AB818: Bill Text

LRB-3311/2

PEN:kmg:kjf

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly BILL 818

February 29, 2000 - Introduced by Representatives Berceau, Musser, Riley, Gunderson and Hasenohrl, cosponsored by Senator Burke. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB818,1,2 An Act to create 347.435 of the statutes; relating to: handles and locks on doors leading to the passenger compartment of certain passenger vehicles.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill prohibits the owner or lessee of a larger passenger vehicle from permitting the operation of the vehicle unless each door leading to the passenger seating compartment is equipped with a handle that is operable from within the compartment. The bill also requires that each lock on a door leading to the passenger seating compartment be operable from within the compartment. These requirements apply only to motor vehicles designed or intended to transport the operator and at least 6 but not more than 14 passengers. No demerit points may be assessed against an owner or lessee who violates these requirements, unless the owner or lessee was operating the vehicle at the time of the violation. The bill does not prohibit the use of child safety door latches that are the original equipment of the vehicle's manufacturer. The bill does not apply to police vehicles.

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

AB818, s. 1 Section 1. 347.435 of the statutes is created to read:

AB818,2,9 347.435 Operable interior door handles on larger passenger vehicles. (1) No owner or lessee of a motor vehicle that is designed or intended to transport the operator and at least 6 but not more than 14 passengers may operate or permit the operation of the motor vehicle unless each door that leads directly into a compartment containing designated seating accommodations is equipped with a door handle or latch release control that, unless locked, is operable from the compartment and unless each lock on a door described in this subsection is operable from the compartment. This subsection does not prohibit the use of child safety door latches that prevent doors from being opened from the interior of the passenger compartment, if the child safety door latches are original equipment of the vehicle's manufacturer.

AB818,2,12 (2) No demerit points may be assessed under s. 343.32 against the operator's license of the owner or lessee of the motor vehicle for a violation of sub. (1) unless the owner or lessee was operating the motor vehicle at the time of the violation.

AB818,2,14 (3) This section does not apply to police vehicles, whether publicly or privately owned.

AB818, s. 2 Section 2. Initial applicability.

AB818,2,17 (1) This act first applies to motor vehicles operated on the effective date of this subsection.

AB818, s. 3 Section 3. Effective date.

AB818,2,20 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication.

AB818,2,21 (End)