AB575: Bill Text

LRB-0442/3

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2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 575

October 15, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Wasserman, Hines, Ainsworth, Gunderson, Jeskewitz, Krug, F. Lasee, Shilling, Taylor, Towns, Zepnick and Stone, cosponsored by Senator Robson. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB575,1,4 An Act to amend 343.16 (3) (a), 343.20 (1) (a), 343.21 (1) (am), 343.21 (1) (d) and 343.21 (2) (a); and to create 343.20 (1) (bm) of the statutes; relating to: operator's license renewals for certain drivers and fees for certain driving skills tests.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person who applies for a new driver's license must, under most circumstances, demonstrate his or her knowledge of the rules of the road and his or her driving skills in a test administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Most drivers' licenses issued by DOT must be renewed every eight years. To renew a license to drive an automobile or a motorcycle, an applicant must pass a test of his or her eyesight. Current law allows the secretary of DOT to require any person to submit to additional testing to determine incompetency, incapacity, disease, or impairment that may prevent the person from exercising reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle. Under current law, most drivers pay $15 to take up to three driving skills tests.

Under this bill, the driver's license of a person at least 75 but less than 95 years of age expires every two years and the person must demonstrate his or her knowledge of traffic laws to renew the license. The license of a person who is over the age of 95 expires every year and the person must pass a test of his or her eyesight and demonstrate his or her driving skills to renew the license. Additionally, a driver who is at least 75 years of age and who commits a moving violation must demonstrate his or her driving skills before his or her license may be renewed. Under the bill, most drivers are charged $15 for each driving skills test that he or she takes.

The bill also changes, and increases, the renewal fees for drivers over the age of 75 so that the fees are paid on a "per year" basis to reflect the shortened duration of the license and the increased costs of issuing each license.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

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

AB575, s. 1 Section 1. 343.16 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB575,2,17 343.16 (3) (a) The Except as provided in s. 343.20 (1) (bm), the department shall examine every applicant for the renewal of an operator's license once every 8 years. The department may institute a method of selecting the date of renewal so that such examination shall be required for each applicant for renewal of a license to gain a uniform rate of examinations. The examination shall consist of a test of eyesight. The department shall make provisions for giving such examinations at examining stations in each county to all applicants for an operator's license. The person to be examined shall appear at the examining station nearest the person's place of residence or at such time and place as the department designates in answer to an applicant's request. In lieu of examination, the applicant may present or mail to the department a report of examination of the applicant's eyesight by an ophthalmologist, optometrist or physician licensed to practice medicine. The report shall be based on an examination made not more than 3 months prior to the date it is submitted. The report shall be on a form furnished and in the form required by the department. The department shall decide whether, in each case, the eyesight reported is sufficient to meet the current eyesight standards.

AB575, s. 2 Section 2. 343.20 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB575,3,11 343.20 (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (bm) and except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, reinstated licenses, probationary licenses issued under s. 343.085 and original licenses other than instruction permits shall expire 2 years from the date of the applicant's next birthday. All other licenses and license endorsements shall expire 8 years after the date of issuance. The department may institute any system of initial license issuance which it deems advisable for the purpose of gaining a uniform rate of renewals. In order to put such a system into operation, the department may issue licenses which are valid for any period less than the ordinary effective period of such license. If the department issues a license that is valid for less than the ordinary effective period as authorized by this paragraph, the fees due under s. 343.21 (1) (a), (b) and (d) shall be prorated accordingly.

AB575, s. 3 Section 3. 343.20 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB575,3,24 343.20 (1) (bm) A license that the department issues to a person who is at least 75 years of age but less than 95 years of age shall expire 2 years from the date of issuance and may be renewed upon administration by the department, and satisfactory completion by the driver, of a knowledge test that meets the requirement of s. 343.16 (1). A license that the department issues to a person who is at least 95 years of age shall expire one year from the date of issuance and may be renewed upon administration of a vision test that meets the requirements of s. 343.16 (3) and a driving skills test and a knowledge test that meet the requirements of s. 343.16 (1). A person who is at least 75 years of age and who commits a moving violation, specified by the department by rule, resulting in conviction may renew his or her license upon demonstrating his or her driving skills by completing a test that meets the requirements of s. 343.16 (1).

AB575, s. 4 Section 4. 343.21 (1) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB575,4,3 343.21 (1) (am) For the renewal of a license authorizing only the operation of "Class D" motor vehicles, $24, except that for a license that is renewed under s. 343.20 (1) (bm) $5 shall be paid for each year of the new renewal period.

AB575, s. 5 Section 5. 343.21 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB575,4,11 343.21 (1) (d) For the initial issuance or renewal of authorization to operate "Class A", "Class B" or "Class C" motor vehicles, or upgrading an existing regular license which only authorizes the operation of "Class D" motor vehicles, $64, except that for a license that is renewed under s. 343.20 (1) (bm) $10 shall be paid for each year of the new renewal period. This fee includes issuance of any "H", "N", "P", "S" or "T" endorsements or "Class D" authorization applied for at the same time for which the applicant is qualified.

AB575, s. 6 Section 6. 343.21 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB575,4,24 343.21 (2) (a) In addition to the fees set under sub. (1), any applicant whose application for a permit, license, upgrade or endorsement, taken together with the applicant's currently valid license, if any, requires the department to administer a driving skills test of the applicant's ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle shall pay to the department an examination fee of $20 for an examination in a commercial motor vehicle other than a school bus and $15 for an examination in any other vehicle. Payment of the examination fee entitles the applicant to not more than 3 tests of the applicant's ability to exercise reasonable control in the operation of a motor vehicle. If the applicant does not qualify for issuance of a license, upgraded license or endorsement in 3 such tests, then a 2nd examination fee in the same amount shall be paid, which payment entitles the applicant to not more than 3 additional tests.

AB575, s. 7 Section 7. Initial applicability.

AB575,5,2 (1) This act first applies to applications for an original license or a renewal submitted on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.

AB575,5,3 (End)