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Wyoming driving lesson · Losing the Privilege to Drive

Administrative Per Se and DWUI penalties

A 3-minute lesson from the Wyoming course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Losing the Privilege to Drive
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
19, 20, 21

A drunk-driving arrest can cost you your license in two separate ways: an administrative action based on your chemical test (Administrative Per Se) and a court conviction for DWUI. They run separately, so beating one in court doesn't erase the other.

Administrative Per Se

The suspension that results when you're arrested for DWUI and your chemical test shows an alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more.

Handbook p. 19 ↗
90 days

Administrative Per Se suspension

Handbook p. 19 ↗

Know the rule

Dismissal of the DWUI in court does not affect the Administrative Per Se suspension. If you are convicted, the Per Se time served is credited toward the DWUI suspension.

Handbook p. 19 ↗

Know the rule

Commercial driving privileges are disqualified for one year on a first major offense, and for life on a second or later major offense.

Handbook p. 19 ↗

Know the rule

The suspension starts 30 days after the officer issues the temporary license and notice, or at the end of any existing suspension or revocation.

Handbook p. 19 ↗

Know the rule

You may qualify for limited driving privileges only if you haven't been issued a probationary license in the past five years, are otherwise eligible, and have no ignition interlock requirement.

Handbook p. 19 ↗

DWUI convictions (within 10 years)

DWUI convictions (within 10 years)
OffenseLicense actionLimited privileges?
1st90-day suspensionMaybe, if no interlock requirement
2nd1-year suspensionNo, unless DWUI included alcohol
3rd or more3-year revocationNo, unless DWUI included alcohol
Handbook p. 20 ↗

Know the rule

If you served or are serving an Administrative Per Se suspension, a second DWUI adds another nine-month suspension to your record.

Handbook p. 20 ↗

Interlock-restricted license before any other license

Interlock-restricted license before any other license
DWUIRequired period
1st, BAC .15% or more6 months
2nd, alcohol involved1 year
3rd, alcohol involved2 years plus rest of revocation
4th or more, alcohol involvedLife; may petition court after 5 years
Handbook p. 21 ↗

After a 3rd DWUI, reinstatement also requires you to:

  • File an SR-22 and pay the reinstatement fee
  • Undergo an alcohol/drug evaluation
  • Successfully complete an alcohol/drug treatment program
  • Pass a re-examination of your ability to drive safely
Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

After a 3rd DWUI you may be restricted to "No alcohol or substance abuse offenses." If you held an interlock license with no violations, the re-exam and extra restriction may be waived.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Put it into practice

You're arrested with a 0.10 BAC and the DWUI charge is later dismissed in court. Your 90-day Administrative Per Se suspension still stands, because a court dismissal doesn't affect it.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What BAC triggers an Administrative Per Se suspension after a DWUI arrest?
  1. 0.05 percent or greater
  2. 0.08 percent or greater
  3. 0.02 percent or greater
  4. 0.10 percent or greater

Answer: 0.08 percent or greater

An Administrative Per Se Suspension results when chemical test results show a BAC of 0.08 percent or greater.

Handbook p. 19 ↗
How long is the Administrative Per Se suspension?
  1. 30 days
  2. 180 days
  3. 90 days
  4. One year

Answer: 90 days

The length of an Administrative Per Se suspension is 90 days.

Handbook p. 19 ↗
If a driver is later convicted of DWUI in court after an Administrative Per Se suspension, what happens to the time already served?
  1. It is ignored and the full DWUI suspension starts fresh
  2. It doubles the DWUI suspension length
  3. It is only credited if the driver requests a hearing
  4. It is credited toward the DWUI suspension

Answer: It is credited toward the DWUI suspension

If convicted of the DWUI in court, time served for the Administrative Per Se suspension is credited toward the DWUI suspension.

Handbook p. 19 ↗
How long is the suspension for a second DWUI offense within 10 years?
  1. 90 days
  2. Six months
  3. Three years
  4. One year

Answer: One year

The length of suspension for a second DWUI offense within the previous 10 years is one year.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
A driver was serving an Administrative Per Se suspension when convicted of a second DWUI within 10 years. What happens to their suspension?
  1. An additional nine-month suspension is added to their record
  2. The Administrative Per Se suspension is dismissed entirely
  3. No additional time is added
  4. The suspension is reduced to 90 days total

Answer: An additional nine-month suspension is added to their record

If already serving an Administrative Per Se suspension, an additional nine-month suspension is added for a second offense.

Handbook p. 20 ↗
What is the length of revocation for a third or subsequent DWUI offense within 10 years?
  1. One year
  2. 18 months
  3. Three years
  4. Five years

Answer: Three years

The length of revocation for a third or subsequent DWUI offense within 10 years is three years.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
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