AB181: Bill Text

LRB-0624/2

ARG:nwn&jld:rs

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 181

April 2, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Krusick, Gundrum, Stone, Ballweg, Cullen, Gunderson, Kaufert, Kerkman, Kleefisch, Knodl, LeMahieu, Lothian, Mursau, Nass, Nygren, A. Ott, J. Ott, Pridemore, Ripp, Spanbauer, Suder, Townsend, Turner, Zipperer and Zepnick, cosponsored by Senators Carpenter, Lazich, Darling, Grothman, Kanavas, A. Lasee, Lehman, Plale and Schultz, by request of the family of Nicholas Dams, the family of Kristy Wanek, Greendale Police Chief Rob Dams, father of Nicholas, Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, Wisconsin County Police Association, Milwaukee Police Association, Milwaukee County Law Enforcement Executives Association, Milwaukee Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Ethics.

AB181,1,8 An Act to repeal 343.05 (5) (b) 3., 343.31 (1) (hm), 343.44 (1) (am), 343.44 (2) (am) and 343.44 (2) (e) to (h); to renumber 343.05 (5) (a); to renumber and amend 343.44 (2) (a) and 343.44 (2) (as); to amend 343.05 (5) (b) 1., 343.30 (1g), 343.30 (2j) (a), 343.31 (2m) and 343.44 (2) (b) (intro.); and to create 343.05 (5) (ag), 343.05 (5) (b) 4. and 5., 343.30 (1d), 343.30 (1g) (c), 343.44 (2) (ad), 343.44 (2) (ag) 2. and 3., 343.44 (2) (ar) 3. and 4. and 343.44 (2) (br) of the statutes; relating to: operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver's license or after suspension or revocation of an operating privilege and providing penalties.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle on the highway during any period in which the person's motor vehicle operating privilege is suspended (operating while suspended or OWS) or revoked (operating after revocation or OAR) or, with limited exceptions, if the person does not possess a valid operator's license (operating without a license or OWL).

Under current law, a person convicted of OWS must forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $200. In addition, a person convicted of "knowing" OWS may be required to forfeit not more than $200. A person convicted of first-offense OAR must forfeit not more than $2,500 unless the underlying operating privilege revocation was the result of specified traffic violations involving alcohol or controlled substances. A person convicted of OAR who has a prior conviction in the preceding five-year period under state statutes for OAR (but not under a local ordinance) or for whom the underlying operating privilege revocation was the result of specified traffic violations involving alcohol or controlled substances must be fined not more than $2,500 or imprisoned for not more than one year or both. Also under current law, as created in 2005 Wisconsin Act 412, a person who, in the course of a "knowing" OWS violation or OAR violation, causes: 1) damage to the property of another must forfeit $1,000; 2) injury to another person must forfeit $5,000; or 3) great bodily harm or death to another person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 or a maximum term of imprisonment of nine months or both.

Under current law, with limited exceptions, a person convicted of OWL with respect to a motor vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle may be required to forfeit not more than $200 for the first offense, may be fined not more than $300 and imprisoned for not more than 30 days for the second offense occurring within three years, and may be fined not more than $500 and imprisoned for not more than six months for the third or subsequent offense occurring within three years. Under one exception, if the OWL violation results from the person's operator's license being expired for not more than three months and the person has no prior OWL convictions, the person may be required to forfeit not more than $100 for the OWL violation. Under another exception, as created in 2005 Wisconsin Act 412, if, in the course of operating the vehicle knowingly without a valid operator's license or knowingly with an operator's license that has been revoked, suspended, or canceled, the person causes: 1) damage to the property of another, the person must forfeit $1,000; 2) injury to another person, the person must forfeit $5,000; or 3) great bodily harm or death to another person, the person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

This bill repeals "knowing" OWS as a separate and distinct violation and repeals all other provisions of 2005 Wisconsin Act 412. The bill creates new penalties for OWS, OAR, and OWL violations in which the person, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm or death to another person.

Under the bill, a person convicted of OWL or OWS who, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm to another person: 1) must forfeit not less than $5,000 nor more than $7,500 if, at the time of the violation, the person did not know, respectively, that he or she did not possess a valid operator's license or that his or her operating privilege was suspended; or 2) is guilty of a Class I felony if the person knew. A Class I felony is punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 or a maximum term of imprisonment of three and one-half years or both. If the person causes the death of another in the course of the OWL or OWS violation, the person: 1) must forfeit not less than $7,500 nor more than $10,000 if the person did not know, respectively, that he or she did not possess a valid operator's license or that his or her operating privilege was suspended; or 2) is guilty of a Class H felony if the person knew. A Class H felony is punishable by a maximum fine of $10,000 or a maximum term of imprisonment of six years or both. A person convicted of OAR who, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm to another person: 1) must be fined not less than $5,000 nor more than $7,500 or imprisoned for not more than one year or both if, at the time of the violation, the person did not know that his or her operating privilege was revoked; or 2) is guilty of a Class I felony if the person knew. If the person causes the death of another in the course of the OAR violation, the person: 1) must be fined not less than $7,500 nor more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year or both if the person did not know that his or her operating privilege was revoked; or 2) is guilty of a Class H felony if the person knew.

Under current law, a court may suspend a person's operating privilege for any period not exceeding six months upon the person's conviction for OAR or OWS or operating a commercial motor vehicle during a period in which the person is disqualified (operating while disqualified or OWD). However, a court must revoke a person's operating privilege, for a period of six months or less, upon the person's conviction for OAR, OWS, or OWD if the person has been convicted of three or more prior violations of OAR, OWS, or OWD within the preceding five-year period. In addition, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must administratively revoke a person's operating privilege, for a period of six months unless the court has ordered a revocation for a lesser period, upon receiving a record of conviction showing that the person has been convicted of OAR, OWS, or OWD if the person has been convicted of three or more prior violations of OAR, OWS, or OWD within the preceding five-year period.

This bill makes court-ordered operating privilege revocation for a fourth offense OAR, OWS, or OWD permissive rather than mandatory and eliminates the requirement that DOT administratively revoke a person's operating privilege for a fourth offense OAR, OWS, or OWD. In addition, the bill requires a court to revoke a person's operating privilege if the person is convicted of OWL, OWS, or OAR and, in the course of the violation, the person causes great bodily harm or death to another person. The bill also provides that, as with OWS and OAR, DOT may revoke a resident's operating privilege if the resident is convicted in another state for an OWL offense in the course of which the person causes great bodily harm or death to another person.

Under current law, a vehicle operator may not drive on or across a railroad crossing while any traffic officer or railroad employee signals to stop, while any warning device signals to stop, or, if any crossbuck sign is maintained at the crossing, while any train occupies or closely approaches the crossing. A vehicle operator may not drive through or around any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed. A court may revoke a person's operating privilege upon the person's first conviction of any of these violations and must revoke the person's operating privilege upon the person's second or subsequent conviction within a five-year period. The revocation is for six months.

This bill provides for suspension of a person's operating privilege, rather than revocation of the person's operating privilege, for any of these violations.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.

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:

AB181, s. 1 Section 1. 343.05 (5) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 343.05 (5) (am).

AB181, s. 2 Section 2. 343.05 (5) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:

AB181,4,4 343.05 (5) (ag) In this subsection, "great bodily harm" has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (14).

AB181, s. 3 Section 3. 343.05 (5) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB181,4,14 343.05 (5) (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. subds. 2. or 3. to 5. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) may be required to forfeit not more than $200 for the first offense, may be fined not more than $300 and imprisoned for not more than 30 days for the 2nd offense occurring within 3 years, and may be fined not more than $500 and imprisoned for not more than 6 months for the 3rd or subsequent offense occurring within 3 years. A In this paragraph, a violation of a local ordinance in conformity with this section or a violation of a law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with this section shall count as a previous offense.

AB181, s. 4 Section 4. 343.05 (5) (b) 3. of the statutes is repealed.

AB181, s. 5 Section 5. 343.05 (5) (b) 4. and 5. of the statutes are created to read:

AB181,4,21 343.05 (5) (b) 4. Except as provided in subd. 2. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) and, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm to another person is required to forfeit not less than $5,000 nor more than $7,500, except that, if the person knows at the time of the violation that he or she does not possess a valid operator's license, the person is guilty of a Class I felony.

AB181,5,5 5. Except as provided in subd. 2. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) and, in the course of the violation, causes the death of another person is required to forfeit not less than $7,500 nor more than $10,000, except that, if the person knows at the time of the violation that he or she does not possess a valid operator's license, the person is guilty of a Class H felony.

AB181, s. 6 Section 6. 343.30 (1d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB181,5,13 343.30 (1d) A court shall revoke a person's operating privilege upon the person's conviction for violating s. 343.05 (3) (a) or a local ordinance in conformity therewith if the person, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (14), to another person or the death of another person. Any revocation under this subsection shall be for a period of 6 months, unless the court orders a period of revocation of less than 6 months and places its reasons for ordering the lesser period of revocation on the record.

AB181, s. 7 Section 7. 343.30 (1g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB181,5,18 343.30 (1g) (a) Except as provided in par. Subject to pars. (b) and (c), a court may suspend a person's operating privilege for any period not exceeding 6 months upon the person's conviction for violating s. 343.44 (1) (a), (b), or (d) or a local ordinance in conformity therewith.

AB181,5,24 (b) A Except as provided in par. (c), a court shall may revoke a person's operating privilege upon the person's conviction for violating s. 343.44 (1) (a), (b), or (d) or a local ordinance in conformity therewith if the person has been convicted of 3 or more prior violations of s. 343.44 (1) (a), (b), or (d), or similar violations under s. 343.44 (1), 1997 stats., or a local ordinance in conformity therewith, within the 5-year period preceding the violation. The

AB181,6,3 (d) Any revocation under this subsection shall be for a period of 6 months, unless the court orders a period of revocation of less than 6 months and places its reasons for ordering the lesser period of revocation on the record.

AB181, s. 8 Section 8. 343.30 (1g) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB181,6,9 343.30 (1g) (c) A court shall revoke a person's operating privilege upon the person's conviction for violating s. 343.44 (1) (a) or (b), or a local ordinance in conformity with s. 343.44 (1) (a), if the person, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (14), to another person or the death of another person.

AB181, s. 9 Section 9. 343.30 (2j) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB181,6,20 343.30 (2j) (a) A court may revoke suspend a person's operating privilege upon the person's first conviction for violating s. 346.44 or 346.62 (2m) and shall revoke suspend a person's operating privilege upon the person's 2nd or subsequent conviction within a 5-year period for violating s. 346.44 or 346.62 (2m). The revocation suspension shall be for a period of 6 months. For purposes of determining prior convictions for purposes of this paragraph, the 5-year period shall be measured from the dates of the violations that resulted in the convictions. Each conviction under s. 346.44 or 346.62 (2m) shall be counted, except that convictions under s. 346.44 and 346.62 (2m) arising out of the same incident or occurrence shall be counted as a single conviction.

AB181, s. 10 Section 10. 343.31 (1) (hm) of the statutes is repealed.

AB181, s. 11 Section 11. 343.31 (2m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB181,7,9 343.31 (2m) The department may suspend or revoke, respectively, the operating privilege of any resident upon receiving notice of the conviction of that person under a law of another jurisdiction or a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state for an offense which, if the person had committed the offense in this state and been convicted of the offense under the laws of this state, would have permitted suspension or revocation of the person's operating privilege under s. 343.30 (1d) or (1g). Upon receiving similar notice with respect to a nonresident, the department may suspend or revoke the privilege of the nonresident to operate a motor vehicle in this state. The suspension or revocation shall not apply to the operation of a commercial motor vehicle by a nonresident who holds a valid commercial driver license issued by another state. A suspension or revocation under this subsection shall be for any period not exceeding 6 months.

AB181, s. 12 Section 12. 343.44 (1) (am) of the statutes is repealed.

AB181, s. 13 Section 13. 343.44 (2) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 343.44 (2) (ag) 1. and amended to read:

AB181,7,15 343.44 (2) (ag) 1. Any Except as provided in subds. 2. and 3., any person who violates sub. (1) (a) or a local ordinance in conformity therewith shall be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $200.

AB181, s. 14 Section 14. 343.44 (2) (ad) of the statutes is created to read:

AB181,7,18 343.44 (2) (ad) In this subsection, "great bodily harm" has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (14).

AB181, s. 15 Section 15. 343.44 (2) (ag) 2. and 3. of the statutes are created to read:

AB181,7,24 343.44 (2) (ag) 2. Any person who violates sub. (1) (a) and, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm to another person is required to forfeit not less than $5,000 nor more than $7,500, except that, if the person knows at the time of the violation that his or her operating privilege has been suspended, the person is guilty of a Class I felony.

AB181,8,4 3. Any person who violates sub. (1) (a) and, in the course of the violation, causes the death of another person is required to forfeit not less than $7,500 nor more than $10,000, except that, if the person knows at the time of the violation that his or her operating privilege has been suspended, the person is guilty of a Class H felony.

AB181, s. 16 Section 16. 343.44 (2) (am) of the statutes is repealed.