AB313: Bill Text

LRB-2502/1

PEN:jlg:km

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly BILL 313

April 27, 1999 - Introduced by Representatives Gard, Brandemuehl, Ainsworth, La Fave, Musser, Kelso, Seratti and Kreibich, cosponsored by Senators Drzewiecki, Breske, Panzer and Zien. Referred to Committee on Highway Safety.

AB313,1,2 An Act to amend 346.14 (1) of the statutes; relating to: the distance between vehicles.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law prohibits the operator of any motor vehicle from following another motor vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, considering the speed of the vehicles and the conditions of traffic and road surface. In addition, the operator of a motor truck having a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more must remain at least 500 feet behind the nearest preceding vehicle.

This bill eliminates the "reasonable and prudent" minimum following distance and substitutes a fixed minimum following distance between certain vehicles. Under the bill, no operator of a motor vehicle having a gross weight of less than 10,000 pounds (generally motorcycles, automobiles and light-duty trucks) may follow a vehicle closer than 200 feet. The bill retains the current prohibition against heavier motor trucks following closer than 500 feet.

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

AB313, s. 1 Section 1. 346.14 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB313,2,2 346.14 (1) The operator of a motor vehicle shall having a gross weight of less than 10,000 pounds may not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent 200 feet, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.

AB313, s. 2 Section 2. Initial applicability.

AB313,2,5 (1) This act first applies to motor vehicles operated on the effective date of this subsection.

AB313,2,6 (End)