348.17(4)(a)(a) If the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection determines that an agricultural emergency exists with respect to the harvest of a particular crop, the secretary of transportation may authorize the movement of vehicles or combinations of vehicles that exceed the weight limitations under
s. 348.15 or
348.16 by not more than 15% of the applicable weight limitations. The authorization is limited to vehicles or combinations of vehicles that are transporting crops from field to storage or processing facilities and that have a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more or are described in
s. 340.01 (24) (b). This paragraph does not apply to vehicles or combinations of vehicles on highways designated as parts of the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39, and to implements of husbandry.
348.17(4)(b)
(b) The secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall specify in writing the factors which resulted in the determination under
par. (a) that an agricultural emergency exists. The factors shall include but not be limited to:
348.17(4)(b)1.
1. The extent of the uncompleted harvest of the crop involved.
348.17(4)(b)2.
2. The lateness of the harvest season for the crops involved.
348.17(4)(c)
(c) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit the department to waive the requirements of
ss. 348.05 to
348.07.
348.17(4)(d)
(d) The secretary of transportation may limit the application of authorizations under this subsection to specific areas of the state, to specific crops, or to specific highways. An authorization under this subsection is valid for up to 90 days, as determined by the secretary of transportation.
348.17 History
History: 1991 a. 316;
1995 a. 348, ss.
11,
13 to
15,
17.
348.175
348.175
Seasonal operation of vehicles hauling peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise or abrasives or salt for highway winter maintenance. The transportation of peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise or of abrasives or salt for highway winter maintenance in excess of gross weight limitations under
s. 348.15 shall be permitted during the winter months when the highways are so frozen that no damage may result thereto by reason of such transportation. If at any time any person is so transporting such products or abrasives or salt upon a class "A" highway in such frozen condition then that person may likewise use a class "B" highway without other limitation, except that chains and other traction devices are prohibited on class "A" highways but such chains and devices may be used in cases of necessity. The officers or agencies in charge of maintenance of highways, upon determination of such frozen condition and freedom of damage to such highways by transportation shall declare particular highways, or highways within areas of the state as eligible for increased weight limitations. Such declaration shall include the maximum weight on each axle, combination of axles and the gross weight allowed. Any person transporting any such product over any highway of this state under this section is liable to the maintaining authority for any damage caused to such highway. This section does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39.
348.18
348.18
Weight limitations apply to publicly-owned vehicles; exceptions. Sections 348.15 to
348.17 and the penalties for violations thereof also apply to vehicles owned by the state, a county or municipality, except when such vehicles are being used for the removal, treatment or sanding of snow or ice or when such vehicles are authorized emergency vehicles.
348.185
348.185
Empty weight to be indicated on side of certain vehicles; rules. No person shall operate upon a highway any motor truck, truck tractor, road tractor or motor bus, or a trailer or semitrailer used in connection therewith, unless there is attached to or lettered upon the left side thereof a sign giving its empty weight. The department may promulgate alternate rules applicable to this section.
348.185 History
History: 1977 c. 29 s.
1654 (7) (e).
348.19
348.19
Traffic officers may weigh vehicles and require removal of excess load. 348.19(1)(a)(a) Any traffic officer having reason to believe that the gross weight of a vehicle is unlawful or in excess of the gross weight for which the vehicle is registered may require the operator of such vehicle to stop and submit the vehicle and any load it may be carrying to a weighing by means of either portable or certified stationary scales and may require that such vehicle be driven to the nearest usable portable or certified stationary scale except as provided in
par. (b).
348.19(1)(b)
(b) Any other provision of the statutes notwithstanding, a vehicle transporting peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise shall not be required to proceed to a scale more than one mile from the point of apprehension if the estimated gross weight of the vehicle does not exceed the lawful limit. The gross weight of the vehicle shall be estimated by multiplying the average length of the load by the average height of the load in feet and then multiplying by the average weight per square foot of load measurement and adding this computed weight to the empty weight of the vehicle. The average weights per square foot of load measurement to be used in computing the estimated load weight are given in the following table: [See Figure 348.19 (1) (b) following]
-
See PDF for table 
348.19(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), whenever after a weighing of a vehicle and load as provided in
sub. (1) a traffic officer determines that the weight exceeds the limitations imposed by
s. 348.15,
348.16 or
348.17 (3) or
(4) or any limitations posted as provided in
s. 348.17 (1), the operator of such vehicle shall not proceed (except to drive to such place as directed by the traffic officer for the purpose of reloading or unloading) until such portion of the load has been reloaded or unloaded as may be necessary to reduce the weight of the vehicle and load to comply with the limitations imposed by
s. 348.15,
348.16 or
348.17 (3) or
(4) and any limitations posted as provided in
s. 348.17 (1). All material so reloaded or unloaded shall be reloaded or unloaded and cared for by and at the risk of the owner or operator of the vehicle.
