346.55(4)
(4) Owners or lessees of public or private property may permit parking by certain persons and limit, restrict or prohibit parking as to other persons if the owner or lessee posts a sign on the property indicating for whom parking is permitted, limited, restricted or prohibited. No person may leave or park any motor vehicle on public or private property contrary to a sign posted thereon.
346.55 Annotation
Sub. (2) is unconstitutional; it unreasonably restricts commercial speech. City of Milwaukee v. Blondis, 157 W (2d) 730, 460 NW (2d) 815 (Ct. App. 1990).
346.56
346.56
Penalty for violating sections 346.503 to 346.55. 346.56(1)(b)
(b) No forfeiture may be assessed under
par. (a) if within 30 days after the uniform traffic citation was issued the person provides proof that he or she has complied with the provision of
s. 346.503 for which the citation was issued.
346.56(1g)
(1g) Any person violating
s. 346.503 (2e) shall forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense. For a 2nd or subsequent conviction within 3 years, a person shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100.
346.56(1m)
(1m) Any person violating
s. 346.52 to
346.54 or
346.55 (3) or
(4) may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
346.56(4)
(4) Any person violating
s. 346.505 (2) shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $300.
SPEED RESTRICTIONS
346.57
346.57
Speed restrictions. 346.57(1)(ag)
(ag) "Expressway" means a state trunk highway that, as determined by the department, has 4 or more lanes of traffic physically separated by a median or barrier and that gives preference to through traffic by utilizing interchanges or limiting at-grade access to selected public roads and public driveways.
346.57(1)(am)
(am) "Freeway" means a state trunk highway that has 4 or more lanes of traffic physically separated by a median or barrier and that gives preference to through traffic by limiting access to interchanges only.
346.57(1)(ar)
(ar) "Outlying district" means the territory contiguous to and including any highway within the corporate limits of a city or village where on each side of the highway within any 1,000 feet along such highway the buildings in use for business, industrial or residential purposes fronting thereon average more than 200 feet apart.
346.57(1)(b)
(b) "Semiurban district" means the territory contiguous to and including any highway where on either side of the highway within any 1,000 feet along such highway the buildings in use for business, industrial or residential purposes fronting thereon average not more than 200 feet apart or where the buildings in use for such purposes fronting on both sides of the highway considered collectively average not more than 200 feet apart.
346.57(2)
(2) Reasonable and prudent limit. No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing. The speed of a vehicle shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and using due care.
346.57(3)
(3) Conditions requiring reduced speed. The operator of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of
sub. (2), drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hillcrest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, when passing school children, highway construction or maintenance workers or other pedestrians, and when special hazard exists with regard to other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
346.57(4)
(4) Fixed limits. In addition to complying with the speed restrictions imposed by
subs. (2) and
(3), no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of the following limits unless different limits are indicated by official traffic signs:
346.57(4)(a)
(a) 15 miles per hour when passing a schoolhouse at those times when children are going to or from school or are playing within the sidewalk area at or about the school.
346.57(4)(b)
(b) 15 miles per hour when passing an intersection properly marked with a "school crossing" sign of a type approved by the department when children are present.
346.57(4)(c)
(c) 15 miles per hour when passing a safety zone occupied by pedestrians and at which a public passenger vehicle has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers.
346.57(4)(e)
(e) 25 miles per hour on any highway within the corporate limits of a city or village, other than on highways in outlying districts in such city or village.
346.57(4)(em)
(em) 25 miles per hour on any service road within the corporate limits of a city or village unless modified by the authority in charge of the highway.
346.57(4)(f)
(f) 35 miles per hour in any outlying district within the corporate limits of a city or village.
346.57(4)(g)
(g) 35 miles per hour on any highway in a semiurban district outside the corporate limits of a city or village.
346.57(4)(gm)
(gm) 65 miles per hour on any freeway or expressway.
346.57(4)(h)
(h) In the absence of any other fixed limits or the posting of limits as required or authorized by law, 55 miles per hour.
