AB444: Bill Text

AB444, s. 17 Section 17. 341.14 (1q) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act 67, is amended to read:

AB444,14,13 341.14 (1q) If any employer who provides an automobile or station wagon, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or a motor home, for an employe's use submits to the department a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from an advanced practice nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state or from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal certifying that the employe is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall issue and deliver to such employer plates of a special design in lieu of the plates which ordinarily would be issued for the vehicle, and shall renew the plates. The plates shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the vehicle is operated by a disabled person and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50 (2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance or renewal of the plates. The plates shall conform to the plates required in sub. (1a).

AB444, s. 18 Section 18. 341.14 (1r) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,15,2 341.14 (1r) (a) If any resident of this state who is registering or has registered an automobile or station wagon, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds or a motor home submits a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, certifying to the department that the vehicle is leased to a person who qualifies for special plates under sub. (1) or (1a) together with the information required under sub. (1) or (1a), the department shall issue and deliver to the resident, plates of the appropriate special design under sub. (1) or (1a) in lieu of the plates which ordinarily would be issued for the vehicle, and shall renew the plates. No charge in addition to the registration fee shall be made for the issuance or renewal of the plates. No plates may be issued and delivered to a resident under this paragraph on or after January 1, 1998.

AB444, s. 19 Section 19. 341.14 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,15,15 341.14 (2) Upon compliance with the laws relating to registration of automobiles, station wagons and motor homes; motor trucks, dual purpose motor homes and dual purpose farm trucks which have a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds; and farm trucks which have a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, including payment of the prescribed registration fees therefor plus an additional fee of $10 when registration plates are issued accompanied by an application showing satisfactory proof that the applicant is the holder of an unexpired amateur radio station license issued by the federal communications commission, the department shall issue registration plates on which, in lieu of the usual registration number, shall be inscribed in large legible form the call letters of such applicant as assigned by the federal communications commission. The fee for reissuance of a plate under this subsection shall be $10.

AB444, s. 20 Section 20. 341.14 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,16,3 341.14 (6) (a) Upon application to register an automobile or station wagon or a motor truck or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds by any person who was a member of any of the U.S. armed services and who was held as a prisoner of war during any of the conflicts described in s. 45.35 (5) (e) 2. to 8. or in Bosnia, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia or a Middle East crisis under s. 45.34, and upon submission of a statement from the U.S. department of veterans affairs certifying that the person was a prisoner of war during one of the conflicts described in s. 45.35 (5) (e) 2. to 8. or in Bosnia, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia or a Middle East crisis under s. 45.34, the department shall issue to the person a special plate which is colored red, white and blue and which has the words "ex-prisoner of war" placed on the plate in the manner designated by the department.

AB444, s. 21 Section 21 . 341.14 (6m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,16,13 341.14 (6m) (a) Upon application to register an automobile, station wagon or motor truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds by any person who is a resident of this state and a member or retired member of the national guard, the department shall issue to the person special plates whose colors and design shall be determined by the department, after consultation with the adjutant general, and which have the words "Wisconsin guard member" placed on the plates in the manner designated by the department. An additional fee of $10 shall be charged for the issuance of the plates. Registration plates issued under this subsection shall expire annually.

AB444, s. 22 Section 22 . 341.14 (6m) (b) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 341.14 (6m) (b) and amended to read:

AB444,16,20 341.14 (6m) (b) Except as provided in par. (c), if an individual in possession of special plates under this subsection or of personalized plates under s. 341.145 (1) (b) does not maintain membership in the national guard during a year which is not a plate issuance year, the individual shall do all of the following: 1. Dispose dispose of the special plates in a manner prescribed by the department.

Note: Sections 22 , 23, 26 and 30 eliminate the $4 replacement fee that is charged when someone who is no longer eligible for certain special group plates reregisters a vehicle to a regular plate. These changes correspond to the changes in Sections 36 to 38, 40 and 41 of the bill that eliminate the provisions in current law which prohibit the owner of an automobile that is being registered with DOT from receiving credit for the unused portion of another automobile's registration or transferring the automobile's license plates to the automobile that is being registered, if these credit or plate transfer provisions have applied, within the previous 12-month period, to the automobile that is being registered.

AB444, s. 23 Section 23 . 341.14 (6m) (b) 2. of the statutes is repealed.

AB444, s. 24 Section 24 . 341.14 (6r) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,17,9 341.14 (6r) (b) 1. Upon application to register an automobile, station wagon or motor home, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, or a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, by any person who is a resident of this state and a member of an authorized special group, the department shall issue to the person special plates whose colors and design shall indicate that the vehicle is owned by a person who is a member of the applicable special group.

