§ 31-5-102 — Definitions

Wyoming § 31-5-102

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 31: Motor Vehicles
• Ch. 5: REGULATION OF TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAYS
• Art. 1: IN GENERAL

Text

(a) Except as otherwise provided, as used in this act:
(i) Repealed by Laws 2002, Ch. 68, § 2.
(ii) "Authorized emergency vehicles" means:
(A) Vehicles of fire departments, fire patrols,
game and fish law enforcement personnel, livestock board law
enforcement personnel, brand inspectors, law enforcement
agencies, public and private ambulances, medical rescue units
and extrication rescue units;
(B) Privately-owned vehicles used by members of
a fire department or emergency service organization while
performing or traveling to perform assigned fire fighting or
emergency service duties are authorized emergency vehicles if:
(I) Authorized in writing by the
appropriate governing body of the city, town or county in which
the emergency services organization is located;
(II) Equipped with at least one (1)
flashing red, white or amber light visible from the front of the
vehicle; and
(III) Equipped with a marker on the front
of the vehicle indicating the department or organization with
which affiliated.
(C) A wrecker, tow truck or other vehicle
equipped with a mechanical apparatus designed to hoist, pull or
otherwise move wrecked, disabled or stalled motor vehicles:
(I) While at the scene where the wrecked,
disabled or stalled motor vehicle is located; and
(II) When equipped with at least one (1)
flashing red or red and blue lamp visible from five hundred
(500) feet in front of and behind the vehicle, in addition to
any other equipment or lights required or authorized by law.
(iii) "Bicycle" means every vehicle propelled solely
by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2)
tandem wheels except scooters and similar devices;
(iv) "Bus" means every motor vehicle designed for
carrying more than ten (10) passengers and used for the
transportation of persons and every motor vehicle, other than a
taxicab, designed and used for the transportation of persons for
compensation;
(v) "Business district" means the territory
contiguous to and including a highway when within any six
hundred (600) feet along the highway where there are buildings
in use for business or industrial purposes, including but not
limited to hotels, banks or office buildings, railroad stations
and public buildings, which buildings occupy at least three
hundred (300) feet of frontage on one (1) side or three hundred
(300) feet collectively on both sides of the highway;
(vi) "Commission" means the Wyoming transportation
commission;
(vii) "Controlled-access highway" means every
highway, street or roadway in respect to which owners or
occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal
right of access to or from the same except at such points only
and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority
having jurisdiction over the highway, street or roadway;
(viii) "Crosswalk" means:
(A) That part of a roadway at an intersection
included within the connections of the lateral lines of the
sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the
curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the
traversable roadway, and in the absence of a sidewalk on one (1)
side of the roadway, that part of a roadway included within the
extension of the lateral lines of the existing sidewalk at right
angles to the centerline;
(B) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection
or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by
lines or other markings on the surface.
(ix) "Department" or "highway department" means the
department of transportation of the state of Wyoming;
(x) "Driver" means every person who drives or is in
actual physical control of a vehicle;
(xi) "Explosives" means any chemical compounds,
mixtures or devices, the primary or common purpose of which is
to function by explosion, e.g., with substantially instantaneous
release of gas and heat, unless the compounds, mixtures or
devices are otherwise specifically classified. Explosives are
classified as follows, commensurate with the degree of hazard:
(A) Class A--detonating, or otherwise of maximum
hazard, e.g. black powder;
(B) Class B--rapid combustion rather than
detonation, e.g. igniter;
(C) Class C--minimum hazard, e.g. fireworks.
(xii) "Farm tractor" means every motor vehicle
designed and used exclusively as a farm implement for drawing
implements of husbandry;
(xiii) "Flammable liquid" means any liquid which has
a flash point below one hundred degrees Fahrenheit (100" F) and
has a vapor pressure not exceeding forty (40) pounds per square
inch (absolute) at one hundred degrees Fahrenheit (100 F);
(xiv) "Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 241, § 4.
(xv) "House trailer" means:
(A) A trailer or semitrailer which is designed,
constructed and equipped as a dwelling place, living abode or
sleeping place (either permanently or temporarily) and is
equipped for use as a conveyance on streets and highways; or
(B) A trailer or a semitrailer whose chassis and
exterior shell is designed and constructed for use as a house
trailer, as defined in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, but
which is used instead permanently or temporarily for
advertising, sales display or promotion of merchandise or
services, or for any other commercial purpose except the
transportation of property for hire or the transportation of
property for distribution by a private carrier.
(xvi) "Implement of husbandry" means a vehicle
designed and used exclusively for agricultural operations and
only incidentally operated or moved upon a highway;
(xvii) "Intersection" means:
(A) The area embraced within the prolongation or
connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the
lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two (2) highways which
join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the
area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways
joining at any other angle may come in conflict;
(B) Where a highway includes two (2) roadways
thirty (30) feet or more apart, then every crossing of each
roadway of such divided highway by an intersecting highway shall
be regarded as a separate intersection. In the event such
intersecting highway also includes two (2) roadways thirty (30)
feet or more apart, then every crossing of two (2) roadways of
such highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection;
(C) The junction of an alley with a street or
highway does not constitute an intersection.
