LRB-3224/1
ZDW:kms
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
May 24, 2023 - Introduced by Senators James,
Ballweg and Marklein,
cosponsored by Representatives
Penterman, S. Johnson, Allen, C. Anderson,
Armstrong, Behnke, Bodden, Conley, Dittrich, Goeben, Gundrum,
Kitchens, Kurtz, Moses, Murphy, Oldenburg, Ortiz-Velez, Palmeri,
Rettinger, Schmidt, Spiros, Stubbs and Brooks. Referred to Committee on
Judiciary and Public Safety.
SB313,1,2
1An Act to amend 346.49 (2); and
to create 343.32 (2) (bL) and 346.49 (2g) of the
2statutes;
relating to: increased penalties for failing to stop for a school bus.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill increases the penalties for failing to stop for a school bus that is stopped
and displaying flashing red lights.
Current law requires motorists approaching a school bus stopped on a public
road and displaying flashing red lights to stop at least 20 feet from the bus and to
remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the flashing red warning lights are
turned off. A motorist who violates this requirement may be required to forfeit $30
to $300. The bill increases the penalty to a forfeiture of $300 to $1,000.
Under current law, DOT may adopt, by rule, a demerit point system for
determining when to suspend a person's operating privilege for repeatedly violating
traffic laws. Under this system, DOT may assess demerit points against the driving
record of a person convicted of violations of certain traffic laws. The bill requires DOT
to assess three demerit points against the driving record of a vehicle operator who
violates the requirement to stop for a school bus.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB313,1
3Section
1. 343.32 (2) (bL) of the statutes is created to read:
SB313,2,2
1343.32
(2) (bL) The scale adopted by the secretary shall assess, for each
2conviction, 3 demerit points for a violation of s. 346.48.
SB313,2
3Section
2. 346.49 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB313,2,54
346.49
(2) Any person violating s. 346.455
or 346.48 may be required to forfeit
5not less than $30 nor more than $300.
SB313,3
6Section
3. 346.49 (2g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB313,2,87
346.49
(2g) Any person violating s. 346.48 may be required to forfeit not less
8than $300 nor more than $1,000.
SB313,4
9Section
4.
Initial applicability.
SB313,2,1110
(1) This act first applies to offenses committed on the effective date of this
11subsection.
