AB720: Bill Text

AB720, s. 173 Section 173. 342.40 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,57,13 342.40 (3) (a) Any municipal or university police officer, sheriff's deputy, county traffic patrolman, state traffic officer or conservation warden who discovers any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or mobile home or manufactured home on any public highway or private or public property which has been abandoned shall cause the vehicle to be removed to a suitable place of impoundment. Upon removal of the vehicle the officer or warden shall notify the sheriff or chief of police of the abandonment and of the location of the impounded vehicle.

AB720, s. 174 Section 174. 343.055 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,57,23 343.055 (1) (d) Recreational vehicle operators. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a person operating a motor home, or a vehicle towing a 5th-wheel mobile home vehicle or single-unit touring mobile home travel trailer not exceeding 45 feet in length and the vehicle or combination, including both units of a combination towing vehicle and the 5th-wheel mobile home vehicle or mobile home, is both operated and controlled by the person and is transporting only members of the person's family, guests or their personal property. This paragraph does not apply to any transportation for hire or the transportation of any property connected to a commercial activity. In this paragraph, "controlled" means leased or owned.

AB720, s. 175 Section 175. 346.94 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,58,5 346.94 (8) (title) Transporting persons in mobile homes, manufactured homes or boats. Except as provided in sub. (8m), no person may operate a motor vehicle towing any mobile home, manufactured home, travel trailer or boat on a trailer upon a highway when any person is in such mobile home, manufactured home, travel trailer or boat.

AB720, s. 176 Section 176. 346.94 (8m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,58,8 346.94 (8m) (title) Transporting persons in fifth-wheel mobile homes vehicle.

AB720, s. 177 Section 177. 346.94 (8m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,58,13 346.94 (8m) (a) No person may operate a motor vehicle towing a fifth-wheel mobile home vehicle upon a highway when any person under the age of 12 years is in the fifth-wheel mobile home vehicle unless one person 16 years of age or older is also in the fifth-wheel mobile home vehicle.

AB720, s. 178 Section 178. 346.94 (8m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,58,20 346.94 (8m) (b) No person may operate a motor vehicle towing a fifth-wheel mobile home vehicle upon a highway with any person in such mobile home vehicle unless the fifth-wheel mobile home vehicle is equipped with a two-way communications system in proper working order and capable of providing voice communications between the operator of the towing vehicle and any occupant of the fifth-wheel mobile home vehicle.

AB720, s. 179 Section 179. 347.13 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,59,4 347.13 (1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, mobile home or, manufactured home, travel trailer, trailer or semitrailer upon a highway during hours of darkness unless such motor vehicle, mobile home or trailer or, manufactured home, travel trailer, semitrailer is equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted during hours of darkness, emits a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear. No vehicle originally equipped at the time of manufacture and sale with 2 tail lamps shall be operated upon a highway during hours of darkness unless both such lamps are in good working order.

AB720, s. 180 Section 180. 347.14 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,59,14 347.14 (1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, mobile home or, manufactured home, trailer or semitrailer upon a highway unless such motor vehicle, mobile home or, manufactured home, trailer or semitrailer is equipped with at least one stop lamp mounted on the rear and meeting the specifications set forth in this section. The stop lamp on a mobile home or, manufactured home, trailer or semitrailer shall be controlled and operated from the driver's seat of the propelling vehicle. A stop lamp may be incorporated with a tail lamp. No vehicle originally equipped at the time of manufacture and sale with 2 stop lamps shall be operated upon a highway unless both such lamps are in good working order.

AB720, s. 181 Section 181. 347.15 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,60,2 347.15 (1) No person may sell any new motor vehicle, other than a moped or Type 1 motorcycle, unless such motor vehicle is equipped with direction signal lamps meeting the requirements of this section. No person may operate on a highway any motor vehicle sold new after January 1, 1955, or any mobile home or manufactured home, or trailer or semitrailer sold new after January 1, 1968, other than a vehicle which is operated pursuant to s. 341.47 (1) (b) or a moped or Type 1 motorcycle, unless such vehicle is equipped with direction signal lamps meeting the requirements of this section. Any other vehicle may be equipped with such lamps. Subsection (3m) notwithstanding direction signals are not required on trailers when the rear direction signals on the towing vehicle are fully visible from all distances to the rear to 300 feet during normal sunlight when viewed from the driver's seat of the vehicle following.

