346.71
346.71
Coroners or medical examiners to report; require blood specimen. 346.71(1)
(1) Every coroner or medical examiner shall, on or before the 10th day of each month, report in writing any accident involving a motor vehicle occurring within the coroner's or medical examiner's jurisdiction resulting in the death of any person during the preceding calendar month. If the accident involved an all-terrain vehicle, the report shall be made to the department of natural resources and shall include the information specified by that department. If the accident involved any other motor vehicle, the report shall be made to the department and shall include the information specified by the department. The coroner or medical examiner of the county where the death occurs, if the accident occurred in another jurisdiction, shall, immediately upon learning of the death, report it to the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the accident occurred, as provided in
s. 979.01 (1).
346.71(2)
(2) In cases of death involving a motor vehicle in which the decedent was the operator of a motor vehicle, a pedestrian 14 years of age or older or a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device operator 14 years of age or older and who died within 6 hours of the time of the accident, the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the death occurred shall require that a blood specimen of at least 10 cc. be withdrawn from the body of the decedent within 12 hours after his or her death, by the coroner or medical examiner or by a physician so designated by the coroner or medical examiner or by a qualified person at the direction of the physician. All funeral directors shall obtain a release from the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the accident occurred as provided in
s. 979.01 (4) prior to proceeding with embalming any body coming under the scope of this section. The blood so drawn shall be forwarded to a laboratory approved by the department of health and family services for analysis of the alcoholic content of the blood specimen. The coroner or medical examiner causing the blood to be withdrawn shall be notified of the results of each analysis made and shall forward the results of each such analysis to the department of health and family services. If the death involved a motor vehicle, the department shall keep a record of all such examinations to be used for statistical purposes only and the department shall disseminate and make public the cumulative results of the examinations without identifying the individuals involved. If the death involved an all-terrain vehicle, the department of natural resources shall keep a record of all such examinations to be used for statistical purposes only and the department of natural resources shall disseminate and make public the cumulative results of the examinations without identifying the individuals involved.
346.71(3)
(3) In a case of death involving a motor vehicle in which the accident and the death occur in different counties, the county where the death occurs may charge the county where the accident occurs a reasonable fee for withdrawing the blood specimen from the body of the decedent as required under
sub. (2).
346.71 Annotation
Coroners' blood test records under sub. (2) are not confidential. Test results are presumptively accurate. Staples v. Glienke,
142 Wis. 2d 19,
416 N.W.2d 920 (Ct. App. 1987).
346.72
346.72
Garages to keep record of repairs of accident damage. The person in charge of any garage or repair shop to which is brought any motor vehicle which shows evidence of having been involved in an accident shall keep a record of the date such vehicle is brought in and the nature of the repair, the name and address of the owner, and the make, year and registration number of the vehicle. Such record shall be kept in the place of business during business hours and shall be open to inspection by any traffic officer. Shop records normally kept by garages and repair shops are adequate for the purpose of this section if they contain the information specified in this section.
346.73
346.73
Accident reports not to be used in trial. Notwithstanding
s. 346.70 (4) (f), accident reports required to be filed with or transmitted to the department or a county or municipal authority shall not be used as evidence in any judicial trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident, except that such reports may be used as evidence in any administrative proceeding conducted by the department. The department shall furnish upon demand of any person who has or claims to have made such a report, or upon demand of any court, a certificate showing that a specified accident report has or has not been made to the department solely to prove a compliance or a failure to comply with the requirement that such a report be made to the department.
346.74
346.74
Penalty for violating sections 346.67 to 346.73. 346.74(1)(1) Any person violating
s. 346.72 may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
346.74(2)
(2) Any person violating
s. 346.70 (1),
(2) or
(3),
346.71 or
346.73 may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $200 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
346.74(4)
(4) Any person violating
s. 346.70 (5) may be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $50.
346.74(5)(a)
(a) Shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both if the accident did not involve death or injury to a person.
346.74(5)(b)
(b) May be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both if the accident involved injury to a person but the person did not suffer great bodily harm.
