AB929: Bill Text

LRB-2459/1

PEN:wlj:mrc

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly BILL 929

March 28, 2000 - Introduced by Representatives Suder, Ainsworth, Gunderson, Musser, Ryba, Stone and Vrakas, cosponsored by Senators Fitzgerald and Roessler. Referred to Committee on Highway Safety.

AB929,1,5 An Act to renumber and amend 346.01 (2); to amend 346.17 (5), 346.22 (1) (b), 346.43 (1) (b) 3., 346.49 (1) (c), 346.60 (3m) (a), 346.65 (5m) and 349.06 (3); and to create 346.01 (2) (em) of the statutes; relating to: penalties for certain traffic offenses committed where persons working in emergency response zones are at risk from traffic and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the amount of any applicable minimum and maximum fine or forfeiture is doubled for specified traffic violations committed where persons working in a highway maintenance or construction area or utility work area are at risk from traffic. These traffic violations include failing to follow certain traffic signs and signals, failing to follow certain orders of traffic officers, exceeding certain maximum speed limits and driving recklessly.

This bill doubles the amount of any applicable minimum and maximum fine or forfeiture for committing one of those specified traffic violations where persons working on or near an authorized emergency vehicle that is stopped in a highway right-of-way are at risk from traffic.

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

AB929, s. 1 Section 1. 346.01 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 346.01 (2) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB929,2,3 346.01 (2) (intro.) In this chapter, notwithstanding:

AB929,2,7 (o) Notwithstanding s. 340.01 (42), "owner" means, with respect to a vehicle that is registered, or is required to be registered, by a lessee of the vehicle under ch. 341, the lessee of the vehicle for purposes of vehicle owner liability under ss. 346.175, 346.195, 346.205, 346.457, 346.465, 346.485, 346.505 (3) and 346.945.

AB929, s. 2 Section 2. 346.01 (2) (em) of the statutes is created to read:

AB929,2,12 346.01 (2) (em) "Emergency response zone" means the entire area of roadway beginning 500 feet from an authorized emergency vehicle that is stopped on a highway and ending where traffic may return to its normal flow without impeding work on or around the authorized emergency vehicle.

AB929, s. 3 Section 3. 346.17 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB929,2,18 346.17 (5) If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.04 (1) or (2) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, in an emergency response zone or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in sub. (1) for the violation shall be doubled.

AB929, s. 4 Section 4. 346.22 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB929,2,24 346.22 (1) (b) If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.18 (6) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, in an emergency response zone or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in par. (a) for the violation shall be doubled.

AB929, s. 5 Section 5. 346.43 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB929,3,5 346.43 (1) (b) 3. If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.37 or 346.39 where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area , in an emergency response zone or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in subd. 1. for the violation shall be doubled.

AB929, s. 6 Section 6. 346.49 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB929,3,11 346.49 (1) (c) If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.46 (1) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, in an emergency response zone or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in par. (a) for the violation shall be doubled.

AB929, s. 7 Section 7. 346.60 (3m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB929,3,17 346.60 (3m) (a) If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h) or (5) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, in an emergency response zone or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in sub. (2) or (3) for the violation shall be doubled.

AB929, s. 8 Section 8. 346.65 (5m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB929,3,23 346.65 (5m) If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.62 (2) to (4) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, in an emergency response zone or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture or fine specified in sub. (1), (3), (4m) or (5) for the violation shall be doubled.

AB929, s. 9 Section 9. 349.06 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB929,4,6 349.06 (3) If an operator of a vehicle violates a local ordinance in strict conformity with s. 346.04 (1) or (2), 346.18 (6), 346.27, 346.37, 346.39, 346.46 (1), 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h) or (5) or 346.62 (2) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, in an emergency response zone, as defined in s. 346.01 (2) (em), or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture for the violation shall be doubled.

AB929, s. 10 Section 10. Initial applicability.

AB929,4,9 (1) This act first applies to violations committed on the effective date of this subsection.

AB929, s. 11 Section 11. Effective date.

AB929,4,12 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication.

AB929,4,13 (End)