(xviii) "Laned roadway" means a roadway which is
divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular
traffic;
(xix) "Local authorities" means every county,
municipal and other local board or body having authority to
enact laws relating to traffic under the constitution and laws
of this state;
(xx) "Metal tire" means every tire the surface of
which in contact with the highway is wholly or partly of metal
or other hard nonresilient material;
(xxi) "Moped" means a motor-driven cycle both with
foot pedals to permit muscular propulsion by human power and
with a motor which produces no more than two (2) brake
horsepower and which is capable of propelling the vehicle at a
maximum speed of no more than thirty (30) miles per hour on a
level road surface. If an internal combustion engine is used,
the displacement shall not exceed more than fifty (50) cubic
centimeters and the moped shall have a power drive system that
functions directly or automatically without clutching or
shifting by the driver after the drive system is engaged.
"Moped" does not include an electric bicycle;
(xxii) "Motorcycle" means any motor vehicle having a
seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel
on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground,
excluding off-road recreation vehicles as defined in W.S. 31-1-
101(a)(xv)(K) and electric bicycles, but including a motor
vehicle designed as a recreational vehicle primarily for off-
road use to be ridden astride and to travel on four (4) wheels;
(xxiii) "Motor-driven cycle" means any motorcycle,
including motor scooters and motorized bicycles having an engine
with less than one hundred fifty (150) cubic centimeters
displacement or with five (5) brake horsepower or less but does
not include motorized skateboards or electric bicycles;
(xxiv) "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle which is
self-propelled except vehicles moved solely by human power,
electric bicycles and motorized skateboards as defined by
paragraph (a)(lxii) of this section;
(xxv) "Official traffic-control devices" means all
signs, signals, markings and devices not inconsistent with this
act placed or erected by authority of a public body or official
having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or
guiding traffic;
(xxvi) "Owner" means a person who holds the legal
title of a vehicle or if a vehicle is the subject of an
agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the
right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated in
the agreement and with an immediate right of possession vested
in the conditional vendee or lessee, or if a mortgagor of a
vehicle is entitled to possession, then the conditional vendee
or lessee or mortgagor shall be deemed the owner for the purpose
of this act;
(xxvii) "Park" when prohibited, means the standing of
a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily
for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or
unloading;
(xxviii) "Pedestrian" means any person afoot;
(xxix) "Pedestrian vehicle" means any self-propelled
conveyance designed, manufactured and intended for the exclusive
use of persons with a physical disability, but in no case shall
the vehicle:
(A) Exceed forty-eight (48) inches in width.
(B) Repealed by Laws 1989, ch. 155, § 2.
(C) Repealed by Laws 1989, ch. 155, § 2.
(xxx) "Physical disability" means any bodily
impairment which precludes a person from walking or otherwise
moving about easily as a pedestrian;
(xxxi) "Pneumatic tire" means every tire in which
compressed air is designed to support the load;
(xxxii) "Pole trailer" means every vehicle without
motive power designed to be drawn by another vehicle and
attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach, or pole, or
by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and
ordinarily used for transporting long or irregularly shaped
loads as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally,
of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting
connections;
(xxxiii) "Police officer" means every officer
authorized to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for
violations of traffic regulations;
(xxxiv) "Private road or driveway" means every way or
place in private ownership and used for vehicular travel by the
owner and those having express or implied permission from the
owner, but not by other persons;
(xxxv) "Railroad" means a carrier of persons or
property upon cars, other than streetcars, operated upon
stationary rails;
(xxxvi) "Railroad sign or signal" means any sign,
signal or device erected by authority of a public body or
official or by a railroad and intended to give notice of the
presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train
or other on-track equipment;
(xxxvii) "Railroad train" means a steam engine,
electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto,
operated upon rails, except streetcars;
(xxxviii) "Residence district" means the territory
contiguous to and including a highway not comprising a business
district when the property on the highway for a distance of
three hundred (300) feet or more is in the main improved with
residences or residences and buildings in use for business;
(xxxix) "Right-of-way" means the right of one (1)
vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner in
preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching under
such circumstances of direction, speed and proximity as to give
rise to danger of collision unless one grants precedence to the
other;
(xl) "Roadway" means that portion of a highway
improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel,
exclusive of the sidewalk, berm or shoulder. In the event a
highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways the term
"roadway" as used herein shall refer to any such roadway
separately but not to all such roadways collectively;
(xli) "Safety zone" means the area or space
officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of
pedestrians and which is protected or is so marked or indicated
by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while
set apart as a safety zone;
(xlii) "School bus" means every motor vehicle that