346.74(5)(c)
(c) Is guilty of a Class E felony if the accident involved injury to a person and the person suffered great bodily harm.
346.74(5)(d)
(d) Is guilty of a Class D felony if the accident involved death to a person.
346.74(5)(e)
(e) Is guilty of a felony if the accident involved death or injury to a person.
346.74(6)(a)(a) A vehicle owner or other person found liable under
s. 346.675 with respect to a violation of
s. 346.67 (1) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000.
346.74(6)(b)
(b) A vehicle owner or other person found liable under
s. 346.675 with respect to a violation of
s. 346.68 or
346.69 may be required to forfeit not more than $100.
346.74(6)(c)
(c) Imposition of liability under
s. 346.675 shall not result in suspension or revocation of a person's operating privilege under
s. 343.30 or
343.31, nor shall it result in demerit points being recorded on a person's driving record under
s. 343.32 (2) (a).
BICYCLES, ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES, AND PLAY VEHICLES
346.77
346.77
Responsibility of parent or guardian for violation of bicycle and play vehicle regulations. No parent or guardian of any child shall authorize or knowingly permit such child to violate any of the provisions of
ss. 346.78 to
346.804 and
347.489.
346.77 History
History: 1983 a. 243 s.
66;
2001 a. 90.
346.78
346.78
Play vehicles not to be used on roadway. No person riding upon any play vehicle may attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway or go upon any roadway except while crossing a roadway at a crosswalk.
346.78 History
History: 1983 a. 243.
346.79
346.79
Special rules applicable to bicycles. Whenever a bicycle is operated upon a highway, bicycle lane or bicycle way the following rules apply:
346.79(1)
(1) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
346.79(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), no bicycle may be used to carry or transport more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed.
346.79(2)(b)
(b) In addition to the operator, a bicycle otherwise designed to carry only the operator may be used to carry or transport a child seated in an auxiliary child's seat or trailer designed for attachment to a bicycle if the seat or trailer is securely attached to the bicycle according to the directions of the manufacturer of the seat or trailer.
346.79(3)
(3) No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.
346.79(4)
(4) No person riding a bicycle shall attach himself or herself or his or her bicycle to any vehicle upon a roadway.
346.79(5)
(5) No person may ride a moped or motor bicycle with the power unit in operation upon a bicycle way.
346.79 Annotation
Sub. (2) is violated when 2 persons ride on a single bicycle designed for one person to which an additional seat, but no footrests or handgrips, has been added. 61 Atty. Gen. 360.
346.80
346.80
Riding bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device on roadway. 346.80(1)
(1) In this section, "substandard width lane" means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
346.80(2)(a)(a) Any person operating a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb of the unobstructed traveled roadway, including operators who are riding 2 or more abreast where permitted under
sub. (3), except:
346.80(2)(a)1.
1. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
346.80(2)(a)2.
2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
346.80(2)(a)3.
3. When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions, including fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to ride along the right-hand edge or curb.
346.80(2)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
par. (a), any person operating a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a one-way highway having 2 or more lanes available for traffic may ride as near the left-hand edge or curb of the roadway as practicable.
346.80(2)(c)
(c) Any person operating a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a roadway shall exercise due care when passing a standing or parked vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction, allowing a minimum of 3 feet between the bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device and the vehicle, and shall give an audible signal when passing a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device rider proceeding in the same direction.
346.80(3)(a)(a) Persons riding bicycles or electric personal assistive mobility devices upon a roadway may ride 2 abreast if such operation does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device operators riding 2 abreast on a 2-lane or more roadway shall ride within a single lane.
346.80(3)(b)
(b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than 2 abreast except upon any path, trail, lane or other way set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles and electric personal assistive mobility devices.
346.80(4)
(4) No person may operate a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, or moped upon a roadway where a sign is erected indicating that bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, or moped riding is prohibited.
346.80(5)
(5) Except as provided in
ss. 346.23,
346.24,
346.37, and
346.38, every rider of a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device shall, upon entering on a highway, yield the right-of-way to motor vehicles.
