SB19: Bill Text

LRB-0831/1

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2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001 Senate BILL 19

January 19, 2001 - Introduced by Senators Baumgart, Burke and Huelsman, cosponsored by Representatives Ainsworth, J. Lehman, Freese, Huber, Berceau, La Fave, Ott, Powers and Kreuser. Referred to Committee on Insurance, Tourism, and Transportation.

SB19,1,6 An Act to amend 29.924 (2), 347.06 (1), 347.06 (4), 347.09 (1) (intro.), 347.10 (4), 347.12 (1) (intro.), 347.13 (1), 347.16 (1) (intro.), 347.16 (2) (intro.) and 347.42; and to create 340.01 (74v), 340.01 (74x), 343.23 (2) (c), 347.06 (1m) and 347.06 (5) of the statutes; relating to: requiring headlights and other required lamps on vehicles to be lighted while windshield wipers are being used and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, no person may operate a vehicle upon a highway during hours of darkness unless any required headlamps, tail lamps, and clearance lamps of the vehicle are lighted. A person who violates this requirement may be required to pay a forfeiture of not less than $10 nor more than $20 for a first offense and not less than $25 nor more than $50 for a second or subsequent conviction within a year.

This bill provides that these lamps must also be lighted whenever the windshield wipers of the vehicle are being used, except during temporary use to clean the windshield or whenever headlamps that are automatically activated are lighted. A person who violates this provision is subject to the same minimum and maximum forfeiture amounts that may be imposed for failure to use these lamps during hours of darkness. The bill also prohibits a law enforcement officer from stopping or inspecting a vehicle solely to determine compliance with the above requirement and specifies that convictions for not having any required headlamps, tail lamps, and clearance lamps of a vehicle lighted may not be recorded on the motorist's driving record.

The bill also requires certain vehicles to be equipped with rear reflectors whenever the windshield wipers of a vehicle are being used.

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:

SB19, s. 1 Section 1. 29.924 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,2,11 29.924 (2) Driving without headlights. In the performance of their law enforcement duties, wardens may operate motor vehicles owned or leased by the department upon a highway, other than an interstate, a state trunk highway or any highway within the limits of any incorporated area, during hours of darkness or at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, without lighted headlamps, tail lamps or clearance lamps, contrary to s. 347.06 (1) or (1m), if the driving will aid in the accomplishment of a lawful arrest for violation of this chapter or in ascertaining whether a violation of this chapter has been or is about to be committed. Any civil action or proceeding brought against any warden operating a motor vehicle under this subsection is subject to ss. 893.82 and 895.46.

SB19, s. 2 Section 2. 340.01 (74v) of the statutes is created to read:

SB19,2,14 340.01 (74v) "Windshield" means the shield of safety glass mounted forward of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, other than a motor-driven cycle.

SB19, s. 3 Section 3. 340.01 (74x) of the statutes is created to read:

SB19,2,17 340.01 (74x) "Windshield wiper" means a mechanical device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield of a vehicle.

SB19, s. 4 Section 4. 343.23 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

SB19,3,7 343.23 (2) (c) The file for a licensee under par. (a) shall not include any conviction under s. 347.06 (1m) or a local ordinance in conformity therewith or a law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with s. 347.06 (1m) or the law of another jurisdiction prohibiting operating a vehicle, during hours of darkness or at any time that a windshield wiper is being used without lighted headlamps, tail lamps, or clearance lamps, as those or substantially similar terms are used in that jurisdiction's laws.

SB19, s. 5 Section 5. 347.06 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,3,12 347.06 (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (4), no person may operate a vehicle upon a highway during hours of darkness unless all headlamps, tail lamps and clearance lamps with which such vehicle is required to be equipped are lighted. Parking lamps as defined described in s. 347.27 shall not be used for this purpose.

SB19, s. 6 Section 6. 347.06 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

SB19,3,18 347.06 (1m) (a) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (4), no person may operate a vehicle upon a highway at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle unless all headlamps, tail lamps, and clearance lamps with which such vehicle is required to be equipped are lighted. Parking lamps as described in s. 347.27 shall not be used for this purpose.

SB19,3,23 (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to temporary use of a windshield wiper for the sole purpose of cleaning the windshield or if lamps that are automatically activated whenever the vehicle is started are in use, if the headlamps are of sufficient intensity to satisfy the requirements for daytime running lamps under 49 CFR 571.108, S5.5. 11 (a).

