not the court, but court approval is often required as part of the sentencing terms in aggravated DUI cases. The application path depends on whether your suspension is administrative (imposed by Driver Services under W.S. 31-6-104) or judicial (imposed by the court as part of sentencing). Required documentation includes proof of need—employer affidavit on company letterhead stating your work location, hours, and job requirements; school enrollment verification if you are applying for educational purposes; or medical appointment schedules if you are applying for health-related driving. You must also provide proof of SR-22 insurance filing from a Wyoming-licensed carrier, ignition interlock installation confirmation from an approved vendor, and completion of DUI education or assessment if ordered by the court. Wyoming Driver Services charges a $50 application fee for probationary license approval, separate from the $50 reinstatement fee due when your suspension ends. Processing time is not published by Wyoming Driver Services and varies by application volume. As the least populous state, Wyoming's Driver Services division operates with limited staffing, and real-world processing times for probationary applications can extend two to four weeks from submission. Apply as early as your waiting period allows to avoid gaps in approved driving.

Wyoming requires SR-22 insurance filing for all DUI convictions, including aggravated DUI at .15 BAC or higher. The SR-22 filing must remain active for three years from the date of conviction, not from the date your license is reinstated. If your conviction date was January 2024 and your reinstatement is delayed until January 2025, the SR-22 filing period still ends in January 2027. SR-22 is not a separate insurance policy. It is a certificate filed by your auto insurance carrier with Wyoming Driver Services confirming you carry at least Wyoming's minimum liability coverage: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $20,000 property damage. Your carrier charges a one-time filing fee, typically $25 to $50 in Wyoming, and reports your coverage status electronically to the state. If your policy lapses for any reason during the three-year filing period, your carrier notifies Wyoming Driver Services within 24 hours, and your license is automatically suspended again. Many drivers arrested for aggravated DUI no longer own a vehicle—impounded and sold, surrendered to a lender, or never owned. Non-owner SR-22 insurance covers this gap. Non-owner policies provide liability coverage when you drive a borrowed or rented vehicle and satisfy Wyoming's SR-22 filing requirement without requiring vehicle ownership. Monthly premiums for non-owner SR-22 in Wyoming after aggravated DUI typically range $90 to $150, compared to $140 to $220 for standard SR-22 if you own a vehicle.

Probationary license application: $50. Ignition interlock installation: $100 to $150. Monthly interlock lease and calibration over 12 months: $840 to $1,080. SR-22 filing fee: $25 to $50. Monthly SR-22 insurance premium increase over three years (36 months): $3,240 to $7,920, assuming a $90 to $220 monthly premium. DUI education or assessment program: $200 to $400 depending on county provider. Reinstatement fee when probationary period ends: $50. Total estimated cost over the full compliance period: $4,505 to $9,700. This estimate assumes standard first-offense aggravated DUI with no additional violations, no court fines beyond statutory minimums, and no attorney fees. Estimates based on available industry data; individual costs vary by county, carrier, interlock vendor, and driving history. Wyoming does not offer payment plans for reinstatement fees or probationary application fees. SR-22 insurance premiums are paid monthly to your carrier as part of your regular policy billing. Ignition interlock vendors may offer installment payment options for installation and monthly lease fees, but terms vary by vendor and are not standardized statewide.