AB444, s. 25 Section 25 . 341.14 (6r) (bg) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,17,17 341.14 (6r) (bg) 1. Upon application to register an automobile, station wagon or motor home, or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, or a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, by any person who is a resident of this state and a member of the authorized special group under par. (f) 52., the department shall issue to the person special plates whose colors and design shall indicate that the vehicle is owned by a person who is a member of that special group.

AB444, s. 26 Section 26 . 341.14 (6r) (g) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB444,17,24 341.14 (6r) (g) If an individual in possession of special plates under par. (f) 33., 34. or 48. or of personalized plates under s. 341.145 (1) (c) of the same color and design as special plates under par. (f) 33., 34. or 48. does not maintain membership in the applicable authorized special group during a year that is not a plate issuance year, the individual shall dispose of the special plates in a manner prescribed by the department.

AB444, s. 27 Section 27 . 341.145 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,18,11 341.145 (1) (a) A registration plate for an owned automobile or station wagon or a motor home registered for an annual registration period under s. 341.29 or 341.295 or a motorcycle or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, or a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, which displays a registration number composed of letters or numbers, or both, requested by the applicant. Personalized registration plates under this paragraph shall be of the same color and design as regular registration plates and shall consist of numbers or letters, or both, not exceeding 5 positions and not less than one position for a plate issued for a motorcycle or not exceeding 7 positions and not less than one position for all other plates.

AB444, s. 28 Section 28 . 341.145 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,18,17 341.145 (1) (b) A registration plate of the same color and design as provided in s. 341.14 (6m) for an owned automobile, station wagon or motor truck having a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds, which displays a registration number composed of letters or numbers, or both, not exceeding 7 positions and not less than one position, requested by the applicant.

AB444, s. 29 Section 29 . 341.145 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,18,21 341.145 (2) (a) The request and alternative thereto is received by the department in writing by mail by the 15th day of the month in which the vehicle is to be registered;

Note: This Section eliminates the requirement that personalized license plates be applied for by mail. According to DOT, it was necessary to have this application-by-mail requirement at the inception of the personalized license plate program because of the competition for certain popular plate messages. However, because most of the plate messages in great demand have already been issued, and because DOT has routinized the application process, this requirement is no longer necessary.

AB444, s. 30 Section 30 . 341.145 (5) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB444,19,4 341.145 (5) If an individual in possession of a personalized registration plate does not maintain the personalized registration plate under sub. (3) during a year that is not a plate issuance year, the individual shall dispose of the personalized plate in a manner prescribed by the department.

AB444, s. 31 Section 31 . 341.25 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,19,8 341.25 (1) (a) For each automobile or station wagon, a fee of $45, except that an automobile registered in this state prior to September 1, 1947, at a fee of less than $18 shall be registered at such lesser fee plus an additional fee of $2.

AB444, s. 32 Section 32 . 341.26 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,19,19 341.26 (7) (b) When engaged in passenger-carrying operations other than as provided in par. (a) or sub. (2) (d), a school bus shall be registered as a motor bus at a fee determined under s. 341.25 (2), or as an automobile or station wagon at the fee provided in s. 341.25 (1) (a). Fees for registration under s. 341.25 (2) may be paid in accordance with ss. 341.30 and 341.31. Fees for part-quarterly registration shall be computed on the basis of one-twelfth of the annual fee multiplied by the number of months of the current quarter which have not fully expired on the date of the application. If a vehicle was not operated in other than school bus service, a statement of nonoperation satisfactory to the department shall be filed with the application.

AB444, s. 33 Section 33 . 341.264 (1) and (2) (a) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB444,20,6 341.264 (1) Upon application and payment of a fee of $50, the department shall register a semitrailer which is operated in connection with a truck tractor or hauled by a motor vehicle and used with a device which converts the semitrailer to a trailer. Except for a semitrailer registered under sub. (3), registration Registration under this section is valid without the payment of any additional fee while the registrant is the owner of the semitrailer and, with respect to the sale of a leased semitrailer to the lessee of the semitrailer, while the former lessee is the owner of the semitrailer if the lessee reimbursed the lessor of the semitrailer at the time of registration of the semitrailer for payment of the registration fee under this subsection. The department shall issue a permanent semitrailer registration plate to evidence registration under this subsection.

AB444,20,12 (2) (a) Upon the sale of a semitrailer registered under this section, the seller shall remove the registration plate and destroy it. The purchaser shall immediately apply for registration and pay the full applicable fee prescribed in sub. (1) or established under sub. (3). This paragraph does not apply to the sale of a leased semitrailer to a lessee eligible to maintain permanent registration of the semitrailer under sub. (1).

Note: Sections 33 , 34 and 43 provide that current 12-year plates for semitrailers issued under the international registration plan (IRP) would no longer be issued. Instead, these provisions permit DOT to register semitrailers under the IRP and to issue base plates for each semitrailer registered under the IRP. According to DOT, motor carriers who operate in California who must have an IRP trailer plate would have the permanent semitrailer plate if these provisions were adopted, rather than the current plate which is renewed every 12 years.

