SB659: Bill Text

2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE

LRB-4978/2

ZDW:klm

2025 SENATE BILL 659

November 14, 2025 - Introduced by Senators Larson, Carpenter and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Representatives Goodwin, Ortiz-Velez, Sinicki, Fitzgerald, Roe, Stubbs, Udell and Andraca. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Local Government.

SB659,1,4 An Act to amend 347.50 (1) and 347.50 (1s); to create 110.11, 340.01 (58m), 343.347 and 347.414 of the statutes; relating to: installation of a speed limiter for repeated reckless driving violations, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to promulgate rules to implement a program for the installation of speed limiters on vehicles. Under the bill, if a person is convicted of a second or subsequent reckless driving violation in a 5-year period where the violations involved speeding 20 or more miles per hour over the speed limit, the court must order that the person’s operation of “Class D” vehicles (e.g., automobiles and light trucks) be restricted to those equipped with a speed limiter. The order must require that the speed limiter be installed for one year except that, if the person has been previously subject to such an order, the court must require that the speed limiter be installed for two years. The person is responsible for the costs of installing, servicing, and removing the speed limiter.

The bill provides that no person may remove, disconnect, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent the operation of a speed limiter installed in response to a court order; fail to have the speed limiter installed as ordered by the court; or violate a court order restricting the person’s operating privilege. A person violating this prohibition may be fined up to $600, or imprisoned for six months, or both, for the first offense. For a second or subsequent violation within five years, the person may be fined up to $1,000, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

The bill provides that a person may not authorize the operation of a motor vehicle that the person owns, leases, or rents by another person who the motor vehicle owner, renter, or lessee knows is subject to a court order requiring the use of a speed limiter. A person violating this prohibition is subject to the same penalties provided for circumventing a speed limiter. In addition, a court must order that the violator’s operating privilege for the operation of “Class D” vehicles be restricted to operating vehicles that are equipped with a speed limiter.

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:

SB659,1 Section 1. 110.11 of the statutes is created to read:

SB659,2,7 110.11 Speed limiter program. (1) The department shall implement a speed limiter program that will be conveniently available to persons throughout this state. To the extent practicable, the department shall treat the speed limiter program as an extension of the ignition interlock device program under s. 110.10 and use existing ignition interlock device program infrastructure to support the speed limiter program.

SB659,2,9 (2) The department shall promulgate rules to implement the program under this section, including provisions regarding all of the following:

SB659,2,11 (a) The selection of providers to install, service, and remove speed limiters on motor vehicles.

SB659,2,13 (b) The periodic review of the fees charged to the owner of a vehicle for the installation, service, and removal of a speed limiter.

SB659,2,16 (c) Requiring speed limiter providers operating in this state to provide the department and law enforcement agencies designated by the department with installation and service reports in a timely manner.

SB659,3,4 (d) Requiring speed limiter providers operating in this state to accept, as payment in full for equipping a motor vehicle with a speed limiter and for maintaining the speed limiter, the amount ordered by the court under s. 343.347 (4) (b), if applicable.

SB659,3,6 (e) Requiring speed limiter providers to notify the department of any speed limiter removal, disconnection, tampering, or circumvention.

SB659,2 Section 2. 340.01 (58m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB659,3,9 340.01 (58m) “Speed limiter” means an aftermarket device installed on a motor vehicle that prevents the motor vehicle from being operated above a set speed.

SB659,3 Section 3. 343.347 of the statutes is created to read:

SB659,3,21 343.347 Installation of speed limiter. (1) If a person is convicted of a violation of s. 347.414 (2) or of a 2nd or subsequent violation of s. 346.62 (2), (2m), (3), or (4) in a 5-year period where the violations involved operating a motor vehicle 20 or more miles per hour in excess of a lawful or posted speed limit, the court shall order that the person’s operating privilege for the operation of “Class D” vehicles be restricted to operating vehicles that are equipped with a speed limiter and, except as provided in sub. (2), shall order that each motor vehicle for which the person’s name appears on the vehicle’s certificate of title or registration be equipped with a speed limiter. The court may order that a person’s vehicle be limited to operation at a speed not to exceed posted speed limits or a maximum speed designated by the court.

SB659,3,24 (2) (a) If equipping each motor vehicle with a speed limiter under sub. (1) would cause an undue financial hardship, the court may order that one or more vehicles described in sub. (1) not be equipped with a speed limiter.

SB659,4,3 (b) An order under sub. (1) does not apply to a vehicle for which the department has not approved a speed limiter capable of being installed on the vehicle.

SB659,4,6 (3) (a) If the court enters an order under sub. (1), the restriction of the person’s operating privilege under the order shall begin on the date the order is issued and extend for a period of not less than one year.

SB659,4,10 (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), if the court enters an order under sub. (1) for a person who has previously been subject to an order under sub. (1), the restriction of the person’s operating privilege under the order shall begin on the date the order is issued and extend for a period of not less than 2 years.

SB659,4,13 (4) (a) If the court enters an order under sub. (1), the person shall be liable for the reasonable cost of equipping, maintaining, and removing any speed limiter installed on their motor vehicle.

SB659,4,22 (b) The court shall limit the person’s liability under par. (a) to one-half of the cost of equipping, maintaining, and removing any speed limiter installed on their motor vehicle if the court finds that the person who is subject to an order under sub. (1) has a household income that is at or below 150 percent of the poverty line, as defined in 42 USC 9902 (2), is receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1385, or is receiving benefits under the temporary assistance for needy families program under 42 USC 601 to 619, the supplemental nutrition assistance program under 7 USC 2011 to 2036, or the low income home energy assistance program under 42 USC 8621 to 8630.

SB659,5,2 (5) A person to whom an order under sub. (1) applies violates that order if they fail to have a speed limiter installed as ordered, if they remove or disconnect a speed limiter, or if they otherwise tamper with or circumvent the operation of the speed limiter.

SB659,4 Section 4. 347.414 of the statutes is created to read:

SB659,5,11 347.414 Speed limiter circumvention; failure to install. (1) No person may remove, disconnect, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent the operation of a speed limiter installed in response to a court order under s. 343.347 (1), fail to have the speed limiter installed as ordered by the court, or violate a court order under s. 343.347 (1) restricting the person’s operating privilege. This subsection does not apply to the removal of a speed limiter upon the expiration of the order requiring the motor vehicle to be so equipped or to necessary repairs to a malfunctioning speed limiter by a provider authorized by the department.

SB659,5,15 (2) A person may not authorize the operation of a motor vehicle that the person owns, leases, or rents by another person who is subject to a court order under s. 343.347 (1). This subsection applies only if the owner, lessee, or renter of the motor vehicle has knowledge of the court order under s. 343.347 (1).

SB659,5 Section 5. 347.50 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB659,5,20 347.50 (1) Any person violating ss. 347.35 to 347.49, except s. 347.385 (5), s. 347.413 (1) or 347.414 or s. 347.415 (1m), (2) and (3) to (5) or s. 347.417 (1) or s. 347.475 or s. 347.48 (2m) or (4) or s. 347.489, may be required to forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $200.

SB659,6 Section 6. 347.50 (1s) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB659,6,2 347.50 (1s) Any person violating s. 347.413 (1), 347.414, or 347.417 (1) may be fined not less than $150 nor more than $600, or may be imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both for the first offense. For a 2nd or subsequent conviction within 5 years, the person may be fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.

SB659,6,3 (end)