348.19(2)(b)
(b) If upon weighing a vehicle transporting livestock a traffic officer determines that the gross weight of the vehicle exceeds the limitations imposed by
s. 348.15,
348.16 or
348.17 (3) or
(4) or a limitation posted as provided in
s. 348.17 (1), and if the point of apprehension is 15 miles or less from the destination of the vehicle, the traffic officer shall permit the operator of the vehicle to proceed to such destination without requiring the vehicle to be reloaded or unloaded as provided in
par. (a). This paragraph does not apply to vehicles transporting livestock on the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39.
348.19(3)
(3) No operator of a vehicle shall fail or refuse to stop and submit the vehicle and load to a weighing or to drive the vehicle to a scale when directed to do so by a traffic officer except that a dual purpose motor home is not required to stop at weighing stations when it is being used as a motor home. No operator of a vehicle shall fail or refuse after a weighing to reload or unload as provided in this section or to comply with the directions of a traffic officer relative to such reloading or unloading.
348.19(4)
(4) Subsection (1) (b) shall not apply to vehicles transporting peeled or unpeeled forest products on the national, interstate or defense highway systems, except for that portion of USH 51 between Wausau and STH 78 and that portion of STH 78 between USH 51 and the I 90/94 interchange near Portage upon their federal designation as I 39.
348.20
348.20
Policy in prosecuting weight violations. 348.20(1)
(1) It is declared to be the public policy of the state that prosecutions for overweight violations shall in every instance where practicable be instituted against the person holding the authority, certificates, licenses or permits evidencing operating privileges from the department which may be the proper object of cancellation or revocation proceedings. In instances where a combination of tractor and trailer or semitrailer is used, the person standing in the relationship of principal or employer to the driver of the tractor portion of the vehicle combination is liable for violation of
ss. 348.15 to
348.17 along with the owner holding authority, certificates, licenses or permits from the state. It is a violation of
ss. 348.15 to
348.17 for the owner or any other person employing or otherwise directing the operator of the vehicle to require or permit the operation of such vehicle upon a highway contrary to
ss. 348.15 to
348.17. This section shall not apply to individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies or corporations whose principal business is leasing, for compensation, vehicles including trailers and semitrailers, but such prosecutions shall be instituted against the lessee of the vehicle.
348.20(2)
(2) The operator of a vehicle, as agent of the person holding authority, certificate, license or permit from the state or as agent of the owner of the tractor portion of a vehicle combination of tractor and trailer or semitrailer, shall accept service of a summons on behalf of such person or owner.
348.21
348.21
Penalty for violating weight limitations. 348.21(1)(1) Any person violating
s. 348.185 may be required to forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $20 upon the first conviction and not less than $25 nor more than $50 upon the 2nd and each subsequent conviction within one year.
348.21(2)(a)(a) Any person who violates
s. 348.17 (2) or
348.19 (3) may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100 upon the first conviction and, upon the 2nd or each subsequent conviction within a 12-month period, may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $200.
348.21(2)(b)
(b) If the load on any wheel, axle or group of axles does not exceed the weight prescribed in
s. 348.15 (3) or
348.16 or in a declaration issued under
s. 348.175 by more than 1,000 pounds and if such excess can be reloaded within the normal load carrying areas, on any other wheel, axle or axles, so that all wheels and axles are then within the statutory limits, the operator may reload as provided in this paragraph. A total of 1,000 pounds per vehicle or combination of vehicles may be reloaded under this subsection. If reloading is accomplished and all axles or group of axles are within the legal limits, no forfeiture may be imposed. A vehicle or combination of vehicles under this subsection which is not reloaded may continue to be operated upon the highway, but a forfeiture of $50 shall be imposed for failure to reload. This forfeiture shall be paid upon the basis of the citation issued by the official to the court named in the citation. Failure to pay shall subject the operator to the penalty in
par. (a) or
sub. (3) (a). Violations under this subsection shall not be considered as violations or prior convictions under
par. (a) or
sub. (3) (a) or
(b).
348.21(3)(a)
(a) If the weight exceeds by 1,000 pounds or less the maximum set forth in
s. 348.15 (3) or
348.16 or posted as provided in
s. 348.17 (1) or in a declaration issued under
s. 348.175 or authorized under
s. 348.17 (3) or
(4) or in an overweight permit issued under
s. 348.26 or
348.27, a forfeiture of not less than $50 nor more than $100 upon the first conviction and, upon the 2nd and each subsequent conviction within a 12-month period, a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $200.
