2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
October 9, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Cowles, Bewley, Harsdorf, Lasee and
Marklein, cosponsored by Representatives Jacque, Ripp, Tranel, Tittl,
Felzkowski, Swearingen, Edming, E. Brooks, Brostoff, Meyers, Novak and
Spiros. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Veterans Affairs.
SB437,1,3 1An Act to renumber 23.33 (8) (e); to renumber and amend 23.33 (8) (b); and
2to create 23.33 (8) (b) 2., 23.33 (8) (e) 2., 23.33 (8) (e) 3. and 23.33 (8) (e) 4. of
3the statutes; relating to: all-terrain vehicle route signage.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes changes to requirements for signs placed to mark all-terrain
vehicle (ATV) routes.
Under current law, a town, village, city, or county (political subdivision) may
designate highways or sidewalks as ATV routes. In addition, it may authorize the
operation of utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) on ATV routes. Rules promulgated by the
Department of Natural Resources require that all ATV routes be marked by signs at
the beginning of the route and at intervals along the route as needed to enable ATV
operators to follow the route.
The bill provides that, if a political subdivision designates specific highways
within its territorial boundaries as ATV routes, the political subdivision is required
to erect a sign at each point on a highway where the ATV route begins and at each
point where the ATV route intersects a highway that is not part of the route.
Alternatively, the bill authorizes a political subdivision to designate all highways
within its territorial boundaries as ATV routes and to erect signs at the entrances
to the political subdivision alerting motorists of this designation. The bill also
provides that if a political subdivision erects these entrance signs, DNR may not
require it to erect or maintain additional signs along the ATV routes.

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:
SB437,1 1Section 1. 23.33 (8) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 23.33 (8) (b) 1. and
2amended to read:
SB437,2,43 23.33 (8) (b) 1. A Subject to subd. 3., a town, village, city, or county may
4designate highways as all-terrain vehicle routes.
SB437,2,7 53. No state trunk highway or connecting highway may be designated as an
6all-terrain vehicle route unless the department of transportation approves the
7designation.
SB437,2 8Section 2. 23.33 (8) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB437,2,109 23.33 (8) (b) 2. Subject to subd. 3., a town, village, city, or county may designate
10all highways within its territorial boundaries as all-terrain vehicle routes.
SB437,3 11Section 3. 23.33 (8) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 23.33 (8) (e) 1.
SB437,4 12Section 4. 23.33 (8) (e) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB437,2,1813 23.33 (8) (e) 2. Except as provided in subd. 3., if a town, village, city, or county
14designates specific highways within its territorial boundaries as all-terrain vehicle
15routes under par. (b) 2., the town, village, city, or county shall erect a sign at each
16point on a highway where the all-terrain vehicle route begins and at each point
17where the all-terrain vehicle route intersects a highway that is not designated as an
18all-terrain vehicle route.
SB437,5 19Section 5. 23.33 (8) (e) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
SB437,3,420 23.33 (8) (e) 3. If a town, village, city, or county designates all highways within
21its territorial boundaries as all-terrain vehicle routes under par. (b) 2., the town,

1village, city, or county may erect a sign on each highway that crosses its territorial
2boundary in a position to be viewed by motorists as they enter the town, village, city,
3or county. The signs shall alert motorists that all highways within the town, village,
4city, or county have been designated as all-terrain vehicle routes.
SB437,6 5Section 6. 23.33 (8) (e) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
SB437,3,96 23.33 (8) (e) 4. If a town, village, city, or county erects and maintains signs
7under subd. 3., the department may not require the town, village, city, or county to
8erect any additional signs marking the all-terrain vehicle routes within the town,
9village, city, or county.
SB437,3,1010 (End)
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