SB365: Bill Text

LRB-0579/1

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1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Senate BILL 365

October 5, 1995 - Introduced by Senators Rosenzweig, Burke, Zien, Darling, C. Potter and Buettner, cosponsored by Representatives Krusick, Walker, Olsen, Kelso, Green, Cullen, Grothman, F. Lasee and Ott. Referred to Committee on Transportation, Agriculture and Local Affairs.

SB365,1,2 An Act to amend 347.25 (1m) (b) and 347.25 (1m) (c); and to create 347.25 (1m) (am) of the statutes; relating to: warning lights on police vehicles.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, police vehicles may, but are not required to, be equipped with a blue light and a red light that are flashing, oscillating or rotating. These warning lights may be used only in certain law enforcement situations.

This bill permits police vehicles to be equipped with a white light that is flashing, oscillating or rotating. The use of the white light is also limited to certain law enforcement situations.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB365, s. 1 Section 1. 347.25 (1m) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

SB365,1,5 347.25 (1m) (am) A police vehicle under s. 340.01 (3) (a) may be equipped with a white light which is flashing, oscillating or rotating.

SB365, s. 2 Section 2. 347.25 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB365,2,11 347.25 (1m) (b) If the vehicle is so equipped as authorized under par. (a) or (am), the lights shall be illuminated as required under s. 346.03 when the operator of the police vehicle is exercising the privileges granted under that section. On a marked police vehicle, the blue light shall be mounted on the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light shall be mounted on the driver side of the vehicle. When in use on an unmarked police vehicle, the blue light shall be displayed on the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light shall be displayed on the driver side of the vehicle. The lights shall be designed and displayed so as to be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of 500 feet during normal sunlight and during hours of darkness. No operator of a police vehicle may use the warning lights except when responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm or when necessarily parked on a highway in a position which is likely to be hazardous to traffic using the highway.

SB365, s. 3 Section 3. 347.25 (1m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB365,2,16 347.25 (1m) (c) If the state or any local authority intends to equip its police vehicles as authorized under par. (a) or (am), the state or the local authority shall give notice of its intent as a class 2 notice under ch. 985 at least 90 days before so equipping the first vehicle.

SB365,2,17 (End)