348.21(3)(b)1.
1. For the first conviction, a forfeiture of not less than $50 nor more than $200 plus an amount equal to: 1 cent for each pound of total excess load when the total excess is not over 2,000 pounds; 2 cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 2,000 pounds and not over 3,000 pounds; 3 cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 3,000 pounds and not over 4,000 pounds; 5 cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 4,000 pounds and not over 5,000 pounds; 7 cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 5,000 pounds.
348.21(3)(b)2.
2. For the 2nd and each subsequent conviction within a 12-month period, a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $300, plus an amount equal to: 2 cents for each pound of total excess load when the total excess is not over 2,000 pounds; 4 cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 2,000 pounds and not over 3,000 pounds; 6 cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 3,000 and not over 4,000 pounds; 8 cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 4,000 pounds and not over 5,000 pounds; 10 cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 5,000 pounds.
348.21(4)
(4) For the purpose of determining a repetitious violator, receipt of a certificate of conviction by the department is prima facie evidence of conviction. In determining whether a 2nd or subsequent conviction has occurred within a given 12-month period, either the original judgment of conviction in a circuit court or a municipal court or the affirmance of the judgment by an appellate court, if the judgment has been affirmed, may be counted. This method of counting is authorized to effectively reach the repetitious violator and to prevent misuse of the right of appeal for the purpose of forestalling imposition of the penalties provided by this section. Forfeiture of deposit or payment of a forfeiture is a conviction within the meaning of this section.
348.21 Annotation
See note to 348.25, citing East Troy v. Town & Country Waste Service, 159 W (2d) 694, 465 NW (2d) 510 (Ct. App. 1990).
348.22
348.22
Courts to report weight violation convictions. Whenever any owner or operator is convicted of violating
ss. 348.15 to
348.17 or any ordinance enacted under
s. 349.15 (3), the clerk of the court in which the conviction occurred, or the judge or municipal judge, if the court has no clerk, shall, within 48 hours after the conviction, forward a record of conviction to the department. Forfeiture of bail or appearance money or payment of a fine is a conviction within the meaning of this section.
PERMITS
348.25
348.25
General provisions relating to permits for vehicles and loads of excessive size and weight. 348.25(1)
(1) No person shall operate a vehicle on or transport an article over a highway without first obtaining a permit therefor as provided in
s. 348.26 or
348.27 if such vehicle or article exceeds the maximum limitations on size, weight or projection of load imposed by this chapter.
348.25(2)(a)(a) Vehicles or articles transported under permit are exempt from the restrictions and limitations imposed by this chapter on size, weight and load to the extent stated in the permit. Except as provided in
par. (b), any person who violates a condition of a permit under which that person is operating is subject to the same penalties as would be applicable if that person were operating without a permit.
348.25(2)(b)
(b) If an overweight permit has been obtained under
s. 348.26 or
348.27, and the vehicle exceeds the weight stated in the permit, any overweight violation shall be computed on the basis of the weight authorized in the permit. The amount of the forfeiture for overweight violations determined under this paragraph shall be calculated as provided in
s. 348.21 (3). This paragraph does not apply if any other conditions of an overweight permit are violated.
348.25(3)
(3) The department shall prescribe forms for applications for all single trip permits the granting of which is authorized by
s. 348.26 and for those annual, consecutive month or multiple trip permits the granting of which is authorized by
s. 348.27 (2) and
(4) to
(14). The department may impose such reasonable conditions prerequisite to the granting of any permit authorized by
s. 348.26 or
348.27 and adopt such reasonable rules for the operation of a permittee thereunder as it deems necessary for the safety of travel and protection of the highways. The department may limit use of the highways under any permit issued to specified hours of the day or days of the week. Local officials granting permits may impose such additional reasonable conditions as they deem necessary in view of local conditions.
348.25(4)
(4) Except as provided under
s. 348.26 (5) or
(6) or
348.27 (3m),
(9),
(9m),
(9r),
(9t),
(10),
(12) or
(13), permits shall be issued only for the transporting of a single article or vehicle which exceeds statutory size, weight or load limitations and which cannot reasonably be divided or reduced to comply with statutory size, weight or load limitations, except that:
348.25(4)(a)
(a) A permit may be issued for the transportation of property consisting of more than one article, some or all of which exceeds statutory size limitations, provided statutory gross weight limitations are not thereby exceeded and provided the additional articles transported do not cause the vehicle and load to exceed statutory size limitations in any way in which such limitations would not be exceeded by the single article.
