Side-by-Side

Current Law vs. Proposed Act

What changes, what it means for Wyoming children

Provision	Current Wyoming Law	DUI–Child Passenger Protection Act
Child Age Protected	Under 16 only	✓ Under 18 (all minors)
Minimum Jail, First Conviction	✗ None	✓ 7 days, served before probation
Minimum Jail, Second or Later	✗ None	✓ 30 days, served before probation
Fine, First Conviction	✗ Up to $750; a fine alone with no jail is allowed	✓ $500 to $750, plus jail
Fine, Second or Later	✗ None	✓ $2,000 to $5,000
Ignition Interlock	✗ Only if BAC was 0.15% or higher	✓ Every conviction: 1 year first, 2 years second (or the probation term if longer)
Child Passenger Charge	✗ Can be left off	✓ Must be charged when the evidence supports it
Deferred Prosecution	✗ Available on a first offense	✓ Not available
Maximum Jail	Up to 1 year first, 5 years second	Unchanged
Serious Injury or Death	Up to 10 years (injury), up to 20 years (death)	Unchanged; existing law already covers both
State Cost	N/A	✓ None anticipated; county jail days only

Evidence-Based Policy

Why This Approach Works

What the evidence says about the tools in this bill

Tennessee's Approach

Tennessee treats DUI with a child passenger as an enhanced sentence inside its DUI statute, with a mandatory minimum jail term, and sends cases of injury or death to its existing vehicular assault and vehicular homicide laws (Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-402).

Wyoming's proposal follows Tennessee's structure: an enhanced sentence inside the existing DUI statute rather than a new crime, with serious injury and death left to penalties already in Wyoming law.

The Research is Clear

Minimums only count if they're served: Wyoming already makes the minimums for repeat DUIs mandatory in W.S. 31-5-233(e). This bill uses the same language for DUI with a child in the car.

Charges have to stick: The penalties only apply if the child passenger charge is filed and the case isn't deferred. The bill closes both gaps using standards already in Wyoming law.

Ignition interlocks work while they're installed: They cut DUI re-arrests by a median of 67% while installed, according to the Community Guide's review of 13 studies. The bill keeps the interlock on for the full probation term when that is longer.

States with mandatory minimums and ignition interlock requirements have better DUI outcomes than states with discretionary laws.

Take Action

Every Child Deserves a Safe Ride Home

Join the movement to make Wyoming a national leader in child protection

Support the Bill Read Full Legislation Fiscal Impact Summary

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Contact Your Legislator

Find your state senator and representative. Tell them you support the DUI–Child Passenger Protection Act.

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Spread the Word

Share this campaign on social media. Use #ProtectWyomingKids to amplify the message.

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Sign the Petition

Add your name to the growing list of Wyomingites demanding stronger child protection laws.