346.803
346.803
Riding bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device on bicycle way. 346.803(1)
(1) Every person operating a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a bicycle way shall:
346.803(1)(a)
(a) Exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device rider or a pedestrian proceeding in the same direction.
346.803(1)(b)
(b) Obey each traffic signal or sign facing a roadway which runs parallel and adjacent to a bicycle way.
346.803(2)
(2) Every person operating a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a bicycle way open to 2-way traffic shall ride on the right side of the bicycle way.
346.803(3)
(3) Every operator of a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device entering a bicycle way shall yield the right-of-way to all bicycles and pedestrians in the bicycle way.
346.803(4)
(4) Except as provided in
s. 349.236 (1) (bm), a person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device upon any bicycle path.
346.803 History
History: 1973 c. 182;
2001 a. 90.
346.804
346.804
Riding bicycle on sidewalk. When local authorities under
s. 346.94 (1) permit bicycles on the sidewalk, every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device rider or a pedestrian proceeding in the same direction.
346.804 History
History: 1973 c. 182;
2001 a. 90.
346.805
346.805
Riding electric personal assistive mobility device on sidewalk. Except as provided in
ss. 346.94 (18) (a) 2. and
349.236 (1) (b), a person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device upon any sidewalk. Every person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or bicyclist and shall exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing a bicycle or other electric personal assistive mobility device or a pedestrian proceeding in the same direction.
346.805 History
History: 2001 a. 90.
346.82
346.82
Penalty for violating sections 346.77 to 346.805. 346.82(2)
(2) Any person violating
s. 346.78 or
346.79 (4) may be required to forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $20 for the first offense and not less than $25 nor more than $50 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
MISCELLANEOUS RULES
346.87
346.87
Limitations on backing. The operator of a vehicle shall not back the same unless such movement can be made with reasonable safety.
346.88
346.88
Obstruction of operator's view or driving mechanism. 346.88(1)(1) No person shall drive a vehicle when it is so loaded or when there are in the front seat such number of persons, or any persons so situated, as to obstruct the view of the operator to the front or to the sides or as to interfere with the operator having free use of both hands and feet to the operating mechanisms or controls of the vehicle.
346.88(2)
(2) No passenger in a vehicle shall ride in such a position as to interfere with the operator's view ahead or to the sides or to interfere with the operator's control of the operating mechanism of the vehicle.
346.88(3)(a)(a) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, front side wings, side windows in the driver's compartment or rear window of such vehicle other than a certificate or other sticker issued by order of a governmental agency. Such permitted sticker shall not cover more than 15 square inches of glass surface and shall be placed in the lower left-hand corner of the windshield; the left corner being on the driver's left when seated behind the wheel.
346.88(3)(b)
(b) No person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway with any object so placed or suspended in or upon the vehicle so as to obstruct the driver's clear view through the front windshield.
346.88(3)(c)
(c) No person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway so loaded or with any object so placed or suspended in or upon the vehicle so as to obstruct the driver's clear vision through the rear window unless such vehicle is equipped with an outside rear view mirror meeting the requirements of
s. 347.40.
346.88(3)(d)
(d) Signal lamps used by authorized emergency vehicles shall not be considered a violation of this section.
346.88(4)
(4) The windshield, side wings and side and rear windows of a motor vehicle shall be kept reasonably clean at all times.
346.89
346.89
Inattentive driving. 346.89(1)
(1) No person while driving a motor vehicle shall be so engaged or occupied as to interfere with the safe driving of such vehicle.
346.89(2)
(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle equipped with any device for visually receiving a television broadcast when such device is located in the motor vehicle at any point forward of the back of the operator's seat or when such device is visible to the operator while driving the motor vehicle.
346.90
346.90
Following emergency vehicle. The operator of any vehicle other than one on official business shall not follow an authorized emergency vehicle responding to a call or alarm closer than 500 feet or drive into or park his or her vehicle within the block where, or within 300 feet of the driveway entrance or similar point of access to a driveway or road on which, fire apparatus has stopped in response to an alarm. The personal vehicles of members of a volunteer fire department answering the alarm are considered on official business.
346.90 History
History: 1975 c. 253,
421.
