‘It’s Big Brother’: Wyomingites Concerned About Mandated ‘Kill Switches’ On Cars

Wyoming lawmakers and a Cheyenne car dealer are voicing alarm over a federal requirement that will put “kill switches” in 2027 model vehicles—technology that monitors driver behavior, detects impairment, and can prevent or limit vehicle operation. “It’s Big Brother,” said Brian Tyrrell, owner of Tyrrell Chevrolet in Cheyenne. “Big government is getting involved in about everything there is.”

The provision, passed in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, requires the installation of “advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology” that can “passively monitor the performance of a driver” and “prevent or limit motor vehicle operation if an impairment is detected.” With 2027 models set to reach dealerships this year, critics say the mandate is an overreach.

Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne, who chairs the Select Committee on Blockchain Financial Technology and Digital Technology, called the mandate “draconian.” He said it would be like having a car with a built-in breathalyzer even if you have never received a DUI. “Just another example of the government coming up with rules in the name of public safety in order to really implement draconian technology,” he said.

Rep. Landon Brown, R-Cheyenne, who chairs the House Transportation, Highway and Military Affairs Committee, said the mandate is “troubling.” He noted that even current safety features, like emergency braking when backing up, can be overly sensitive and “jarring.” He said micromanaging vehicles could create new hazards.

Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, said the mandate sounds “a little silly” because it forces everyone to pay for technology that only addresses the behavior of a very few people. He raised privacy concerns and argued such decisions should be left to states, not the federal government.

Wyoming’s Rep. Harriet Hageman has twice voted to defund the mandate. In a statement, she said, “This mandate raises more problems than solutions … A federally-mandated kill switch that threatens to hijack the vehicles of private citizens is not the answer.” Both efforts failed, with the most recent amendment defeated 164 to 268.

Sen. John Barrasso voted against the 2021 infrastructure bill. His communications director called the bill “full of overreaching, left-wing provisions” and said intrusive mandates that take away privacy are “not the answer.”

Some dealers expect the mandate to boost used car sales. Others, like Colby Moore of Greiner Ford in Casper, said most buyers prioritize safety features, but “will you get to a point of, ‘Hey, is it too much?’ We’ll see. Because we haven’t experienced it yet.”