New Wyoming Law Empowers All Police To Jail Non-English Speaking Truck Drivers

Photo: Wyoming Highway Patrol

India-West News Desk

CHEYENNE, WY – Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon has signed House Bill 32 into law, a measure that significantly expands the authority of local law enforcement to remove non-English speaking commercial truck drivers from the road.

The new state law aligns Wyoming’s enforcement protocols with a federal executive order signed by President Trump in April 2025. That federal order reinstated strict English proficiency requirements for commercial drivers, mandating that they must be able to converse with the public, understand highway signs, and complete official reports in English.

By signing this legislation, Gordon has effectively empowered every sheriff’s deputy and municipal police officer in the state to enforce these standards. Previously, only the Wyoming Highway Patrol and its specialized commercial vehicle inspectors held the federal certification required to cite drivers for language proficiency. Under the expanded law, any peace officer can now place a driver out of service if they fail a roadside proficiency assessment.

The legal consequences for drivers are substantial, beginning with a $1,000 fine and an immediate prohibition from operating a commercial vehicle in the state until proficiency can be proven. For those who ignore the ban and are caught driving again, the law imposes an additional $1,000 penalty and a misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 90 days in jail.

Data from the Wyoming Highway Patrol illustrates the scale of the issue prior to the law’s expansion. Between June 2025 and January 2026, state troopers logged 775 violations for English proficiency, resulting in all those drivers being placed out of service. Of that group, 19 repeat offenders were incarcerated. Officials expect these numbers to rise.

The law has met with pushback from some community members and industry stakeholders who have raised concerns about the subjective nature of roadside language tests and the potential for racial profiling. Additionally, there are fears within the agricultural sector that the sudden removal of drivers could disrupt the supply chain for farmers and ranchers who depend on commercial shipping for livestock and harvests.