2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE
December 6, 2001 - Introduced by Joint Legislative Council. Referred to
Committee on Environmental Resources.
SB336,1,3 1An Act to amend 23.33 (5) (c) and 30.68 (3) (b); to repeal and recreate 23.33
2(5) (b); and to create 30.68 (3) (bm) of the statutes; relating to: safety training
3for all-terrain vehicle and motorboat operation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill is explained in the Prefatory note provided by the joint legislative
council in the bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
Prefatory note: This bill is recommended by the joint legislative council's special
committee on recodification of operating while intoxicated and safety laws pertaining to
motor vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, boat, or snowmobile operation. The special committee
was directed to study current statutes relating to operating a vehicle while under the
influence of an intoxicant or drug and to reorganize, simplify, modernize, and clarify these
statutes and make minor substantive changes necessary to effect these goals. In
addition, the special committee was directed to study, with respect to an all-terrain
vehicle, a boat, or a snowmobile, whether enforcement mechanisms need to be increased
or created to ensure compliance with the law.
Current law provides that a person who is at least 12 years old and less than 16
years old may operate an all-terrain vehicle under the following circumstances:
1. If the person has a safety certificate from the department of natural resources
(DNR).
2. If the person is accompanied by another person who is over 18 years of age.

3. If the person, with a physical disability, is on a roadway and has a hunting
permit and a safety certificate.
4. If the person is operating an implement of husbandry on a roadway if the person
has a safety certificate.
5. If the person holds a valid certificate from another state or Canadian province.
6. If the person is on land exclusively under the control of the person's immediate
family.
With respect to a motorboat, current law provides that a person at least 12 years
old and less than 16 years old may operate a motorboat if the person is accompanied by
a parent, guardian, or person at least 18 years of age who is designated by a parent or
guardian or if the person has a safety certificate from DNR.
The snowmobile law was amended in the 1999 session of the legislature to provide
that, beginning on January 1, 2001, any person who is at least 12 years of age and who
is born on or after January 1, 1985 must hold a valid snowmobile safety certificate in order
to operate the snowmobile. The only exception to this provision is if the person operates
the snowmobile upon lands owned or leased by a parent or guardian. The requirement
to obtain a safety certificate applies to all persons who are at least 12 years old and born
on or after January 1, 1985, regardless of the person's age.
In general, this bill amends the law relating to all-terrain vehicles and motorboats
in order to make the law consistent with the law applicable to snowmobiles. Thus, the
bill provides that no person who is at least 12 years of age and who is born on or after
January 1, 1986, may operate an all-terrain vehicle or a motorboat without a valid safety
certificate. As in current law, the bill exempts from this requirement an operator of an
all-terrain vehicle who holds a valid certificate from another state or Canadian province
or who operates the all-terrain vehicle on land exclusively under the control of the
person's immediate family. The provisions of the bill take effect on January 1, 2002.
SB336, s. 1 1Section 1. 23.33 (5) (b) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB336,2,42 23.33 (5) (b) All-terrain vehicle safety certificate. 1. No person who is at least
312 years of age and who is born on or after January 1, 1986, may operate an
4all-terrain vehicle unless he or she holds a valid safety certificate.
SB336,2,95 2. Any person who is required to hold an all-terrain vehicle safety certificate
6while operating an all-terrain vehicle shall carry the certificate on the all-terrain
7vehicle and shall display the certificate to a law enforcement officer on request.
8Persons enrolled in a safety certification program approved by the department may
9operate an all-terrain vehicle in an area designated by the instructor.
SB336, s. 2 10Section 2. 23.33 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB336,3,211 23.33 (5) (c) Exceptions. Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to a person who
12operates an all-terrain vehicle exclusively on land under the management and
13control of the person's immediate family. Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to a

1person at least 12 years of age but under 16 years of age who holds a valid certificate
2issued by another state or a province of Canada.
SB336, s. 3 3Section 3. 30.68 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB336,3,114 30.68 (3) (b) No person under the age of 10 years may operate a motorboat.
5Persons at least 10 and less than 12 years of age may operate a motorboat only if they
6are either accompanied in the boat by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18
7years of age designated by a parent or guardian. Persons at least 12 and less than
816 years of age may operate a motor of any horsepower, but only if they are either
9accompanied by a parent or guardian or a person at least 18 years of age designated
10by a parent or guardian, or in possession of a certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1).

11This paragraph does not apply to personal watercraft.
SB336, s. 4 12Section 4. 30.68 (3) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB336,3,1413 30.68 (3) (bm) 1. In this paragraph, "motorboat safety certificate" means a
14certificate issued under s. 30.74 (1).
SB336,3,1715 2. No person who is at least 12 years of age and who is born on or after January
161, 1986, may operate a motorboat unless he or she holds a valid motorboat safety
17certificate.
SB336,3,2218 3. Any person who is required to hold a motorboat safety certificate while
19operating a motorboat shall carry the certificate on the motorboat and shall display
20the certificate to a law enforcement officer on request. Persons enrolled in a safety
21certification program approved by the department may operate a motorboat in an
22area designated by the instructor.
SB336,3,2323 4. This paragraph does not apply to personal watercraft.
SB336, s. 5 24Section 5. Effective date.
SB336,4,1
1(1) This act takes effect on January 1, 2002.
SB336,4,22 (End)
Loading...
Loading...