346.57(4)(i)
(i) 15 miles per hour on any street or town road, except a state trunk highway or connecting highway, within, contiguous to or adjacent to a public park or recreation area when children are going to or from or are playing within such area, when the local authority has enacted an ordinance regulating such traffic and has properly marked such area with official traffic control devices erected at such points as said authority deems necessary and at those points on the streets or town roads concerned where persons traversing the same would enter such area from an area where a different speed limit is in effect.
346.57(4)(j)
(j) 35 miles per hour on any town road where on either side of the highway within any 1,000 feet along such highway the buildings in use for business, industrial or residential purposes fronting thereon average less than 150 feet apart, provided the town board has adopted an ordinance determining such speed limit and has posted signs at such points as the town board deems necessary to give adequate warning to users of the town road.
346.57(4)(k)
(k) 45 miles per hour on any highway designated as a rustic road under
s. 83.42.
346.57(5)
(5) Zoned and posted limits. In addition to complying with the speed restrictions imposed by
subs. (2) and
(3), no person shall drive a vehicle in excess of any speed limit established pursuant to law by state or local authorities and indicated by official signs.
346.57(6)
(6) Certain statutory limits to be posted. 346.57(6)(a)(a) On state trunk highways and connecting highways and on county trunk highways or highways marked and signed as county trunks, the speed limits specified in
sub. (4) (e) and
(f) are not effective unless official signs giving notice thereof have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question. The speed limit specified in
sub. (4) (g) and
(k) is not effective on any highway unless official signs giving notice thereof have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question. The signs shall be erected at such points as the authority in charge of maintenance deems necessary to give adequate warning to users of the highway in question, but an alleged failure to post a highway as required by this paragraph is not a defense to a prosecution for violation of the speed limits specified in
sub. (4) (e),
(f),
(g) or
(k), or in an ordinance enacted in conformity therewith, if official signs giving notice of the speed limit have been erected at those points on the highway in question where a person traversing such highway would enter it from an area where a different speed limit is in effect.
346.57(6)(b)
(b) The limit specified under
sub. (4) (gm) is not effective unless official signs giving notice of the limit have been erected by the department.
346.57 Annotation
While (2) is related to (3), it is not limited by (3), and (3) creates a greater duty in respect to speed than (2) does. Thoreson v. Milwaukee & S. Transport Corp. 56 W (2d) 231, 201 NW (2d) 745.
346.57 Annotation
Court establishes guidelines for prosecution of speeding citations issued on basis of moving speed radar device. State v. Hanson, 85 W (2d) 233, 270 NW (2d) 212 (1978).
346.57 Annotation
Prima facie presumption of accuracy applies to stationary radar device. City of Wauwatosa v. Collett, 99 W (2d) 522, 299 NW (2d) 620 (Ct. App. 1980).
346.57 Annotation
Moving radar speed detection device guidelines discussed. State v. Kramer, 99 W (2d) 700, 299 NW (2d) 882 (1981).
346.57 Annotation
Actor may claim defense of legal justification if conduct of law enforcement officer causes actor reasonably to believe that violating law is only means of preventing bodily harm to actor or another and causes actor to violate law. State v. Brown, 107 W (2d) 44, 318 NW (2d) 370 (1982).
346.57 Annotation
This section does not impose upon driver absolute liability to avoid accidents. Millonig v. Bakken, 112 W (2d) 445, 334 NW (2d) 80 (1983).
346.57 Annotation
Presumption of accuracy of moving radar device discussed. Elements of Hanson/Kramer criteria explained. Washington County v. Luedtke, 135 W (2d) 131, 399 NW (2d) 906 (1987).
346.58
346.58
Special speed restrictions for certain vehicles. In addition to complying with other speed restrictions imposed by law, no person shall drive any of the following types of vehicles at a speed in excess of the limits fixed by this section:
346.58(1)
(1) 15 miles per hour for any vehicle equipped with metal or solid rubber tires. "Metal tire" means a tire the surface of which in contact with the highway is wholly or partially of metal or other hard, nonresilient material; "solid rubber tire" means a tire made of rubber but not inflated with compressed air.
346.59
346.59
Minimum speed regulation. 346.59(1)
(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or is necessary to comply with the law.
346.59(2)
(2) The operator of a vehicle moving at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic shall, if practicable, yield the roadway to an overtaking vehicle whenever the operator of the overtaking vehicle gives audible warning with a warning device and shall move at a reasonably increased speed or yield the roadway to overtaking vehicles when directed to do so by a traffic officer.