348.25(4)(b)
(b) A single trip permit may be issued for the transportation of a load of implements of husbandry, consisting of not more than 2 articles, when the load does not exceed the length requirement in
s. 348.07 by more than 5 feet.
348.25(5)
(5) The officer or agency authorized by
s. 348.26 or
348.27 to issue permits may require the permittee to file a bond, certificate of insurance or certified check which, to the satisfaction of such officer or agency, saves the state and any county, city, village or town through which the vehicle or article will be operated or transported harmless from any claim, loss or damage that may result from the granting of such permit or that may arise from or on account of any act done pursuant thereto and conditioned to require the permittee to pay for restoration to a condition satisfactory to the officer in charge of the maintenance of any such highway any pavement, bridge, culvert, sewer pipe or other improvement that may be injured by reason of the use of the highways by the permittee. If a permittee refuses to pay for damage caused, the officer or agency who required the filing of a bond may maintain an action upon such bond.
348.25(6)
(6) The officer or agency authorized by
s. 348.26 or
348.27 to issue permits may require the permittee to file proof satisfactory to such officer or agency that personal injury and property damage insurance in an amount considered sufficient by such officer or agency will be in force to cover any claim for bodily injury or property damage which may occur in connection with operation under the permit and for which the permittee is legally responsible. Proof of such insurance shall be required in the case of annual permits for transportation of oversize mobile homes.
348.25(7)
(7) The officer or agency which issued a permit may, for good cause, suspend or revoke such permit or may decline to issue additional permits or may decline to authorize the use of a telephone call-in procedure for any applicant after having given the permittee or applicant reasonable opportunity for a hearing.
348.25(8)(a)(a) Except as provided under
par. (dm), the department shall charge the following fees for each permit issued under
s. 348.26:
348.25(8)(a)1.
1. For a vehicle or combination of vehicles which exceeds length limitations, $15.
348.25(8)(a)2.
2. For a vehicle or combination of vehicles which exceeds either width limitations or height limitations, $20.
348.25(8)(a)2m.
2m. For a vehicle or combination of vehicles which exceeds both width and height limitations, $25.
348.25(8)(a)3.
3. For a vehicle or combination of vehicles, the weight of which exceeds any of the provisions of
s. 348.15 (3), 10% of the fee specified in
par. (b) 3. for an annual permit for the comparable gross weight.
348.25(8)(b)
(b) Unless a different fee is specifically provided, the department shall charge the following fees for the first permit and each subsequent or revalidated annual or multiple trip permit issued under
s. 348.27 except that no fee may be charged for the amendment of a permit under
s. 348.27 (3m):
348.25(8)(b)1.
1. For a vehicle or combination of vehicles which exceeds length limitations, $60.
348.25(8)(b)2.
2. For a vehicle or combination of vehicles which exceeds width limitations or height limitations or both, $90.
348.25(8)(b)3.
3. For a vehicle or combination of vehicles, the weight of which exceeds any of the provisions of
s. 348.15 (3):
348.25(8)(b)3.b.
b. If the gross weight is more than 90,000 pounds but not more than 100,000 pounds, $350.
348.25(8)(b)3.c.
c. If the gross weight is greater than 100,000 pounds, $350 plus $100 for each 10,000-pound increment or fraction thereof by which the gross weight exceeds 100,000 pounds.
348.25(8)(bm)
(bm) Unless a different fee is specifically provided, the fee for a consecutive month permit is one-twelfth of the fee under
par. (b) for an annual permit times the number of months for which the permit is desired, plus $15 for each permit issued.
348.25(8)(c)
(c) For the purpose of computing the fees under this subsection, if the vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds width limitations or height limitations or both, no fee in addition to the fee under
par. (a) 2. or
2m.,
(b) 2. or
(bm) shall be charged if the vehicle or combination of vehicles also exceeds length limitations.
348.25(8)(d)
(d) For the purpose of computing the fees under this subsection, if the vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds weight limitations, no fee in addition to the fee under
par. (a) 3.,
(b) 3. or
(bm) shall be charged if the vehicle also exceeds length, width or height limitations or any combination thereof.
348.25(8)(de)
(de) For the purpose of computing the fee under
par. (a) for the issuance of a single trip permit for a vehicle or combination of vehicles for which an annual permit has been obtained under
s. 348.27:
348.25(8)(de)1.
1. For size or weight authorized by the annual permit, the fee for a single trip permit is $5.
348.25(8)(de)2.
