Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LAWS OF THE WILD WEST
Both Montana and Wyoming were born of the Wild West, and in many cases there
still exists a hands-off, “we don't need no government” mentality. While this may
work in some areas, some outdated laws and rules are being updated or eliminated.
First of all, there
is
a speed limit in Montana. While the limit used to be listed as
“reasonable and prudent,” it was changed in 1999 after the Montana Supreme Court
deemed the law too vague. Currently, the speed limit for automobiles is 75 mph on
interstates in both states, 70 mph on most two-lane highways in Montana and 65 mph
in Wyoming, usually with lower speeds for night driving.
Believe it or not, it used to be legal to operate a vehicle in Montana and Wyoming
with an open container of alcohol, whether you were driving or were just along for
the ride. In states where distances are often measured in “six-packs,” this was a big
deal. After much public debate, the Montana law was finally changed in 2005, mak-
ing it illegal for drivers and passengers to have any amount of open alcohol. Montana
had the highest rate of alcohol-related fatalities per vehicle-mile traveled in the na-
tion in 2002-2003, as reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administra-
tion, and the rates are still high. However, if you're taking a cab, bus, or limo, or
riding in the back of a traveling motor home, you can still drink legally. Bottoms up!
Wyoming passed a weak open-container law in 2002, which became known as
the “Here, hold my beer while I talk to this officer” law, but passed a stricter version,
similar to Montana's, in 2007. It is taken much more seriously these days.
Speaking of alcohol, Wyoming is one of the few states where you can still buy a
bottle from a drive-through liquor store—just don't open it in the car. And they no
longer serve “to go” cocktails.
In case you're wondering, it's also illegal in Montana to have a sheep in the cab of
your truck without a proper “chaperone,” and certain animals caught running at large
can be castrated if not claimed within five days—at the owner's expense. Montana
is still open-range country, so if you hit a black cow standing in the middle of the
highway in the middle of the night, it's your responsibility to reimburse the rancher.
And in Wyoming, make sure you close the gate if you cross a river or onto private
land; otherwise it could cost you $750.
