AB789: Bill Text

LRB-4275/1

PEN:wlj:jf

1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE

1999 Assembly BILL 789

February 23, 2000 - Introduced by Representatives Brandemuehl, Huber, Urban, Spillner, J. Lehman, Hasenohrl, Wasserman, Goetsch, Sykora, Stone, Petrowski, Gunderson, Hundertmark, Kaufert, Townsend, Vrakas and Albers, cosponsored by Senator Farrow. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB789,1,3 An Act to amend 343.14 (3), 343.16 (3) (a), 343.20 (1) (a), 343.21 (1) (am), 343.21 (1) (bg) and 343.21 (1) (d) of the statutes; relating to: the valid period of drivers' licenses issued to persons 70 years of age or older.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, most drivers' licenses issued by the department of transportation (DOT) must be renewed every eight years. To renew a license to drive automobiles or motorcycles, an applicant must pass a test of his or her eyesight. The secretary of DOT may require any applicant for a license (or any licensed driver at any time the secretary has good cause to believe that the licensed driver is incompetent or otherwise not qualified to be licensed) to submit to a special examination to determine incompetency, physical or mental disability, disease or any other condition that might prevent the applicant or licensed person from exercising reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.

This bill requires that a regular driver's license issued to an applicant who is 70 years of age or older be renewed every four years after the initial period of the license. To reflect the shortened duration, the bill also reduces by 50% the driver's license renewal fees payable by applicants who are 70 years of age or older.

The bill does not shorten the valid period of any license or endorsement currently issued, and will apply only to licenses that are renewed or applied for after this bill takes effect. The bill does not change the valid period of reinstated licenses, probationary licenses and original licenses, that are valid for a period of two years.

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:

AB789, s. 1 Section 1. 343.14 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB789,2,11 343.14 (3) The department shall, as part of the application process, take a photograph of the applicant to comply with s. 343.17 (3) (a) 2. Except where specifically exempted by statute or by rule of the department, no application may be processed without the photograph being taken. In the case of renewal licenses, the photograph shall be taken once every 8 years or, if the applicant is 70 years of age or older, once every 4 years, and shall coincide with the appearance for examination which is required under s. 343.16 (3). The department may make provision for issuance of a license without a photograph if the applicant is stationed outside the state in military service and in specific situations where the department deems such action appropriate.

AB789, s. 2 Section 2. 343.16 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB789,3,8 343.16 (3) (a) Except as provided in s. 343.20 (1) (f), the department shall examine every applicant for the renewal of an operator's license once every 8 years or, if the applicant is 70 years of age or older, once every 4 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.

AB789, s. 3 Section 3. 343.20 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB789,3,21 343.20 (1) (a) 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 or, if the applicant is 70 years of age or older, 4 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.

AB789, s. 4 Section 4. 343.21 (1) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB789,3,24 343.21 (1) (am) For the renewal of a license authorizing only the operation of "Class D" motor vehicles, $24 or, if the applicant is 70 years of age or older, $12.

AB789, s. 5 Section 5. 343.21 (1) (bg) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB789,4,3 343.21 (1) (bg) For the renewal of authorization to operate "Class M" motor vehicles, $8 in addition to any other fees due or, if the applicant is 70 years of age or older, $4 in addition to any other fees due.

AB789, s. 6 Section 6. 343.21 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB789,4,10 343.21 (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 or, if the applicant is 70 years of age or older, $32. 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.

AB789, s. 7 Section 7. Initial applicability.

AB789,4,13 (1) This act first applies to applications for initial issuance or renewal submitted on the first day of the 4th month beginning after publication.

AB789,4,14 (End)