AB982: Bill Text

LRB-3400/1

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2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly BILL 982

March 2, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Spreitzer, Emerson, Hebl, Stubbs, Subeck, Tusler, Zamarripa and Sinicki, cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard and Carpenter. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB982,1,2 An Act to amend 340.01 (23) and 340.01 (43e) of the statutes; relating to: when motor vehicle lamps are required to be lighted.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate a vehicle upon a highway during hours of darkness or during a period of limited visibility unless the vehicle's required headlamps, tail lamps, and clearance lamps are lighted.

Current law defines “hours of darkness" as the period of time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and when visibility is 500 feet or less. Under this bill, “hours of darkness" means the period of time from sunset to sunrise and when visibility is 1,000 feet or less. The modification of this definition will also apply to current law provisions relating to the operation of all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles, driving experience requirements for issuance of operator's licenses, restrictions applicable to instruction permits and restricted licenses, and requirements for the examination of applicants for a motorcycle license.

Current law defines “period of limited visibility” as any time that weather conditions limit visibility such that objects on a highway are not clearly discernible at 500 feet from the front of a vehicle. Under the bill, “period of limited visibility” means any time that weather conditions limit visibility such that objects on a highway are not clearly discernible at 1,000 feet from the front of a vehicle or the vehicle's windshield wipers are in use.

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:

AB982,1 Section 1. 340.01 (23) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB982,2,5 340.01 (23) “Hours of darkness" means the period of time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise and all other times when there is not sufficient natural light to render clearly visible any person or vehicle upon a highway at a distance of 500 1,000 feet.

AB982,2 Section 2. 340.01 (43e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB982,2,10 340.01 (43e) “Period of limited visibility" means any time that weather conditions limit visibility such that objects on a highway are not clearly discernible at 500 1,000 feet from the front of a vehicle or the vehicle's windshield wipers are in use.

AB982,2,11 (End)