SB19, s. 7 Section 7. 347.06 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,4,5 347.06 (4) A duly authorized warden, as defined in s. 24.01 (11), may operate a vehicle owned or leased by the department of natural resources upon a highway, during hours of darkness or at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, without lighted headlamps, tail lamps or clearance lamps in the performance of the warden's duties under s. 29.924 (2).

SB19, s. 8 Section 8. 347.06 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

SB19,4,14 347.06 (5) Notwithstanding s. 349.02, a law enforcement officer may not stop or inspect a vehicle solely to determine compliance with sub. (1m) or a local ordinance in conformity with sub. (1m). This subsection does not limit the authority of a law enforcement officer to issue a citation for a violation of sub. (1m) or a local ordinance in conformity with sub. (1m) observed in the course of a stop or inspection made for other purposes, except that a law enforcement officer may not take a person into physical custody solely for a violation of sub. (1m) or a local ordinance in conformity with sub. (1m).

SB19, s. 9 Section 9. 347.09 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,4,19 347.09 (1) (intro.) No person shall operate a motor vehicle on a highway, during hours of darkness or, subject to the exceptions contained in s. 347.06 (1m) (b), at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, unless such vehicle is equipped as follows:

SB19, s. 10 Section 10. 347.10 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,5,4 347.10 (4) Any motor vehicle may be operated during hours of darkness or, subject to the exceptions contained in s. 347.06 (1m) (b), at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, when equipped with 2 lighted lamps upon the front thereof capable of revealing persons and objects 75 feet ahead in lieu of lamps required by subs. (1) to (3) if such vehicle at no time is operated at a speed in excess of 20 miles per hour. No lighted lamp under this subsection shall have any type of decorative covering that restricts the amount of light emitted when the lighted lamp is in use. This subsection does not apply to any type of decorative covering originally equipped on the vehicle at the time of manufacture and sale.

SB19, s. 11 Section 11. 347.12 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,5,11 347.12 (1) (intro.) Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a highway, during hours of darkness or, subject to the exceptions contained in s. 347.06 (1m) (b), at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, the operator shall use a distribution of light or composite beam directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal a person or vehicle at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:

SB19, s. 12 Section 12. 347.13 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,6,2 347.13 (1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, mobile home or trailer or semitrailer upon a highway, during hours of darkness or, subject to the exceptions contained in s. 347.06 (1m) (b), at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, unless such motor vehicle, mobile home or trailer or semitrailer is equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted during hours of darkness or, subject to the exceptions contained in s. 347.06 (1m) (b), at any time a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, emits a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear. No tail lamp shall have any type of decorative covering that restricts the amount of light emitted when the tail lamp is in use. No vehicle originally equipped at the time of manufacture and sale with 2 tail lamps shall be operated upon a highway during hours of darkness unless both such lamps are in good working order. This subsection does not apply to any type of decorative covering originally equipped on the vehicle at the time of manufacture and sale.

SB19, s. 13 Section 13. 347.16 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,6,8 347.16 (1) (intro.)  No person shall operate on a highway during hours of darkness any vehicle, except automobiles, having a width at any part in excess of 80 inches during hours of darkness or, subject to the exceptions contained in s. 347.06 (1m) (b), at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, unless such vehicle is equipped with:

SB19, s. 14 Section 14. 347.16 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,6,13 347.16 (2) (intro.)  No person shall operate any of the following vehicles on a highway, during hours of darkness or, subject to the exceptions contained in s. 347.06 (1m) (b), at any time that a windshield wiper is being used on the windshield of the vehicle, unless such vehicles are equipped as indicated:

SB19, s. 15 Section 15. 347.42 of the statutes is amended to read:

SB19,6,20 347.42 Windshield wipers. No person may operate on a highway any motor vehicle equipped with a windshield, except a moped or Type 1 motorcycle, unless the motor vehicle also is equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow or other moisture from the windshield. The device windshield wiper. The windshield wiper shall be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the operator of the vehicle and shall at all times be maintained in good working order.

SB19, s. 16 Section 16. Initial applicability.

SB19,6,23 (1) The treatment of section 343.23 (2) (c) of the statutes first applies to offenses committed on the effective date of this subsection.

SB19,6,24 (End)