2. For gross weight in excess of that authorized by the annual permit, the fee is $15 for each 10,000-pound increment or fraction thereof by which the gross weight authorized by the single trip permit exceeds the gross weight authorized by the annual permit.
348.25(8)(dm)
(dm) If the annual permit for a vehicle or combination of vehicles is suspended for the purpose of protecting the highways and a single trip permit is issued for the vehicle or combination of vehicles, the fee for the single trip permit is $5.
348.25(8)(e)
(e) The officer or agency authorized to issue a permit under
s. 348.26 may require any applicant for a permit under
s. 348.26 to pay the cost of any special investigation undertaken to determine whether a permit should be approved or denied and to pay an additional fee of $5 per permit if a department telephone call-in procedure is used.
348.25(8)(f)
(f) Any local officer or agency authorized to issue a permit under
s. 348.26 or
348.27 may charge a permit issuance fee for each permit issued under
s. 348.26 and for the first and each subsequent or revalidated permit issued under
s. 348.27. This paragraph does not apply to the amendment of a permit under
s. 348.27 (3m).
348.25(9)
(9) If a permit under
s. 348.26 or
348.27 is denied, suspended or revoked, the permit applicant or holder may petition the division of hearings and appeals for a hearing on the matter within 30 days after the denial, suspension or revocation.
348.25(10)
(10) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or
ss. 348.26 to
348.28, the department may enter into a reciprocal agreement with another jurisdiction for the issuance or recognition of permits for oversize or overweight vehicles or loads if that jurisdiction's laws or rules on oversize or overweight permits are substantially similar to those imposed by this chapter. Any permit recognized by this state under a reciprocal agreement shall be considered a permit issued under this section for purposes of this chapter or
s. 347.26 (10).
348.25 History
History: 1973 c. 316,
333,
336;
1975 c. 66;
1977 c. 29 ss.
1488,
1654 (8) (a);
1979 c. 34,
221;
1981 c. 20,
69,
215,
312;
1981 c. 347 s.
80 (2),
1981 c. 391;
1983 a. 78 s.
37;
1985 a. 212;
1987 a. 27;
1989 a. 35,
130;
1991 a. 39,
316;
1993 a. 16;
1995 a. 163,
348.
348.25 Annotation
Discussion of penalty provisions for weight and size violations. East Troy v. Town & Country Waste Service, 159 W (2d) 694, 465 NW (2d) 510 (Ct. App. 1990).
348.25 Annotation
Compliance with state rules promulgated under this section and incorporating federal guidelines is a condition of overweight permits under this section. Violations of overweight permits do not constitute registration violations under ch. 341. Town of East Troy v. A-1 Service Co., Inc. 196 W (2d) 120, 537 NW (2d) 126 (Ct. App. 1995).
348.26
348.26
Single trip permits. 348.26(1)(1)
Applications. All applications for single trip permits for the movement of oversize or overweight vehicles or loads shall be made upon the form prescribed by the department and shall be made to the officer or agency designated by this section as having authority to issue the particular permit desired for use of the particular highway in question.
348.26(1m)
(1m) Telephone call-in procedure. The department shall develop and implement a telephone call-in procedure for permits issued under this section. The telephone call-in procedure for permits may not be utilized until permit information is computerized to ensure inquiry capability into the data base for enforcement purposes.
348.26(2)
(2) Permits for oversize or overweight vehicles or loads. Except as provided in
sub. (4), single trip permits for oversize or overweight vehicles or loads may be issued by the department for use of the state trunk highways and by the officer in charge of maintenance of the highway to be used in the case of other highways. Such local officials also may issue such single trip permits for use of state trunk highways within the county or municipality which they represent. Every single trip permit shall designate the route to be used by the permittee. Whenever the officer or agency issuing such permit deems it necessary to have a traffic officer accompany the vehicle through the municipality or county, a reasonable charge for such traffic officer's services shall be paid by the permittee.
348.26(3)
(3) Trailer train permits. The department and those local officials who are authorized to issue permits pursuant to
sub. (2) also are authorized to issue single trip permits for the operation of trains consisting of truck tractors, tractors, trailers, semitrailers or wagons on highways under their jurisdiction, except that no trailer train permit issued by a local official for use of a highway outside the corporate limits of a city or village is valid until approved by the department. No permit shall be issued for any train exceeding 100 feet in total length. Every permit issued pursuant to this subsection shall designate the route to be used by the permittee.
348.26(4)
(4) Mobile home permits. Single trip permits for the movement of oversize mobile homes may be issued only by the department, regardless of the highways to be used. Every such permit shall designate the route to be used by the permittee.
