Penalties for Ignoring Road Closures
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Official record
Bill Summary - 24LSO-0598 Bill No.: SF0113 Effective: 7/1/2024 LSO No.: 24LSO-0598 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0035 Chapter No.: 78 Prime Sponsor: Pappas Catch Title: Light and high profile vehicle closures-2. Has Report: No Subject: Creating an offense and penalties for willfully failing to observe signs for closure to light and high profile vehicles or other weight based road closures. Summary/Major Elements: This act establishes a misdemeanor criminal offense for any person who willfully fails to observe any sign, warning or notice (among other things) placed or given for road closure to light and high profile vehicles or for other weight based road closures. For a first offense, a person failing to observe a light and high profile or weight based road closure is subject to a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and may be subject to imprisonment for up to thirty (30) days. For a second or subsequent offense within three (3) years of the first offense, the person must pay a fine of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) and may be subject to imprisonment for up to thirty (30) days. A second or subsequent offense is deemed to be reckless driving for purposes of any driver licensing action. The act requires any person who is guilty of this offense to pay the required fine. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.
Public statements
Last checked Aug 6, 4:23 AM
R · S07
Why they voted this way
The speaker supports the bill because House amendments added penalties for weight-based closures and extended the timeframe to prevent repeat violators from escaping consequences.
R · S30
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he believes the Department of Transportation has not adequately educated the public or clearly articulated which vehicles are subject to the closures before penalties should be increased.
R · S07
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because testimony indicated it is urgently needed to address blowovers that severely impact commerce, and he believes law enforcement can exercise leniency for first-time offenders who may not understand the signs.
R · S21
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker opposes the bill because he finds it ambiguous regarding which vehicles are exempt, specifically noting that necessary infrastructure trucks like belly dumps may be unfairly affected without clear statutory definitions.
R · S20
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill as reasonable and necessary for public safety, arguing that professional drivers are held to a higher standard and should not be exempt from penalties for repeated violations.
R · S02
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it addresses a serious public safety issue, and he believes that common sense dictates professional drivers should know what constitutes a high-profile vehicle.
R · S25
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because he views road closures as a critical safety and economic issue where careless driving can be fatal, trusting that law enforcement will handle education and leniency appropriately.
R · S07
Why they voted this way
The lawmaker supports the bill because it increases penalties for drivers ignoring warning signs, holds individual drivers responsible rather than companies, and mandates license revocation or suspension to keep highways open.
If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.
Wyoming roll calls
6 roll calls
Official activity
Changes
4 stored
The amendment adds 'and other weight based closures' after the mention of light and high profile vehicles in two places within the bill.
The amendment changes the time period during which a penalty applies from one year to three years after a conviction.
The amendment changes the penalties for violating signs and markers that restrict access to light and high profile vehicles by setting specific fines and potential jail time for first and repeat offenses.
The amendment removes specific sections of the bill related to penalties for violating signs and markers for vehicle closures, including deleting references to nonresident operating privileges, certain legal citations, and detailed provisions about driver licensing actions.