complies with the color and identification requirements set
forth in the most recent edition of "Minimum Standards for
School Buses" and is used to transport children to or from
school, but not including buses operated by common carriers in
urban transportation of school children;
(xliii) "Semitrailer" means every vehicle with or
without motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for
carrying persons or property and for being drawn by a motor
vehicle and so constructed that some part of its weight and that
of its load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle;
(xliv) "Sidewalk" means that portion of a street
between curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the
adjacent property lines, intended for use of pedestrians;
(xlv) "Snowmobile" means any mechanically driven
vehicle of a type which utilizes sleet type runners, or skis or
any endless belt tread or combination of these, designed
primarily for operation over snow;
(xlvi) "Solid tire" means every tire of rubber or
other resilient material which does not depend upon compressed
air for the support of the load;
(xlvii) "Stop" when required means complete cessation
from movement;
(xlviii) "Stop, stopping or standing" when prohibited
means any stopping or standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or
not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic
or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or
traffic-control sign or signal;
(xlix) "Street or highway" means the entire width
between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained or
if not publicly maintained, dedicated to public use when any
part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of
vehicular travel;
(l) "Superintendent" means the director of the
department of transportation;
(li) "Through highway" means every highway or portion
thereof on which vehicular traffic is given preferential
right-of-way, and at the entrances to which vehicular traffic
from intersecting highways is required by law to yield the
right-of-way to vehicles on the through highway in obedience to
a stop sign, yield sign or other official traffic control
devices, when the signs or devices are erected as provided in
this act;
(lii) "Traffic" means pedestrians, ridden or herded
animals, vehicles and other conveyances either singly or
together while using any highway for purposes of travel;
(liii) "Traffic-control signal" means any device,
whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by
which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to
proceed;
(liv) "Trailer" means every vehicle with or without
motive power, other than a pole trailer, designed for carrying
persons or property and for being drawn by a motor vehicle and
so constructed that no part of its weight and that of its load
rests upon or is carried by another vehicle;
(lv) "Truck" means every motor vehicle designed, used
or maintained primarily for the transportation of property;
(lvi) "Truck tractor" means every motor vehicle
designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not
so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the
weight of the vehicle and load so drawn;
(lvii) "Urban district" means the territory
contiguous to and including any public street or highway which
is built up with structures devoted to business, industry or
dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than one hundred
(100) feet for a distance of a quarter of a mile or more;
(lviii) "Vehicle" means every device, in, upon, or by
which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn
upon a highway, except devices used exclusively upon stationary
rails or tracks;
(lix) Repealed By Laws 2024, ch. 82, § 2.
(lx) "Emergency services" means fire fighting, first
aid, medical services, rescue, transportation and other related
activities necessary to ensure the health or safety of a person
or property in imminent peril;
(lxi) "Golf cart" means a motor vehicle which:
(A) Has not less than three (3) wheels in
contact with the ground;
(B) Has an unladen weight of less than one
thousand three hundred (1,300) pounds;
(C) Is designed to be or is operated at not more
than fifteen (15) miles per hour;
(D) Is designed to carry golf equipment and not
more than four (4) persons including the driver; and
(E) Is being used to transport an occupant
directly to, or from or on a golf course, or is being used for
special events or circumstances authorized by the city, town or
county.
(lxii) "Motorized skateboard" means a self-propelled
device which has a motor or engine, a deck on which a person may
ride and at least two (2) wheels in contact with the ground and
which is not otherwise defined in this act as a "motor vehicle",
"motorcycle", "motor-driven cycle" or "pedestrian vehicle";
(lxiii) "Multipurpose vehicle" means as defined in
W.S. 31-1-101(a)(xv)(M);
(lxiv) "Paved" means a roadway which is covered by
hot-rolled asphalt or concrete but is not constructed solely of
recycled asphalt;
(lxv) "Unpaved" means a roadway which is not paved;
(lxvi) "Subdivision" means a portion of land for
which a subdivision permit has been issued pursuant to W.S.
18-5-304;
(lxvii) "Autocycle" means as defined in W.S.
31-1-101(a)(xv)(Q);
(lxviii) "Electric bicycle" means as defined in
W.S. 31-1-101(a)(xxxiv);
(lxix) "High occupancy vehicle" means a vehicle
occupied by not fewer than two (2) persons or as provided by
department rule;
(lxx) "High occupancy vehicle lane" means any
preferential lane designated for exclusive use by high occupancy
vehicles at times as indicated by official traffic-control
devices;
(lxxi) "Public transportation vehicle" means:
(A) A vehicle that provides transportation by
bus or other conveyance to the general public with general or
special service on a regular and continuing basis or that
provides transportation to or from public or private primary,
secondary or tertiary schools; and
(B) A vehicle that:
(I) Is owned or operated by a public
entity;
(II) Is operated under a contract with a
public entity; or
(III) Is operated pursuant to a license by
a public entity to provide bus or school bus services to the
public.
(lxxii) "This act" means W.S. 31-5-101 through 31-5-
1701.