# W.R.Cr.P. 3.1: Rule 3.1. Use of Citations; Bail

> Wyoming · Court rules · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R3_1

## Section

- **Citation:** W.R.Cr.P. 3.1
- **Heading:** Rule 3.1. Use of Citations; Bail
- **Jurisdiction:** Wyoming
- **Kind:** Court rules
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Wyoming Court Rules / Wyoming Rules of Criminal Procedure / W.R.Cr.P. 3.1

## Text

(a) Where and when filed. — Citations shall be filed in the circuit court or
municipal court in the county or municipality where the offense allegedly
occurred. All citations issued to defendants must be filed within fourteen (14)
days of issuance. Any citation filed after 14 days shall be dismissed by the
court.
(b) When Citation May Issue. — A person arrested and taken into custody for
any crime shall be brought before a judicial officer as provided in Rule 5,
except:
(1) A person who has been stopped, detained or arrested for a misdemeanor may, then or after further investigation, be issued a citation to avoid
further detention. If the person to whom the citation is issued accepts the
citation (thereby signifying his promise to appear in court on a date and time
certain to answer to the offense charged in the citation), the person shall
then be released from custody; and
(2) A person arrested and taken into custody for a “forfeit” offense (as later
defined in this rule) must be taken before a judicial officer within 12 hours.
If the person is not taken before a judicial officer within 12 hours, the person
must be issued a citation and released from custody, but only if the person
signs a promise to appear in court on a date and time certain to answer to the
offense charged in the citation. A judicial officer may, but is not required to,
hold an initial appearance hearing for forfeit offenses other than during the
regular business hours of the court.
re a judicial officer within 12 hours, the person
must be issued a citation and released from custody, but only if the person
signs a promise to appear in court on a date and time certain to answer to the
offense charged in the citation. A judicial officer may, but is not required to,
hold an initial appearance hearing for forfeit offenses other than during the
regular business hours of the court.
(c) Appearance in court. — The peace officer issuing the citation shall specify
on the citation the name and address of the court in which the citation will be
filed and a date and time when the person cited must appear in that court. The
time specified must be at least five days after the alleged violation unless the
person cited consents to an earlier hearing. A person to whom a citation has
issued must appear on the day and at the time and place specified in the
citation, unless:
(1) The appearance is continued or excused by a judicial officer of that
court; or
(2) The citing officer checks the box “MAY FORFEIT BOND IN LIEU OF
APPEARANCE” on the citation.
(d) Payment of fines and costs or forfeiture of bail in lieu of appearance. — A
citing officer may require any person to appear in court on a date and time
certain to answer to the offense charged in the citation by checking the “MUST
APPEAR” box on the citation. If the citing officer checks the “MAY FORFEIT
BOND IN LIEU OF APPEARANCE” box on the citation the offense may be
dealt with as follows:
(1) A person may satisfy a promise to appear in court by paying to the
court, or to another authorized by that court to accept bond for misdemeanor
offenses, on or before the appearance date the amount of the fine and court
costs as listed on the Uniform Bail and Forfeiture Schedules adopted and
published by the Wyoming Supreme Court and set forth in Appendix I to this
rule;
dealt with as follows:
(1) A person may satisfy a promise to appear in court by paying to the
court, or to another authorized by that court to accept bond for misdemeanor
offenses, on or before the appearance date the amount of the fine and court
costs as listed on the Uniform Bail and Forfeiture Schedules adopted and
published by the Wyoming Supreme Court and set forth in Appendix I to this
rule;
(2) By paying fines and costs into court (by mail or otherwise) or, when
permitted, by posting bond and failing to appear as promised, a person
elects:
(A) To waive appearance before the court;
(B) To waive a trial; and
Rule 3.1
(C) Not to contest the offense charged (nolo contendere).
(e) Warrant for failure to appear. — The court may issue a warrant for the
arrest of any person who fails to appear as ordered by the court. The court may
also issue a warrant for any person who fails to appear as promised:
(1) When “MUST APPEAR” is checked on the citation; or
(2) When the person fails to pay the fine and costs to the court (or post
bond in lieu thereof) prior to the promised appearance date when “MAY
FORFEIT BOND IN LIEU OF APPEARANCE” is checked on the citation.
(f) Disposition of citations. — Every citation filed or deposited with the court
must be accounted for and disposed of by that court. Disposition may include
forfeiture of bail.
(g) Definitions. —
(1) “Forfeit offenses” are those misdemeanor offenses listed as forfeit
offenses on the Uniform Bail and Forfeiture Schedules adopted and promulgated by the Wyoming Supreme Court and set forth in Appendix I to this
rule. A citing officer may not check the box “MAY FORFEIT BOND IN LIEU
OF APPEARANCE” on the citation for any offense other than a forfeit
offense; and
(2) “Must appear offenses” are those misdemeanor offenses for which a
citation has issued and the citing officer has checked the “MUST APPEAR”
box on the citation.

## Nearby sections

- [W.R.Cr.P. 1 Rule 1. Scope and Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R1.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 2 Rule 2. Purpose and Construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R2.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 3 Rule 3. Indictment, Information or Citation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R3.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 3.1 Rule 3.1. Use of Citations; Bail](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R3_1.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 4 Rule 4. Warrant or Summons upon Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R4.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 5 Rule 5. Initial Appearance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R5.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 5.1 Rule 5.1. Preliminary Examination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R5_1.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 6 Rule 6. Grand Juries](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R6.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 7 Rule 7. [Deleted]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R7.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 8 Rule 8. Joinder of Offenses and Defendants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R8.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 9 Rule 9. Warrant or Summons upon Indictment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R9.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 10 Rule 10. Arraignment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R10.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 11 Rule 11. Pleas](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R11.md)
- [W.R.Cr.P. 12 Rule 12. Pleadings and Motions Before Trial; Defenses and Objec- tions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R12.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SRULES_WY_RULECRIMPROC_R3_1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.