AB25: Bill Text

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly BILL 25

February 15, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Petryk, Tittl, Weatherston, Murtha, Brooks, Bies, Schraa, A. Ott, Spiros, Tranel, Stone, Endsley and Ohnstad, cosponsored by Senators Harsdorf, Moulton, Olsen, Hansen, Leibham and Schultz. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB25,1,5 An Act to amend 167.31 (4) (cg) 5., 341.09 (8), 341.14 (7), 341.14 (8) (c), 341.625 (1), 346.50 (2a) (intro.), (L) and (m) and (3), 346.503 (1), 346.505 (2) and 349.13 (1m); and to create 341.14 (1g), 341.145 (1) (g) and 341.145 (1g) (f) of the statutes; relating to: special distinguishing registration plates for motorcycles owned or leased by veterans with disabilities and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person registering a motorcycle with the Department of Transportation (DOT) who submits a statement from one of a list of specified medical care providers or the federal Department of Veterans Affairs certifying that the person has a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk may obtain a special registration plate that entitles the person to certain parking privileges. If the disability is temporary, DOT may issue a temporary registration plate for the motorcycle entitling the person to these parking privileges.

Also under current law, a veteran of the U.S. armed forces who is registering a motorcycle with DOT may obtain a special registration plate identifying the owner or lessee of the motorcycle as a veteran.

This bill establishes a special plate for motorcycles owned or leased by veterans with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk. This special plate entitles the disabled veteran to certain parking privileges and may be personalized. DOT may issue a temporary disabled veterans plate if the disability is temporary.

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:

AB25,1 Section 1. 167.31 (4) (cg) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB25,2,4 167.31 (4) (cg) 5. The vehicle bears special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), or (1m) or displays a sign that is at least 11 inches square on which is conspicuously written "disabled hunter".

AB25,2 Section 2. 341.09 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB25,2,12 341.09 (8) The department may issue a temporary operation plate to a person who is eligible for the issuance of a special plate for a motorcycle under s. 341.14 (1e) or (1g) if the department determines that the person's disability is temporary. The plate shall contain the information specified in sub. (1m) and comply with s. 341.13 (2m), if applicable. The plate shall otherwise be similar to or identical to plates issued under s. 341.14 (1e) or (1g), as applicable. No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance of a plate under this subsection.

AB25,3 Section 3. 341.14 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB25,3,8 341.14 (1g) (a) If any resident of this state, who is registering or has registered a motorcycle, submits a statement once every 4 years, as determined by the department, from the U.S. department of veterans affairs certifying to the department that the resident is, by reason of injuries sustained while in the active U.S. military service, a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk, the department shall procure, issue, and deliver to the veteran a plate of a special design in lieu of the plate which ordinarily would be issued for the motorcycle, and shall renew the plate. The statement shall state whether the disability is permanent or temporary and, if temporary, the opinion of the U.S. department of veterans affairs as to the duration of the disability. Notwithstanding s. 341.13 (2m), the plate shall be colored red, white, and blue and the department shall consult the department of veterans affairs before specifying the design of the plate. The plate shall be so designed as to readily apprise law enforcement officers of the fact that the motorcycle is owned by a disabled veteran and is entitled to the parking privileges specified in s. 346.50 (2a). No charge in addition to the registration fee may be made for the issuance or renewal of the plate.

AB25,3,13 (b) If the department determines that the disability of a veteran submitting a statement under par. (a) is temporary, a temporary operation plate may be issued to the veteran under s. 341.09 (8). A plate issued under s. 341.09 (8) shall be considered a special registration plate issued under this subsection for purposes of s. 346.50 (2a) and (3), 346.503 (1), 346.505 (2), 349.13 (1m), or 349.145.

AB25,4 Section 4. 341.14 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB25,3,18 341.14 (7) The department shall disseminate information to all applicants for registration plates under sub. (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m) or (1q) relating to the parking privileges granted under s. 346.50 (2), (2a) or (3) and their right to request enforcement of s. 346.505.

AB25,5 Section 5. 341.14 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB25,3,21 341.14 (8) (c) This subsection does not apply to a special plate issued under s. 341.14 (1) or (1g).

AB25,6 Section 6. 341.145 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB25,4,2 341.145 (1) (g) A registration plate of the same color and design as provided in s. 341.14 (1g) for a vehicle specified in s. 341.14 (1g), which displays a registration number composed of letters or numbers, or both, not exceeding 4 positions and not less than one position, requested by the applicant.

AB25,7 Section 7. 341.145 (1g) (f) of the statutes is created to read:

AB25,4,5 341.145 (1g) (f) The department may issue personalized registration plates under sub. (1) (g) to a person who qualifies for special plates under s. 341.14 (1g).

AB25,8 Section 8. 341.625 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB25,4,9 341.625 (1) Any person who fraudulently procures or uses special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m), or (1q) shall forfeit not less than $200 nor more than $500.