AB720, s. 182 Section 182. 347.15 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,60,15 347.15 (2) Except as provided in sub. (1), there shall be at least 2 direction signal lamps showing to the front on motor vehicles and at least 2 showing to the rear on motor vehicles, mobile homes, manufactured homes, travel trailers, trailers and semitrailers, so as to indicate intention to turn right or left. Lamps showing to the front shall be located on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and lamps showing to the rear shall be located on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. Such lamps shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear. Direction signal lamps when in use shall be plainly visible and understandable from all distances to 300 feet during normal sunlight. When actuated, such lamps shall indicate the intended direction of turning by flashing the lights showing to the front and rear on the side toward which the turn is made.

AB720, s. 183 Section 183. 347.35 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,60,23 347.35 (4) (title) Mobile homes Travel trailers. No person shall manufacture and no person shall sell a mobile home travel trailer in this state unless such mobile home travel trailer is equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold it. No person shall operate on a highway any mobile home travel trailer registered as a 1940 or later year model unless such mobile home travel trailer is equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold it.

AB720, s. 184 Section 184. 347.45 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,61,10 347.45 (1) All automobiles, motor trucks, motor buses, truck tractors, trailers, semitrailers and, mobile homes, manufactured homes and travel trailers when operated upon a highway shall be completely equipped with tires inflated with compressed air and all other motor vehicles when operated on a highway shall be equipped with tires of rubber or of some material or construction of equal resiliency. No person may operate on a highway any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or, mobile home, manufactured home or travel trailer having any metal tire in contact with the roadway, except that tire chains of reasonable proportions may be used when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid, and except as provided in sub. (2) (c).

AB720, s. 185 Section 185. 347.47 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,61,13 347.47 (title) Drawbars, trailer hitches and mobile home and manufactured home couplings.

AB720, s. 186 Section 186. 347.47 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,62,5 347.47 (2) No person shall operate a motor vehicle drawing a trailer, semitrailer or travel trailer, mobile home or manufactured home upon a highway unless the hitch and coupling attaching the trailer, semitrailer or travel trailer, mobile home or manufactured home to the vehicle by which it is drawn is of such construction as to cause such trailer, semitrailer or travel trailer mobile home or manufactured home to follow in direct line with the propelling vehicle without dangerous side swing or wobble. The hitch and coupling, the surface to which they are attached, and the connections, shall be of sufficient strength to prevent failure under all conditions of operation. The hitch is that part of the connecting mechanism, including the coupling platform and its attaching members or weldments, which is attached to the towing vehicle. The coupling is that part of the connecting mechanism, including the coupling and its attaching members or weldments, which is attached to the trailer or, mobile home or manufactured home and by which connection is made to the hitch. If a device is used between the trailer proper and the coupling such as a pole, such device shall also meet the requirements of this section.

AB720, s. 187 Section 187. 347.47 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,62,18 347.47 (3) In addition to the hitch and coupling specified in sub. (2), every towed vehicle shall be coupled to the towing vehicle by means of safety chains, leveling bars or cables. This requirement does not apply to a semitrailer having a connecting device composed of a 5th wheel and kingpin assembly, nor to a pole or pipe dolly. The safety chains, leveling bars or cables shall have only the necessary slack to permit proper turning and safety chains or cables shall be so connected to the towed and towing vehicle to prevent the drawbar from dropping to the ground if the hitch or coupling disengages. Two separate lengths of safety chain, leveling bars or cable shall be required on all trailers and, mobile homes and manufactured homes; however, the department may authorize use of such other appropriate equipment or methods approved by nationally recognized organizations which recommend safety standards for motor vehicles.

AB720, s. 188 Section 188. 347.47 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,62,23 347.47 (4) Trailer, semitrailer and travel trailer, mobile home and manufactured home couplings and the safety chains, leveling bars or cables shall be of such minimum strength, design and type as established by published rule of the department.

AB720, s. 189 Section 189. 348.05 (2) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,63,2 348.05 (2) (i) A realistic body width of 8 feet 6 inches for mobile homes and manufactured homes.

AB720, s. 190 Section 190. 348.06 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,63,6 348.06 (1) No person, without a permit therefor, shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle, mobile home, manufactured home, trailer or semitrailer having an overall height in excess of 13 1/2 feet, except as otherwise provided in sub. (2).