AB444, s. 34 Section 34 . 341.264 (3) of the statutes is repealed.

AB444, s. 35 Section 35 . 341.27 (3) (a) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB444,21,2 341.27 (3) (a) If the applicant holds current registration plates that were removed from an automobile that the applicant no longer owns or that has been junked, is no longer used on the highways or has been registered as a special interest vehicle under s. 341.266 (2) (a) or a reconstructed, replica, street modified or homemade vehicle under s. 341.268 (2) (a), and the plates were issued under the system of registration prescribed by this section, the department shall register the automobile which is the subject of the application for the remainder of the unexpired registration period.

Note: This Section provides that DOT must register certain automobiles for the remainder of an unexpired registration period if the application is for the reregistration of certain automobiles.

AB444, s. 36 Section 36 . 341.28 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.

Note: Sections 36 to 38, 40 and 41 repeal provisions that prohibit transfer of plates or registration credit to a vehicle if it has already been involved in a transfer or credit within the last 12 months. According to DOT, this prohibition was originally established to deter the abuse of license plate transfer provisions, but DOT has found this type of abuse to be rare. Therefore, the prohibition is no longer needed.

AB444, s. 37 Section 37. 341.28 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,21,8 341.28 (4) (c) The automobile is owned by a person who has been in active military service and less than 12 months of nonoperation have elapsed since the end of the period for which the automobile was previously registered, provided the applicant files with the department a statement of such nonoperation ; or.

AB444, s. 38 Section 38 . 341.28 (4) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

AB444, s. 39 Section 39 . 341.308 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,21,18 341.308 (2) The registration of trailers under this section shall be valid for a 6-year period and shall expire on June 30. Upon receipt of an application and the initial registration fees under sub. (3), the department shall issue a registration plate for each trailer. The registration of trailers added to the fleet during the 6-year registration period shall expire on the expiration date of the original fleet registration. If trailers are removed from the fleet during the 6-year registration period, the fleet owner shall dispose of the plates in the manner prescribed by the department.

Note: This Section deletes the June 30 registration expiration date for fleets or small trailers which will allow all trailer registrations to expire on the same date. See also the Note following Section 8.

AB444, s. 40 Section 40 . 341.31 (1) (b) 7. of the statutes is repealed.

AB444, s. 41 Section 41 . 341.31 (6) of the statutes is repealed.

AB444, s. 42 Section 42 . 341.35 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,22,10 341.35 (1) Annual registration fee. In this section "municipality" means a town, village or city and "motor vehicle" means an automobile or station wagon or motor truck registered under s. 341.25 (1) (c) at a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds. The governing body of a municipality or county may enact an ordinance imposing an annual flat municipal or county registration fee on all motor vehicles registered in this state which are customarily kept in the municipality or county. A registration fee imposed under this section shall be in addition to state registration fees.

AB444, s. 43 Section 43 . 341.405 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB444,22,14 341.405 (2m) The department may register semitrailers under the international registration plan. The department may establish a fee for registration under this subsection based on administrative cost.

AB444, s. 44 Section 44 . 342.06 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,22,19 342.06 (1) (b) A description of the vehicle, including make, model, identification number and any other information or documentation that the department may reasonably require for proper identification of the vehicle or for determination of the mileage of the vehicle as disclosed by prior transferors.

Note: Sections 44 and 45 eliminate the requirement that the vehicle title include a description of the model of the vehicle. According to DOT, the model name included on the title is currently abbreviated to 3 characters, and the system of abbreviation used by DOT causes confusion among vehicle title holders. According to DOT, because the vehicle model information is stored in DOT's database and is available through on-line inquiry, it is not necessary to show this information on the title document.

AB444, s. 45 Section 45 . 342.10 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,22,22 342.10 (1) (d) A description of the vehicle, including make, model and identification number.

AB444, s. 46 Section 46 . 342.14 (9) of the statutes is repealed.

Note: This Section repeals the $4 transfer fee for the transfer of registration or credits for registration to a vehicle currently titled in the name of the applicant.

AB444, s. 47 Section 47 . 342.15 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,23,9 342.15 (4) (a) If the vehicle being transferred is a motorcycle or an automobile or station wagon registered under s. 341.27 or a motor home or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds or a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, the owner shall remove the registration plates and retain and preserve them for use on any other vehicle of the same type and gross weight which may subsequently be registered in his or her name.

