LRB-0927/2
ZDW:amn
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
December 5, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives E. Brooks, Bowen, Horlacher,
Jacque, Kulp, Mursau, Spiros, Steffen, Subeck, Tranel, Tusler and
Wichgers, cosponsored by Senator Marklein. Referred to Committee on
Transportation.
AB716,1,3
1An Act to amend 84.30 (3) (a) and 86.19 (1); and
to create 84.30 (2) (hm) and
286.19 (1n) of the statutes;
relating to: municipal welcome signs in the highway
3right-of-way.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill authorizes a municipality to erect and maintain within the
right-of-way of any highway within the boundaries of the municipality a municipal
welcome sign. Under the bill, “municipal welcome sign” means an official sign
erected and maintained by a municipality that the municipality determines is
necessary to inform motorists of the territorial boundaries of the municipality. The
bill provides that municipal welcome signs may not be erected within the
right-of-way of an interstate highway and are not subject to the Wisconsin manual
on traffic control devices adopted by the Department of Transportation.
Under current law, no sign may be placed within the limits of any street or
highway except as necessary for the guidance or warning of traffic, the safeguard of
children at play, or to indicate the presence of a neighborhood watch program.
Under current law, subject to exceptions, no sign visible from any interstate or
federal-aid highway may be erected or maintained. This prohibition does not apply
to directional and other official signs. The bill provides that this prohibition does not
apply to municipal welcome signs.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB716,1
1Section
1. 84.30 (2) (hm) of the statutes is created to read:
AB716,2,42
84.30
(2) (hm) “Municipal welcome sign” means an official sign erected and
3maintained by a municipality that the municipality determines is necessary to
4inform motorists of the territorial boundaries of the municipality.
AB716,2
5Section
2. 84.30 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB716,2,136
84.30
(3) (a) Directional and other official signs, including, but not limited to,
7municipal welcome signs and signs pertaining to natural wonders, scenic and
8historical attractions, which are required or authorized by law, and which comply
9with rules which shall be promulgated by the department relative to their lighting,
10size, number, spacing and such other requirements as are appropriate to implement
11this section, but such rules shall not be inconsistent with, nor more restrictive than,
12such national standards as may be promulgated from time to time by the secretary
13of transportation of the United States under
23 USC 131 (c).
AB716,3
14Section
3. 86.19 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB716,2,1915
86.19
(1) Except as provided in sub. (1m)
or (1n) or s. 84.01 (30) (g), no sign shall
16be placed within the limits of any street or highway except such as are necessary for
17the guidance or warning of traffic or as provided by ss. 60.23 (17m) and 66.0429. The
18authorities charged with the maintenance of streets or highways shall cause the
19removal therefrom and the disposal of all other signs.
AB716,4
20Section
4. 86.19 (1n) of the statutes is created to read:
AB716,3,321
86.19
(1n) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a municipality may erect and maintain
22within the right-of-way of any highway within the boundaries of the municipality
23a municipal welcome sign, as defined in s. 84.30 (2) (hm). No sign under this
24subsection may be placed within the right-of-way of a highway designated as part
25of the national system of interstate and defense highways. A sign placed under this
1subsection is not a traffic control device and is not subject to the provisions of the
2Wisconsin manual on traffic control devices adopted by the department under s.
384.02 (4) (e).
