Wyoming Governor Signs Law Allowing Any Officer to Cite Truck Drivers for Non-English Proficiency, Not Just Federally Certified State Troopers — $1,000 Fine and Up to 90 Days in Jail
CHEYENNE, WYOMING — Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has signed a law expanding English language proficiency enforcement for commercial truck drivers, allowing all law enforcement officers in the state to issue citations — not just federally certified state troopers.
Gordon signed House Bill 32 into law on March 5, 2026. Previously, only federally certified Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers could enforce the federal requirement mandating that truck drivers be able to speak with members of the public, answer official inquiries, and maintain log books in English. The new law extends that enforcement authority to all levels of law enforcement across the state.
"This is what Wyoming Highway Patrol, and our commercial vehicle section, and our inspectors do every day. This is something we already do," said Wyoming Highway Patrol Colonel Timothy Cameron. "But now what the bill does is it leverages all the law enforcement assets in the state to most importantly identify people that jeopardize public safety."
Under the new law, truck drivers unable to demonstrate English language proficiency according to federal testing standards will face a $1,000 fine on their first offense. A second offense carries an additional $1,000 fine and up to 90 days in jail on a misdemeanor charge.
The federal English proficiency rule for commercial drivers was revived by President Donald Trump in June 2025 after a lengthy pause. Since its reinstatement, the Wyoming Highway Patrol and its commercial vehicle division have logged 775 violations and arrested 19 drivers due to repeat offenses.
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