The State of Wyoming recently declined a bill that if passed could have allowed courts to punish those found guilty of texting while driving with up to 20 years in prison, especially if their distraction led to an accident. The vote did not receive a majority vote and this means for a driver who is caught texting while driving, the stiffest punishment will be a fine of $75 and a misdemeanor charge.

Wyoming votes down the law to put texting drivers in prison :

Its Driving Laws

Wyoming ranks 3rd in states with accidents caused by distracted driving, according to a study released in 2018. Just in 2018, drivers using their mobile phones while driving were responsible for 229 car accidents. It is illegal to text while driving in Wyoming and particular areas have instituted other laws to reduce incidences of distracted driving.

Distracted driving

This law in Wyoming forbids texting while driving.

Texting while driving is a dangerous practice. Wyoming has a primary offense law which means you can be pulled over even if you have not breached any other traffic regulations. This law is even harder for drivers of commercial trucks, who can have their license seized if caught. ..

Penalties for texting while driving

Texting and driving is considered a misdemeanor and can result in a fine, license suspension, or other penalties. If you have accrued four misdemeanors within a year, your license may be suspended. When a driver who texts and drives ends up in an accident, injury, or death, they will be charged with reckless driving rather than texting and driving. Since the outcome of texting while driving is not in your control, it is best to avoid using your phone while driving and be patient when you get home. ..

Does texting and driving in Wyoming raise my insurance rates?

Texting while driving can affect your insurance premiums, depending on the state in which you live. In Wyoming, the average amount paid per year for insurance is $2,012. However, taking into account the tickets for texting and driving that have to be paid, that amount can increase by more than 12% to about $2,275, yearly. This spike in insurance rate can be avoided if you let your phone be while driving. You could also switch the phone off totally, or if you don’t want to do this, put it to “do not disturb” so that when you receive a notification alert, you are not tempted to check who the message is from while driving. Most vehicles nowadays are fitted with Bluetooth technology, and your phone can likely be operated using voice-to-text or hands-free options. This allows you to interact with the phone without handling it with your hands.

Exceptions to Wyoming’s texting and driving laws

There are a few exceptions to the laws regarding texting while driving. The most common exception is when a driver is using a hands-free device. ..

Conclusion

Distracted driving is a major problem on the roads and it’s not just because people are using their phones. Driving while speeding and drunk driving are also big issues, but texting is one of the main causes of accidents. Wyoming has a law that prohibits distracted driving, but this doesn’t mean that people can’t be caught doing it. If you’re caught texting while you’re driving, you could face serious consequences. ..