Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signs legislation that grants statewide powers to enforce English-language proficiency standards for commercial vehicle drivers. (Wyoming Highway Patrol)
March 9, 2026 7:30 AM, EDT
Key Takeaways:
- Wyoming enacted a law allowing all peace officers to enforce English-language proficiency requirements for commercial drivers.
- Violations carry a $1,000 fine with repeat offenses subject to additional fines and potential jail time.
- The law supports broader enforcement efforts that include cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Flanked by Wyoming Highway Patrol command staff, Gov. Mark Gordon signed an English-language proficiency law granting statewide enforcement powers.
In the past, WHP and roadside inspectors primarily enforced the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s ELP mandate revived last year.
The new law took effect March 5 during a ceremonial signing to underscore the state’s commitment to removing and punishing unqualified commercial vehicle drivers.
Now any Wyoming peace officer including local city police can act to remove a trucker from behind the wheel who fails to adequately demonstrate English comprehension of road signs or communicate.
“This is what Wyoming Highway Patrol, and our commercial vehicle section, and our inspectors do every day,” Col. Timothy Cameron, WHP administrator, said at the bill signing. “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.”
Wyoming GOP Gov. Mark Gordon signed legislation that allows local law enforcement officers to pull over truckers who are not proficient in English from highways. https://t.co/ax35m5X20E
— NBC Montana (@NBCMontana) March 6, 2026
House Bill 32 was sponsored by the House Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee during the 68th Wyoming legislative budget session. The legislation passed the House by a vote of 59-2 and unanimously sailed through the Senate with 31 votes.
Penalties
All Wyoming law enforcement officers are now empowered to issue citations to enforce state law prohibiting commercial vehicle drivers from operating in the state if they cannot demonstrate ELP. Violations carry a $1,000 fine and bar the driver from being behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle in Wyoming until the driver can prove sufficient English capabilities.
This means if violators are found avoiding interstates patrolled by highway officers and taking rural roads, Wyoming law enforcement officers — including sheriff deputies and city police — could hold illegal drivers accountable.
The law also seeks to punish any commercial vehicle driver found operating in Wyoming after already being cited for an ELP violation. A second conviction will be a misdemeanor subject to an additional $1,000 fine, up to 90 days imprisonment or both.
Increased Enforcement
Wyoming has been taking a tough stance on ELP enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. It is among many states that have formed Task Force Model partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to remove from the road foreign truckers arrested on immigration violation charges.
Sheriff Brian Kozak released a social media video in November detailing a three-day “Operation Safe Haul” with ICE and WHP. The effort targeted undocumented truckers traveling on country roads to avoid interstates across Laramie County. Deputies and others conducted 195 traffic stops and 133 commercial vehicle inspections that led to 44 trucks and 38 drivers being placed out of service.
Meanwhile, legislators in several states, including Oklahoma and Missouri, are considering enacting ELP laws with fines for both drivers and motor vehicle carriers.
