When you get traffic tickets in Wyoming, you will always face certain consequences. However, you don't have to go through the situation alone. You always have options and, no matter what you decide to do, there is help available. Below you will find some information about traffic tickets in Wyoming, as well as your options for dealing with them.

What to Do If You Get a Traffic Ticket in Wyoming

After you get a ticket in Wyoming, you should take action quickly. When the police officer issues your ticket, the ticket will include a deadline by which you must take some action. The deadline may be listed as a "due date" or "appearance date." Regardless of what action you decide to take, make sure that the deadline doesn't pass before you act. Failing to pay or request a trial by the deadline can get you into even more trouble with authorities.

Is a Court Appearance Required?

Not all traffic tickets will require a court appearance. However, certain Wyoming traffic violations may result in a mandatory court date. To find out whether you must appear in court, examine the ticket you received. If the ticket indicates that you must go to court, you have no choice but to report on the scheduled date.

If your ticket mandates a court appearance and you don't show up, you may face significant charges. If you do report for your hearing, you must decide how to plead. Options include guilty, no contest and not guilty. If your ticket doesn't require you to appear in court, you can eliminate the problem entirely by pleading no contest and mailing your fine to the court.

Your Options

When dealing with traffic tickets in Wyoming, you have several options. Below are descriptions of the various methods you can use to resolve the ticket.

Option 1 - Pay Your Ticket

If you know you can't win in court, or if you simply don't want to take the time to fight the ticket, you can plead "no contest," pay your fine and move forward. To pay a traffic ticket in Wyoming, you can mail a check to the court, visit the court in person or pay online. Not all courts allow online payments, so check with your court to make sure this option is available.

If you choose to pay the ticket, you should do so by the hearing date listed on the ticket. In most cases, Wyoming courts will allow a ten day grace period after the hearing date, but the length of this period may vary. If you don't pay your ticket on time, your license may be suspended and the court may issue a warrant for your arrest.

Option 2 - Plead Not Guilty and Request Trial

If you would like to fight your traffic violation in court in an attempt to erase your fine and keep it off your record, you can plead "not guilty." The method you must use to enter your plea depends on your court. Traffic tickets in Wyoming may be handled by municipal courts or circuit courts, depending on who issued the violation. Read your ticket to find the name of the court involved. While some courts will allow you to plead "not guilty" simply by showing up on the hearing date, others may require you to submit a form before the hearing.

After you enter your "not guilty" plea, the court will schedule a hearing date. You may wish to hire an attorney at this time. On the date of the hearing, a judge will review your case and issue a verdict. If he finds you not guilty, the violation won't appear on your record and you won't owe the fine. However, if the judge issues a "guilty" verdict, you must pay your fine and court costs, and the violation will remain on your record. If your violation was severe, the court may also suspend your driver's license.

Option 3 - Appeal Your Case

If you don't agree with the judge's verdict, you can request a hearing. If you choose to appeal, consider hiring a qualified attorney to assist you.

Option 4 - Take an Online Defensive Driving Course

Wyoming doesn't implement a points system, so taking an online defensive driving course won't eliminate the effects of Wyoming traffic tickets. However, you can still ask the court whether taking the defensive driving course would reduce your fine or the severity of your charge. Call the court to inquire using the phone number printed on your ticket.

Even if you can't eliminate your ticket by taking a defensive driving course, you may be able to use the course to lower your auto insurance payment. This can be especially helpful if your traffic violation caused your premiums to increase. Check with your insurance company for more information.