AB486: Bill Text

LRB-1821/1

PJH:hmh:rs

2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Assembly BILL 486

August 31, 2001 - Introduced by Representatives Ainsworth, Krawczyk, Lippert, Owens, Powers, Ryba, Sykora and Townsend, cosponsored by Senator Roessler. Referred to Committee on Highway Safety.

AB486,1,3 An Act to renumber and amend 347.26 (8); and to amend 347.26 (1) and 347.26 (11) (a) of the statutes; relating to: lighting requirements for mail, newspaper, and periodical delivery vehicles.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, motor vehicles that are used to deliver mail may be, but are not required to be, equipped with a top-mounted flashing amber lamp or strobe lamp to warn other motorists of the traffic hazard that may be created when the vehicle is being used to deliver mail. Also under current law, any motor vehicle may be equipped with flashing warning lamps that may be used whenever the vehicle poses a traffic hazard to other motorists. Directional signal lamps may be used as flashing warning lamps if they meet certain performance standards. However, current rules promulgated by the department of transportation require every motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1969 to be equipped with flashing warning lamps or with directional signal lamps that meet the performance standards for flashing warning lamps.

This bill requires all motor vehicles used to deliver mail, newspapers, or periodicals to employ at least one of the following whenever the vehicle is being used for delivery: a top-mounted flashing amber lamp or strobe lamp, flashing warning lamps, or directional signals that meet the performance requirements of flashing warning lamps.

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

AB486, s. 1 Section 1. 347.26 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB486,2,7 347.26 (1) General restrictions. A vehicle need not be equipped with the lamps specified in this section, except as provided in subs. (6) and (8), but if a vehicle is equipped with any such lamps, no person shall operate such the vehicle on a highway during hours of darkness unless such the lamps comply with the requirements of this section and no person shall use such the lamps in a manner inconsistent with this section.

AB486, s. 2 Section 2. 347.26 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 347.26 (8) (a) 1. and amended to read:

AB486,2,15 347.26 (8) Warning lamps for mail, newspaper, or periodical delivery vehicles. (a) 1. Any vehicle used for mail delivery may to deliver mail, newspapers, or periodicals shall be equipped with a flashing amber lamp or strobe light mounted at the highest practicable point and showing to the front and rear that may be used only to warn other motorists of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing when.

AB486,2,18 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply if the vehicle used to deliver mail, newspapers, or periodicals is equipped with flashing warning lamps, as described in s. 347.26 (11) (a).

AB486,2,20 (b) Lamps specified under par. (a) 1. or 2. shall be used whenever the vehicle is being used to deliver mail, newspapers, or periodicals.

AB486, s. 3 Section 3. 347.26 (11) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB486,3,15 347.26 (11) (a) Any Except as provided in sub. (8), any vehicle may be equipped with lamps which that may be used for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing, and when so equipped may display such the warning in addition to any other warning signals required by this section. The lamps used to display such the warning to the front shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall display simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, or any shade of color between white and amber. The lamps used to display such the warning to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights, or any shade of color between amber and red. These warning lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night. Directional signals meeting the requirements of this chapter shall be used or lamps meeting these requirements, mounted so as to comply with turn signal installation.

AB486, s. 4 Section 4. Effective date.

AB486,3,18 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.

AB486,3,19 (End)