AB720, s. 191 Section 191. 348.07 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,63,8 348.07 (2) (c) 45 feet for mobile homes and manufactured homes;

AB720, s. 192 Section 192. 348.07 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,63,11 348.07 (3) (a) The overall length of a mobile home or manufactured home shall be measured from the rear thereof to the rear of the vehicle to which it is attached.

AB720, s. 193 Section 193. 348.10 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,63,18 348.10 (5) (a) All items of load carried by any trailer, semitrailer or travel trailer, mobile home or manufactured home, except bulk material such as sand, gravel, dirt not in containers, shall be secured to, on or in the trailer, semitrailer, travel trailer, mobile home or manufactured home in such manner as to prevent shifting of the load while the trailer or, semitrailer, travel trailer, mobile home or manufactured home is being drawn by a towing vehicle.

AB720, s. 194 Section 194. 348.10 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,63,23 348.10 (5) (c) The load carried by any trailer, semitrailer or travel trailer, mobile home or manufactured home shall be so positioned that a weight of not less than 35 pounds is imposed at the center of the point of attachment to the towing vehicle when parked on a level surface.

AB720, s. 195 Section 195. 348.25 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,64,8 348.25 (6) The officer or agency authorized by s. 348.26 or 348.27 to issue permits may require the permittee to file proof satisfactory to such officer or agency that personal injury and property damage insurance in an amount considered sufficient by such officer or agency will be in force to cover any claim for bodily injury or property damage which may occur in connection with operation under the permit and for which the permittee is legally responsible. Proof of such insurance shall be required in the case of annual permits for transportation of oversize mobile homes or manufactured homes.

AB720, s. 196 Section 196. 348.26 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,64,13 348.26 (4) (title) Mobile home and manufactured home permits. Single trip permits for the movement of oversize mobile homes or manufactured homes may be issued only by the department, regardless of the highways to be used. Every such permit shall designate the route to be used by the permittee.

AB720, s. 197 Section 197. 348.27 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,64,20 348.27 (7) (title) Mobile home and manufactured home permits. The department may issue annual or consecutive month statewide permits to licensed mobile home or manufactured home transport companies and to licensed mobile home or manufactured home manufacturers and dealers authorizing them to transport oversize mobile homes or manufactured homes over any of the highways of the state in the ordinary course of their business.

AB720, s. 198 Section 198. 348.27 (7m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,65,10 348.27 (7m) Three-vehicle combinations. The department may issue an annual or consecutive month permit for the movement of a 3-vehicle combination consisting of a towing vehicle and, in order by weight, with the lighter of the towed vehicles as the 3rd vehicle in the 3-vehicle combination unless not structurally possible, a mobile home, travel trailer or camping trailer and a boat trailer, motorcycle trailer, personal watercraft trailer or all-terrain vehicle trailer, if the overall length of the combination of vehicles does not exceed 60 feet and the towed vehicles are for the use of the operator of the towing vehicle. A permit under this subsection may be issued only by the department, regardless of the highways to be used. The department may designate the routes that may be used by the permittee. The fee for an annual permit under this subsection is $40. The fee for a consecutive month permit under this subsection shall be determined in the manner provided in s. 348.25 (8) (bm), except that the $40 fee for an annual permit under this subsection shall be used in the computation.

AB720, s. 199 Section 199. 349.03 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,65,18 349.03 (2) No local authority may enact or enforce any traffic regulation providing for suspension or revocation of motor vehicle operator's licenses or requiring local registration of vehicles, except as authorized by s. 341.35, or in any manner excluding or prohibiting any motor vehicle, mobile home, manufactured home, trailer, travel trailer or semitrailer whose owner has complied with chs. 341 to 348 from the free use of all highways, except as authorized by sub. (3) and ss. 66.046 (1) and (3), 349.13, 349.17, 349.22 and 349.23.

AB720, s. 200 Section 200. 422.201 (12m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,65,23 422.201 (12m) This section does not apply to consumer credit sales of or consumer loans secured by a first lien on or equivalent security interest in mobile homes or manufactured homes as defined in s. 218.10 (2) 101.91, if the sales or loans are made on or after November 1, 1981.