346.59 History
History: 1977 c. 100.
346.595
346.595
Motorcycles and mopeds. Whenever a motorcycle or a moped is operated the following rules apply:
346.595(1)
(1) All motor vehicles including motorcycles and mopeds are entitled to the full use of a traffic lane and no vehicle may be driven or operated in such a manner so as to deprive any other vehicle of the full use of a traffic lane. With the consent of both drivers, Type 1 motorcycles may be operated not more than 2 abreast in a single lane, but mopeds may be so operated only where the speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less.
346.595(2)
(2) No person shall ride any motorcycle or moped while in a side-saddle position.
346.595(3)
(3) No passenger may ride a Type 1 motorcycle who, when properly seated, cannot rest the feet on assigned foot rests or pegs. No passenger may ride on a moped.
346.595(3m)
(3m) No more than 2 persons may ride on a motorcycle having 2 wheels in tandem during operation unless a sidecar has been attached to the motorcycle as provided in
s. 340.01 (32) (a) 1. and the additional passengers are provided with adequate seating within the sidecar.
346.595(4)
(4) No passenger shall ride in front of the operator on a motorcycle.
346.595(5)
(5) The headlamps on motorcycles shall be lighted whenever the motorcycle is in operation. Motorcycles may be operated to the nearest repair facility for headlamp repair in the event of mechanical or electrical headlamp failure except during hours of darkness. Mopeds shall observe the requirements for lighted headlamps and tail lamps under
s. 347.06.
346.595(6)
(6) On any road for which the speed limit is more than 25 miles per hour, mopeds shall be operated only when riding single-file in the extreme right-hand lane. No person may operate a moped on any restricted access highway.
346.595 Annotation
The provision requiring headlamps to be lighted is constitutional. Kenosha v. Dosemagen, 54 W (2d) 269, 195 NW (2d) 462.
346.60
346.60
Penalty for violating sections 346.57 to 346.595. 346.60(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (5), any person violating
s. 346.59 may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
346.60(3)
(3) Except as provided in
sub. (3m) or
(5), any person violating
s. 346.57 (2),
(3) or
(4) (a) to
(c) may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $300 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $80 nor more than $600 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
346.60(3m)
(3m) If an operator of a vehicle violates
s. 346.57 (2),
(3) ,
(4) (d) to
(h) or
(5) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in
sub. (2) or
(3) for the violation shall be doubled.
346.60(4)
(4) Any person violating
s. 346.595 may be required to forfeit not less than $30 nor more than $300.
346.60(5)(a)(a) Any operator of a bicycle who violates
s. 346.57 may be required to forfeit not more than $20.
346.60(5)(b)
(b) Any operator of a bicycle who violates
s. 346.59 may be required to forfeit not more than $10.
346.60 Annotation
Sub. (4) is not unconstitutionally irrational. State v. King, 187 W (2d) 547, 523 NW (2d) 159 (Ct. App. 1994).
RECKLESS AND DRUNKEN DRIVING
346.61
346.61
Applicability of sections relating to reckless and drunken driving. In addition to being applicable upon highways,
ss. 346.62 to
346.64 are applicable upon all premises held out to the public for use of their motor vehicles, all premises provided by employers to employes for the use of their motor vehicles and all premises provided to tenants of rental housing in buildings of 4 or more units for the use of their motor vehicles, whether such premises are publicly or privately owned and whether or not a fee is charged for the use thereof.
Sections 346.62 to
346.64 do not apply to private parking areas at farms or single-family residences.
346.61 History
History: 1995 a. 127.
346.61 Annotation
Privately owned parking lot was not included under this section. City of Kenosha v. Phillips, 142 W (2d) 549, 419 NW (2d) 236 (1988).
346.61 Annotation
A parking lot for patrons of a business is held out for the use of the public under this section. City of LaCrosse v. Richling, 178 W (2d) 856, 505 NW (2d) 448 (Ct. App. 1993).
346.62
346.62
Reckless driving. 346.62(2)
(2) No person may endanger the safety of any person or property by the negligent operation of a vehicle.
