AB203: Bill Text

LRB-1577/1

TNF:kmg:rs

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 203

March 25, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Stone, J. Wood, Bies, F. Lasee and Townsend, cosponsored by Senators Darling and Stepp. Referred to Committee on Highway Safety.

AB203,1,3 An Act to amend 346.02 (6); and to create 346.05 (1g) of the statutes; relating to: impeding the flow of traffic by continuously operating a motor vehicle in the left-most lane of a controlled-access highway.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Current law generally requires that all vehicles be driven in the right half of the roadway and in the right-hand lane of a three-lane highway, except when making an approach for a left turn, when overtaking and passing or when circumstances permit or require driving on the left half of the roadway. Current law also requires, with exceptions, that any vehicle traveling at less than the speed of surrounding traffic be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic, or as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway.

This bill prohibits a person from impeding the flow of traffic by continuously operating a motor vehicle in the left-most lane of a controlled-access highway with at least two traffic lanes in each direction. A person who violates this prohibition may be required to forfeit not less than $30 nor more than $300, the same penalty that applies to violations of the requirement of traveling in the right-hand lane of the roadway.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB203, s. 1 Section 1. 346.02 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB203,2,7 346.02 (6) Applicability to persons working on highways. This chapter applies to persons, teams, motor vehicles and road machinery while traveling to or from highway construction or maintenance work but the provisions of ss. 346.05 (1g) and (3), 346.06 to 346.17, 346.28, 346.29 (2), 346.31 to 346.36, 346.52 to 346.56 and 346.59 do not apply to persons, teams, motor vehicles or road machinery when actually engaged in maintenance or construction work upon a highway.

AB203, s. 2 Section 2. 346.05 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB203,2,11 346.05 (1g) Notwithstanding sub. (1), no person may impede the flow of traffic by continuously operating a motor vehicle in the left-most lane of a controlled-access highway that has at least 2 lanes of traffic in each direction.

AB203,2,12 (End)