AB720, s. 201 Section 201. 422.202 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,66,7 422.202 (2) (intro.) With respect to a consumer credit transaction which involves a mobile manufactured home transaction as defined in s. 138.056 (1) (c) or the extension of credit secured by an interest in real property, the parties may agree to the payment by the customer of the following charges in addition to the finance charge, if they will be paid to persons not related to the merchant, are reasonable in amount, bona fide and not for the purpose of circumvention or evasion of this subchapter:

AB720, s. 202 Section 202. 422.209 (6m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,66,15 422.209 (6m) For purpose of this section, the finance charge in a mobile manufactured home transaction as defined in s. 138.056 (1) (c) does not include fees, discounts, or other sums actually imposed by the government national mortgage association, the federal national mortgage association, the federal home loan mortgage corporation or other governmentally sponsored secondary mortgage market purchaser of the loan or any private secondary mortgage market purchaser of the loan who is not a person related to the original lender.

AB720, s. 203 Section 203. 422.402 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,66,19 422.402 (5) (intro.) This section does not apply to a mobile manufactured home transaction as defined in s. 138.056 (1) (c) made on or after November 1, 1981 and before November 1, 1984, if:

AB720, s. 204 Section 204. 422.402 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,66,25 422.402 (5) (b) The unequal or irregular payment is the final scheduled payment of the transaction, and the merchant agrees to refinance the final scheduled payment at a rate of interest not in excess of the rate disclosed pursuant to subch. III of ch. 422 by more than one percent multiplied by the number of 6-month periods in the term of the immediately prior mobile manufactured home transaction.

AB720, s. 205 Section 205. 422.413 (2g) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,67,7 422.413 (2g) (intro.) In any consumer credit transaction in which the collateral is a motor vehicle as defined in s. 340.01 (35), a trailer as defined in s. 340.01 (71), a snowmobile as defined in s. 340.01 (58a), a boat as defined in s. 30.50 (2), an aircraft as defined in s. 114.002 (3), or a mobile home or manufactured home as defined in s. 218.10 (2) 101.91, a writing evidencing the transaction may provide for the creditor's recovery of all of the following expenses, if the expenses are reasonable and bona fide:

AB720, s. 206 Section 206. 424.301 (1) (b) 1 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,67,10 424.301 (1) (b) 1. The actual cash value or stated value of any motor vehicle or, mobile home or manufactured home in which the creditor holds a security interest.

AB720, s. 207 Section 207. 707.02 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,67,16 707.02 (4) "Campground" means real property that is available for use by campground members under a campground contract and is intended for camping or outdoor recreation, including the use of campsites and campground amenities by campground members, but does not include a manufactured and mobile home park as defined in s. 66.058 (1) (e).

AB720, s. 208 Section 208. 710.15 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,67,18 710.15 (title) Mobile Manufactured and mobile home park regulations.

AB720, s. 209 Section 209. 710.15 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,67,23 710.15 (1) (a) "Lease" means a written agreement between an operator and a resident or mobile home occupant establishing the terms upon which the mobile home or manufactured home may be located in the park or the mobile home occupant may occupy a mobile home or manufactured home in the park.

AB720, s. 210 Section 210. 710.15 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB720,67,25 710.15 (1) (am) "Manufactured home" has the meaning given in s. 101.91 (2).

AB720, s. 211 Section 211. 710.15 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,68,4 710.15 (1) (b) "Mobile home" has the meaning given under s. 66.058 (1) (d) 101.91 (1) but does not include any unit used primarily for camping, touring or recreational purposes a travel trailer, as defined in s. 340.01 (72r).

AB720, s. 212 Section 212. 710.15 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,68,7 710.15 (1) (c) "Mobile home occupant "Occupant" means a person who rents a mobile home or manufactured home in a park from an operator.

AB720, s. 213 Section 213. 710.15 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,68,11 710.15 (1) (d) "Operator" means a person engaged in the business of renting plots of ground or mobile homes or manufactured homes in a park to mobile home or manufactured home owners or mobile home occupants.

AB720, s. 214 Section 214. 710.15 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,68,15 710.15 (1) (e) "Park" means a tract of land containing 2 3 or more plots of ground upon which mobile homes or manufactured homes or both are located in exchange for the payment of rent or any other fee pursuant to a lease.

AB720, s. 215 Section 215. 710.15 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,68,18 710.15 (1) (f) "Resident" means a person who rents a mobile home or manufactured home site in a park from an operator.

AB720, s. 216 Section 216. 710.15 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB720,68,24 710.15 (1m) Requirement and term of lease. Every agreement for the rental of a mobile home or manufactured home site or a mobile home or manufactured home shall be by lease. Every lease shall be for a term of at least one year unless the resident or mobile home occupant requests a shorter term and the operator agrees to the shorter term.

AB720, s. 217 Section 217. 710.15 (2) of the statutes is amended to read: