346.18(7)(a)(a) The operator of any vehicle intending to turn to the left into an alley or private driveway across the path of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle.
346.18(7)(b)
(b) The operator of any vehicle crossing a sidewalk or entering an alley or driveway from a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, vehicle or conveyance on the sidewalk or in the alley or driveway.
346.18 Annotation
A driver who makes a left turn that results in an accident is not always guilty of more negligence than the other driver; the comparison is for the jury. Pucci v. Rausch,
51 Wis. 2d 513,
187 N.W.2d 138 (1971).
346.19
346.19
What to do on approach of emergency vehicle. 346.19(1)(1) Upon the approach of any authorized emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive such vehicle to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right curb or the right-hand edge of the shoulder of the roadway, clear of any intersection and, unless otherwise directed by a traffic officer, shall stop and remain standing in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.
346.19(2)
(2) This section does not relieve the operator of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard under the circumstances for the safety of all persons using the highway.
346.19 History
History: 1993 a. 490.
346.19 Annotation
Section 346.19, regarding the requirements on the approach of an emergency vehicle, is the proper statute to invoke when the proof requirements for fleeing under s. 346.04 are not met.
76 Atty. Gen. 214.
346.195
346.195
Owner's liability for vehicle failing to yield the right-of-way to an authorized emergency vehicle. 346.195(1)(1) Subject to
s. 346.01 (2), the owner of a vehicle involved in a violation of
s. 346.19 (1) for failing to yield the right-of-way to an authorized emergency vehicle shall be liable for the violation as provided in this section.
346.195(2)
(2) The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle who observes a violation of
s. 346.19 (1) for failing to yield the right-of-way to an authorized emergency vehicle may prepare a written report indicating that a violation has occurred. If possible, the report shall contain the following information:
346.195(2)(a)
(a) The time and the approximate location at which the violation occurred.
346.195(2)(b)
(b) The license number and color of the vehicle involved in the violation.
346.195(2)(c)
(c) Identification of the vehicle as an automobile, motor truck, motor bus, motorcycle or other type of vehicle.
346.195(3)
(3) Within 24 hours after observing the violation, the operator of the authorized emergency vehicle may deliver the report to a traffic officer of the county or municipality in which the violation occurred. A report that does not contain all the information in
sub. (2) shall, nevertheless, be delivered and shall be maintained by the county or municipality for statistical purposes.
346.195(4)(a)(a) Within 48 hours after receiving a report containing all the information in
sub. (2) and after investigating the violation, the traffic officer may prepare a uniform traffic citation under
s. 345.11 and may personally serve it upon the owner of the vehicle.
346.195(4)(b)
(b) If with reasonable diligence the owner cannot be served under
par. (a), service may be made by leaving a copy of the citation at the owner's usual place of abode within this state in the presence of a competent member of the family at least 14 years of age, who shall be informed of the contents thereof.
346.195(4)(c)
(c) If with reasonable diligence the owner cannot be served under
par. (a) or
(b) or if the owner lives outside of the jurisdiction of the issuing authority, service may be made by certified mail addressed to the owner's last-known address.
346.195(5)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), it shall be no defense to a violation of this section that the owner was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
346.195(5)(b)
(b) The following are defenses to a violation of this section:
346.195(5)(b)1.
1. That a report that the vehicle was stolen was given to a traffic officer before the violation occurred or within a reasonable time after the violation occurred.
346.195(5)(b)2.
2. That the owner of the vehicle provides a traffic officer with the name and address of the person operating the vehicle at the time of the violation and the person so named admits operating the vehicle at the time of the violation. In such case, the person operating the vehicle and not the owner shall be charged under this section.
346.195(5)(b)3.
3. That the vehicle is owned by a lessor of vehicles and at the time of the violation the vehicle was in the possession of a lessee, and the lessor provides a traffic officer with the information required under
s. 343.46 (3). In such case, the lessee and not the lessor shall be charged under this section.
346.195(5)(b)4.
4. That the vehicle is owned by a dealer, as defined in
s. 340.01 (11) (intro.) but including the persons specified in
s. 340.01 (11) (a) to
(d), and at the time of the violation the vehicle was being operated by any person on a trial run, and the dealer provides a traffic officer with the name, address and operator's license number of the person operating the vehicle. In such case, the person operating the vehicle, and not the dealer, shall be charged under this section.
346.20
346.20
Right-of-way of funeral processions and military convoys. 346.20(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (4), the operator of a vehicle not in a funeral procession or military convoy shall yield the right-of-way at an intersection to vehicles in a funeral procession or military convoy when vehicles comprising such procession have their headlights lighted.
346.20(2)
(2) The operator of a vehicle not in a funeral procession shall not drive the vehicle between the vehicles of the funeral procession, except when authorized to do so by a traffic officer or when such vehicle is an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren.
346.20(3)
(3) Operators of vehicles not a part of a funeral procession or military convoy shall not form a procession or convoy and have their headlights lighted for the purpose of securing the right-of-way granted by this section to funeral processions or military convoys.
346.20(4)(a)(a) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession or military convoy shall yield the right-of-way in accordance with
s. 346.19 upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle giving audible signal by siren.
346.20(4)(b)
(b) Operators of vehicles in a funeral procession or military convoy shall yield the right-of-way when directed to do so by a traffic officer.
346.20(4)(c)
(c) The operator of the leading vehicle in a funeral procession or military convoy shall comply with stop signs and traffic control signals, but when the leading vehicle has proceeded across an intersection in accordance with such signal or after stopping as required by the stop sign, all vehicles in such procession may proceed without stopping, regardless of the sign or signal.
346.205
346.205
Owner's liability for vehicle failing to yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession. 346.205(1)
(1) Subject to
s. 346.01 (2), the owner of a vehicle involved in a violation of
s. 346.20 (1) for failing to yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession shall be liable for the violation as provided in this section.
346.205(2)
(2) The operator of a lead vehicle or a motorcycle escort in a funeral procession who observes a violation of
s. 346.20 (1) for failing to yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession may prepare a written report indicating that a violation has occurred. If possible, the report shall contain the following information:
346.205(2)(a)
(a) The time and the approximate location at which the violation occurred.
346.205(2)(b)
(b) The license number and color of the vehicle involved in the violation.
346.205(2)(c)
(c) Identification of the vehicle as an automobile, motor truck, motor bus, motorcycle or other type of vehicle.
346.205(3)
(3) Within 24 hours after observing the violation, the operator of the lead vehicle or motorcycle escort may deliver the report to a traffic officer of the county or municipality in which the violation occurred. A report that does not contain all the information in
sub. (2) shall nevertheless be delivered and shall be maintained by the county or municipality for statistical purposes.
346.205(4)(a)(a) Within 48 hours after receiving a report containing all the information in
sub. (2), the traffic officer may prepare a uniform traffic citation under
s. 345.11 and may personally serve it upon the owner of the vehicle.
346.205(4)(b)
(b) If with reasonable diligence the owner cannot be served under
par. (a), service may be made by leaving a copy of the citation at the owner's usual place of abode within this state in the presence of a competent member of the family at least 14 years of age, who shall be informed of the contents thereof.
346.205(4)(c)
(c) If with reasonable diligence the owner cannot be served under
par. (a) or
(b) or if the owner lives outside of the jurisdiction of the issuing authority, service may be made by certified mail addressed to the owner's last-known address.
346.205(5)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), it shall be no defense to a violation of this section that the owner was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
346.205(5)(b)
(b) The following are defenses to a violation of this section:
346.205(5)(b)1.
1. That a report that the vehicle was stolen was given to a traffic officer before the violation occurred or within a reasonable time after the violation occurred.
346.205(5)(b)2.
2. If the owner of the vehicle provides a traffic officer with the name and address of the person operating the vehicle at the time of the violation and the person so named admits operating the vehicle at the time of the violation, then the person operating the vehicle and not the owner shall be charged under this section.
346.205(5)(b)3.
3. If the vehicle is owned by a lessor of vehicles and at the time of the violation the vehicle was in the possession of a lessee, and the lessor provides a traffic officer with the information required under
s. 343.46 (3), then the lessee and not the lessor shall be charged under this section.
346.205(5)(b)4.
4. If the vehicle is owned by a dealer as defined in
s. 340.01 (11) (intro.) but including the persons specified in
s. 340.01 (11) (a) to
(d), and at the time of the violation the vehicle was being operated by any person on a trial run, and if the dealer provides a traffic officer with the name, address and operator's license number of the person operating the vehicle, then the person operating the vehicle, and not the dealer, shall be charged under this section.
346.21
346.21
Right-of-way of livestock. The operator of a motor vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to livestock being driven over or along any highway but any person in charge of such livestock shall use reasonable care and diligence to open the roadway for vehicular traffic.
346.21 History
History: 1993 a. 490.
346.215
346.215
Police escorts and rights-of-way related to escorted vehicles. 346.215(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), and notwithstanding
s. 346.03 (1) and
(4), the operator of a police vehicle escorting any vehicle or procession of vehicles may exercise the privileges specified in
s. 346.03 (2) (b) if the operator of the police vehicle is giving visual signal as described in
s. 346.03 (3). The operator of the police vehicle under this subsection is not required to give an audible signal as described in
s. 346.03 (3). This subsection applies only if the vehicle, or in the case of a procession of vehicles the entire procession, is escorted by at least 2 police vehicles, at least one of which is leading the vehicle or procession of vehicles and at least one of which is at the rear of the vehicle or procession of vehicles, and only if the requirement under
sub. (4) is satisfied. Notwithstanding
ss. 346.18 (3),
346.37 (1) (c) 1., and
346.46 (1) and
(2), any operator of a vehicle being escorted under this subsection may accompany these police vehicles as they proceed past any red or stop signal or stop sign in accordance with the privileges specified in this subsection.
346.215(2)(b)
(b) The operator of a police vehicle escorting a vehicle or procession of vehicles, and the operator of any vehicle being escorted, shall yield the right-of-way in accordance with
s. 346.19 upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle giving an audible signal by siren.
346.215(3)
(3) Except as provided in
sub. (2) (b), the operator of a vehicle other than an escorted vehicle or escorting police vehicle shall yield the right-of-way at an intersection to an escorted vehicle or escorting police vehicle and shall not, except when authorized to do so by a traffic officer, drive between these escorting and escorted vehicles.
346.215(4)
(4) The privileges specified in
sub. (2) (a) do not apply to the operator of a police vehicle unless, prior to escorting any vehicle as provided under
sub. (2) (a), the law enforcement agency employing the operator of the police vehicle has provided written guidelines for its officers and employees regarding the escorting of vehicles under this section.
346.215 History
History: 2009 a. 46.
346.22
346.22
Penalty for violating sections 346.18 to 346.21. 346.22(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b),
(c),
(d), or
(e), any person violating
s. 346.18,
346.20 (1), or
346.215 (2) (b) or
(3) may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $50 for the first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
346.22(1)(b)
(b) If an operator of a vehicle violates
s. 346.18 (6) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in
par. (a),
(c),
(d), or
(e) for the violation shall be doubled.
346.22(1)(c)
(c) If a person violates
s. 346.18 and the violation results in bodily harm, as defined in
s. 939.22 (4), to another, the person shall forfeit $200 and shall have his or her operating privilege suspended as provided in
s. 343.30 (1j).
346.22(1)(d)
(d) If a person violates
s. 346.18 and the violation results in great bodily harm, as defined in
s. 939.22 (14), to another, the person shall forfeit $500 and shall have his or her operating privilege suspended as provided in
s. 343.30 (1j).
346.22(1)(e)
(e) If a person violates
s. 346.18 and the violation results in death to another, the person shall forfeit $1,000 and shall have his or her operating privilege suspended as provided in
s. 343.30 (1j).
346.22(1)(f)
(f) If a court finds that a person violated
s. 346.18, the court shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, order the person to attend a traffic safety school as provided under
s. 345.60 (4).
346.22(3)
(3) Any person violating
s. 346.20 (2),
(3) or
(4) (b) or
(c) or
346.21 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.
346.22(3m)
(3m) A vehicle owner or other person found liable under
s. 346.195 may be required to forfeit not less than $30 nor more than $300. Imposition of liability under
s. 346.195 shall not result in suspension or revocation of a person's operating license under
s. 343.30, and shall not result in demerit points being recorded on a person's driving record under
s. 343.32 (2) (a).
346.22(4)
(4) A vehicle owner or other person found liable under
s. 346.205 may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $50 for the first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year. Imposition of liability under
s. 346.205 shall not result in suspension or revocation of a person's operating license under
s. 343.30, nor shall it result in demerit points being recorded on a person's driving record under
s. 343.32 (2) (a).
RESPECTIVE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF DRIVERS, PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLISTS, AND RIDERS OF ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES
346.23
346.23
Crossing controlled intersection or crosswalk. 346.23(1)(1) At an intersection or crosswalk where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals or by a traffic officer, the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian, or to a person who is riding a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device in a manner which is consistent with the safe use of the crosswalk by pedestrians, who has started to cross the highway on a green or "Walk" signal and in all other cases pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of electric personal assistive mobility devices shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully proceeding directly ahead on a green signal. No operator of a vehicle proceeding ahead on a green signal may begin a turn at a controlled intersection or crosswalk when a pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device crossing in the crosswalk on a green or "Walk" signal would be endangered or interfered with in any way. The rules stated in this subsection are modified at intersections or crosswalks on divided highways or highways provided with safety zones in the manner and to the extent stated in
sub. (2).
346.23(2)
(2) At intersections or crosswalks on divided highways or highways provided with safety zones where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals or by a traffic officer, the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device who has started to cross the roadway either from the near curb or shoulder or from the center dividing strip or a safety zone with the green or "Walk" signal in the favor of the pedestrian, bicyclist, or rider of an electric personal assistive mobility device.
346.23 Annotation
The duties of drivers and pedestrians under ss. 346.23 and 346.24 are discussed and compared. Schoenauer v. Wendinger,
49 Wis. 2d 415,
182 N.W.2d 441 (1971).
346.23 Annotation
Pedestrians have the right-of-way on a green light only where there are no pedestrian control signals. City of Hartford v. Godfrey,
92 Wis. 2d 815,
286 N.W.2d 10 (Ct. App. 1979).
346.24
346.24
Crossing at uncontrolled intersection or crosswalk. 346.24(1)(1) At an intersection or crosswalk where traffic is not controlled by traffic control signals or by a traffic officer, the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian, or to a person riding a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device in a manner which is consistent with the safe use of the crosswalk by pedestrians, who is crossing the highway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