AB444, s. 48 Section 48 . 342.30 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,24,5 342.30 (2) An Except as provided in this subsection, an identification number assigned by the department to a mobile home, trailer or semitrailer shall be stamped upon the frame in a readily visible location. An identification number assigned to a motor vehicle manufactured prior to January 1, 1969, shall be permanently affixed to a location on the left front pillar. The vehicle identification number for motor vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1969, shall be permanently affixed upon either a part of the vehicle that is not designed to be removed except for repair, or a separate plate which is permanently affixed to such part. The vehicle identification number shall be located inside the passenger compartment and shall be readable, without moving any part of the vehicle, through the vehicle glazing under daylight lighting conditions by an observer having 20/20 vision (Snellen) whose eyepoint is located outside the vehicle adjacent to the left windshield pillar that is readily visible when observed from outside the vehicle, as specified by the department by rule. Identification numbers assigned for cycles shall be stamped on the left side, near the top of the engine casting just below the cylinder barrel. Such stamping or affixing shall be done under the supervision of a dealer, distributor or manufacturer registered under s. 341.51 or under the supervision of a peace officer. The person supervising the stamping or affixing shall make a report thereof to the department.

Note: This Section deletes the requirement that the vehicle identification number be permanently affixed to specific vehicle locations, and instead provides that it shall be permanently affixed to a readily visible location on the vehicle when observed from outside the vehicle, as specified by the department by rule. According to DOT, it is not always practicable to place the vehicle identification number inside the windshield, for example, without removing the windshield. DOT has already established a policy, which allows vehicle identification numbers to be placed in other visible locations. However, some vehicle owners have received citations for improper placement of the identification number because the statute still provides for specific locations. Therefore, DOT states that this change will be more workable and will eliminate confusion that currently exists among law enforcement personnel.

AB444, s. 49 Section 49 . 342.34 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,24,17 342.34 (1) (c) If the vehicle is a motorcycle or an automobile or station wagon registered under s. 341.27 or a motor home or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds or a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, the owner shall remove the registration plates and retain and preserve them for use on any other vehicle of the same type which may subsequently be registered in his or her name. If the vehicle is not a motorcycle or an automobile or station wagon registered under s. 341.27, or a motor home or a motor truck, dual purpose motor home or dual purpose farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds or a farm truck which has a gross weight of not more than 12,000 pounds, he or she shall remove and destroy the plates.

AB444, s. 50 Section 50 . 343.14 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 343.14 (5) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB444,25,5 343.14 (5) (intro.) Any No person who uses may use a false or fictitious name in any application for a license or identification card or knowingly makes make a false statement or knowingly conceals conceal a material fact or otherwise commits commit a fraud in an application for any such application may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both. of the following:

Note: Sections 50 to 53, while making no substantive changes, reorganizes s. 343.14 (5), stats., which provides that any person who uses a false or fictitious name, knowingly makes a false statement, conceals a material fact or commits fraud in an application for a license or identification card may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.

AB444, s. 51 Section 51. 343.14 (5) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB444,25,7 343.14 (5) (a) A license.

AB444, s. 52 Section 52. 343.14 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB444,25,9 343.14 (5) (b) An identification card.

AB444, s. 53 Section 53 . 343.14 (9) of the statutes is created to read:

AB444,25,12 343.14 (9) Any person who violates sub. (5) may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both.

AB444, s. 54 Section 54 . 343.19 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 343.19 (2) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB444,25,20 343.19 (2) (intro.) Any No person who may knowingly makes make a false statement in an application for a duplicate license or identification card or who fails fail to return the original license or identification card to the department upon finding it or who fails fail to comply with any other requirement of this section may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both. relating to an application for any of the following:

Note: Sections 54 to 57, while making no substantive changes, reorganizes s. 343.19, stats., which provides that any person who knowingly makes a false statement in an application for duplicate license or identification card or fails to return the original license or identification card to DOT upon finding it or who fails to comply with any other requirement of s. 343.19, stats., relating to an application for a duplicate license or identification card may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.

AB444, s. 55 Section 55. 343.19 (2) (a) of the statutes is created to read:

AB444,26,2 343.19 (2) (a) A duplicate license.

AB444, s. 56 Section 56. 343.19 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB444,26,4 343.19 (2) (b) A duplicate identification card.

AB444, s. 57 Section 57 . 343.19 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB444,26,7 343.19 (4) Any person who violates sub. (2) may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both.

AB444, s. 58 Section 58. 343.50 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB444,26,18 343.50 (4) Application. The application for an identification card shall include the information required under s. 343.14 (2) (a) and (b) and (2m), such further information as the department may reasonably require to enable it to determine whether the applicant is entitled by law to an identification card and, for applicants who are aged 65 years or older, material, as provided by the department, explaining the voluntary program that is specified in s. 71.55 (10) (b). The department shall, as part of the application process, take a photograph of the applicant to comply with sub. (3). No application may be processed without the photograph being taken. Misrepresentations are in violation of s. 343.14 (5) are punishable as provided in s. 343.14 (5) (9).