AB41: Bill Text

LRB-1349/4

PEN:mfd:jf

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 41

January 29, 1997 - Introduced by Representatives Olsen, Otte, Hahn, Baumgart, M. Lehman, Plale, Kelso, Freese, Cullen, Dobyns, Gronemus, Goetsch, Gunderson, Powers and Ott, cosponsored by Senators Drzewiecki, Grobschmidt, Welch and Buettner. Referred to Committee on Mandates.

AB41,1,3 An Act to renumber and amend 347.25 (2); to amend 343.12 (1) (b); and to create 347.25 (2) (b) of the statutes; relating to: requiring the installation and use of white strobe lights on school buses.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, any yellow and black school bus may be equipped with a flashing white strobe light mounted on the centerline of the bus roof not less than 3 feet from the front or rear of the bus.

This bill makes a white strobe light required equipment on any school bus and requires the use of the light while on pickup or delivery routes. These requirements first apply on January 1, 2000.

For further information see the state and local 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:

AB41, s. 1 Section 1. 343.12 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB41,2,5 343.12 (1) (b) A motor bus registered in compliance with s. 341.26 (7) and equipped as provided under ss. 347.25 (2) and 347.44 but not transporting children for any purpose is not a school bus within the meaning of this subsection while being used on a highway for purposes other than those specified in s. 340.01 (56) (a) or (am) if the flashing red warning lights and white strobe light are not used and all markings on the front and rear of the motor bus indicating that it is a school bus are removed or completely concealed.

AB41, s. 2 Section 2. 347.25 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 347.25 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB41,2,16 347.25 (2) (a) No person may operate a school bus which is painted as provided in s. 347.44 unless it is equipped with flashing red signals. In addition to the flashing red signals, the school bus may be equipped, and beginning on January 1, 2000, shall be equipped, with a 360-degree flashing white strobe light with a flashrate of 60 to 120 per minute. The secretary shall prescribe rules for the type, installation, operation and light output brilliance of the signals and lights required or permitted under this subsection paragraph. No vehicle may be equipped with such flashing red signals or flashing red signals and a strobe light unless it also is painted as provided in s. 347.44.

AB41, s. 3 Section 3. 347.25 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB41,2,22 347.25 (2) (b) Beginning on January 1, 2000, no person may operate a school bus over any highway in this state unless the strobe light required under par. (a) is flashing. This paragraph applies only whenever the school bus is transporting pupils, as described in s. 340.01 (56) (a) 1. to 4., or transporting disabled persons or elderly persons, as described in s. 340.01 (56) (am).

AB41,2,23 (End)