AB25,9 Section 9. 346.50 (2a) (intro.), (L) and (m) and (3) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB25,4,24 346.50 (2a) (intro.) Except as provided in sub. (3m), a motor vehicle bearing special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m), or (1q) or a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon which a special identification card issued under s. 343.51 is displayed or a motor vehicle registered in another jurisdiction upon which is displayed a registration plate, a card or an emblem issued by the other jurisdiction designating the vehicle as a vehicle used by a physically disabled person is exempt from any ordinance imposing time limitations on parking in any street or highway zone and parking lot, whether municipally owned or leased, or both municipally owned and leased or a parking place owned or leased, or both owned and leased by a municipal parking utility, with one-half hour or more limitation but otherwise is subject to the laws relating to parking. Where the time limitation on a metered stall is one-half hour or more, no meter payment is required. Parking privileges granted by this subsection are limited to the following:

AB25,4,25 (L) A person to whom a plate was issued under s. 341.14 (1e) or (1g).

AB25,5,2 (m) A qualified operator acting under the express direction of a person to whom a plate was issued under s. 341.14 (1e) or (1g) when such person is present.

AB25,5,13 (3) Except as provided in sub. (3m), a vehicle bearing special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m), or (1q) or a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon which a special identification card issued under s. 343.51 is displayed or a motor vehicle registered in another jurisdiction upon which is displayed a registration plate, a card or an emblem issued by the other jurisdiction designating the vehicle as a vehicle used by a person with a physical disability is exempt from s. 346.505 (2) (a) or any ordinance in conformity therewith prohibiting parking, stopping or standing upon any portion of a street, highway or parking facility reserved for persons with physical disabilities by official traffic signs indicating the restriction. Stopping, standing and parking privileges granted by this subsection are limited to the persons listed under subs. (2) and (2a) (a) to (m).

AB25,10 Section 10. 346.503 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB25,5,21 346.503 (1) In this section, "motor vehicle used by a physically disabled person" means a motor vehicle bearing special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m), or (1q) or a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon which a special identification card issued under s. 343.51 is displayed or a motor vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and displaying a registration plate, card or emblem issued by the other jurisdiction which designates the vehicle as a vehicle used by a physically disabled person.

AB25,11 Section 11. 346.505 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB25,6,6 346.505 (2) (a) Except for a motor vehicle used by a physically disabled person as defined under s. 346.503 (1), no person may park, stop or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended and whether temporarily or otherwise, upon any portion of a street, highway or parking facility reserved, by official traffic signs indicating the restriction, for vehicles displaying special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m), or (1q) or a special identification card issued under s. 343.51 or vehicles registered in another jurisdiction and displaying a registration plate, card or emblem issued by the other jurisdiction which designates the vehicle as a vehicle used by a physically disabled person.

AB25,6,15 (b) No person may park, stop or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended and whether temporarily or otherwise, upon any portion of a street, highway or parking facility so as to obstruct, block or otherwise limit the use of any portion of a street, highway or parking facility reserved, by official traffic signs indicating the restriction, for vehicles displaying special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m), or (1q) or a special identification card issued under s. 343.51 or vehicles registered in another jurisdiction and displaying a registration plate, card or emblem issued by the other jurisdiction which designates the vehicle as a vehicle used by a physically disabled person.

AB25,7,2 (c) Notwithstanding par. (b), no person may park, stop or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended and whether temporarily or otherwise, upon any portion of a street, highway or parking facility that is clearly marked as and intended to be an access aisle to provide entry to and exit from vehicles by persons with physical disabilities and which is immediately adjacent to any portion of a street, highway or parking facility reserved, by official traffic signs indicating the restriction, for vehicles displaying special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m), or (1q) or a special identification card issued under s. 343.51 or vehicles registered in another jurisdiction and displaying a registration plate, card or emblem issued by the other jurisdiction which designates the vehicle as a vehicle used by a person with a physical disability.

AB25,12 Section 12. 349.13 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB25,7,16 349.13 (1m) In addition to the requirements under s. 346.503 (1m), the department, with respect to state trunk highways outside of corporate limits and parking facilities under its jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction including state trunk highways or connecting highways within corporate limits and parking facilities within corporate limits, may, by official traffic signs indicating the restriction, prohibit parking, stopping or standing upon any portion of a street, highway or parking facility reserved for any vehicle bearing special registration plates issued under s. 341.14 (1), (1a), (1e), (1g), (1m), or (1q) or a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon which a special identification card issued under s. 343.51 is displayed or any vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and displaying a registration plate, card or emblem issued by the other jurisdiction which designates the vehicle as a vehicle used by a physically disabled person.

AB25,13 Section 13. Effective date.

AB25,7,19 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.

AB25,7,20 (End)