LRB-1444/1
PEN:kmg:jlb
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
February 12, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Hasenohrl, Freese, Ryba,
Gronemus, Musser, Underheim, Turner, Goetsch, Ainsworth, Linton,
Dobyns, Otte, Boyle, Seratti, Ward and Green, cosponsored by Senators
Shibilski, Breske and Schultz. Referred to Committee on Highways and
Transportation.
AB78,1,1
1An Act to create 346.915 of the statutes;
relating to: following snowplows.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with certain exceptions, no person may drive a motor vehicle
closer than 500 feet behind an authorized emergency vehicle, including a police car,
fire truck or ambulance, that is responding to a call or alarm. A person violating this
prohibition may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for a first
conviction, and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for a 2nd or subsequent
conviction within one year of the first conviction. There is no similar prohibition
applicable to follow snowplows.
This bill prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle closer than 200 feet
behind an official snowplow that is engaged in the removal or treatment of snow or
ice upon a highway having a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour or more. The
penalty for a violation is identical to the penalty for following an emergency vehicle
too closely.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB78, s. 1
2Section
1. 346.915 of the statutes is created to read:
AB78,2,3
3346.915 Following snowplow. (1) In this section, "snowplow" means a
4vehicle that is operated by a person employed by or on behalf of an authority in charge
1of the maintenance of the highway to perform highway winter maintenance snow
2and ice removal, including plowing, salting and sanding, during either a storm or
3cleanup following a storm.
AB78,2,6
4(2) The operator of any vehicle that is not a snowplow may not follow a
5snowplow closer than 200 feet upon any highway having a posted speed limit of 35
6miles per hour or more.
