It doesn't happen often, but once in awhile a motorist might disregard the reason why a road is closed, and try to continue down the highway, at the risk of putting themselves in great danger.

Conditions such as high winds, ice, snow or even a big crash are usually the reasons why either the Wyoming Department Of Transportation and/or the Wyoming Highway Patrol might close a road for a time.

Most of the time motorists cooperate when the gates are brought down to prohibit access to a highway, but once a while there's somebody who thinks they can handle the dangerous conditions and they go around or through the gate.

Jeff Goetz with WYDOT says when that happens, the motorist is putting themselves at risk, and it maybe a while before help arrives, should someone get into a jam in an area of a road that's closed.

"If you go around a road closure gate, it could be overnight before we get back to start plowing that road again, or it could be when the storm is over. So once we close the road, we tend to put our resources to the other roads that are open, so if you choose to run a gate, be prepared to spend some time out there by yourself."

Traveling on a closed road without permission of either WYDOT or the Wyoming Highway Patrol is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and/or a $750 fine.

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