OTHER EQUIPMENT
347.35(1)(1)
Motor vehicles. No person shall operate any motor vehicle, other than a moped or motorcycle, upon a highway unless such motor vehicle is equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold such vehicle and capable of meeting the performance specifications under
s. 347.36. There shall be 2 separate means of applying the brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least 2 wheels.
347.35(1a)
(1a) Parking brakes. Every such vehicle and combination of vehicles, except mopeds and Type 1 motorcycles, shall be equipped with parking brakes adequate to hold the vehicle on any grade on which it is operated, under all conditions of loading on a surface free from snow, ice or loose material. The parking brakes shall be capable of being applied by the driver's muscular effort or by spring action or by equivalent means. Their operation may be assisted by the service brakes or other source of power provided that failure of the service brake actuation system or other power assisting mechanism will not prevent the parking brakes from being applied. The parking brakes shall be so designed that when once applied they shall remain applied with the required effectiveness despite exhaustion of any source of energy or leakage of any kind. The same brake drums, brake shoes and lining assemblies, brake shoe anchors and mechanical brake shoe actuation mechanism normally associated with the wheel brake assemblies may be used for both the service brakes and the parking brakes. If the means of applying the parking brakes and the service brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any one part shall not leave the vehicle without operative brakes.
347.35(2)
(2) Mopeds and motorcycles. No person may operate a moped or motorcycle upon a highway unless the moped or motorcycle is equipped with at least one brake capable of meeting the performance specifications set forth in
s. 347.36. The brake may be designed to be operated either by hand or by foot.
347.35(3)
(3) Trailers, semitrailers and towed vehicles. 347.35(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (am), no person shall operate on a highway any trailer, semitrailer or other towed vehicle having a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more and manufactured after January 1, 1942 unless such vehicle is equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold it.
347.35(3)(am)
(am) A motor vehicle may be towed without being equipped with brakes as provided in
par. (a) if the gross weight of the towed vehicle is not more than 40% of the gross weight of the towing vehicle and the brakes on the towing vehicle are capable of bringing the combination of towing vehicle and towed vehicle to a stop as provided in
s. 347.36 (1).
347.35(3)(b)
(b) Every full trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer or other towed vehicle required to be equipped with brakes shall be equipped with brake systems of such design and type, and capable of meeting such performance standards, as established by rule of the department.
347.35(3)(c)
(c) This subsection does not apply to farm trailers or to disabled vehicles while being towed to a place of repair or to automobiles or trucks while being towed or being transported pursuant to
s. 341.47 (1) (b).
347.35(4)
(4) Mobile homes. No person shall manufacture and no person shall sell a mobile home in this state unless such mobile home is equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold it. No person shall operate on a highway any mobile home registered as a 1940 or later year model unless such mobile home is equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold it.
347.35(5)(a)(a) No person may operate on a highway any self-propelled implement of husbandry manufactured after February 1, 1985, unless the vehicle is equipped with brakes or other stopping device adequate to control the movement of and to stop and hold the implement of husbandry.
347.35(5)(b)
(b) Every self-propelled implement of husbandry required to be equipped with brakes or other stopping device shall be equipped with brakes or a stopping device that meets design, type or performance standards established by the department by rule. The rule of the department under this paragraph shall comply with the applicable standard established by the American society of agricultural engineers.
347.36
347.36
Performance ability of brakes. 347.36(1)
(1) Brakes on motor vehicles and brakes on combinations of vehicles shall be capable of bringing the vehicle or combination of vehicles to a stop, under normal conditions, within 50 feet when traveling at a speed of 20 miles per hour.
347.36(3)
(3) All required brakes shall be maintained in good working order.
347.36 History
History: 1983 a. 243.
347.37
347.37
Brake fluid, sale regulation. 347.37(1)
(1) After January 1, 1960, no hydraulic brake fluid for use in motor vehicles shall be sold in this state if such brake fluid is below the minimum standard of specifications established by the society of automotive engineers for heavy duty type brake fluid No. 70R1 or a later designator for an improved product.
347.37(2)
(2) All manufacturers of brake fluids selling such fluids in Wisconsin shall state on the immediate containers in which such fluid is packaged that the fluid therein meets or exceeds the specifications under
sub. (1).
347.38
347.38
Horns and warning devices. 347.38(1)
(1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet, but no person shall at any time use a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or make any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device.
347.38(2)
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no vehicle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a vehicle any siren or compression or exhaust whistle.
347.38(3)
(3) Any vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device if such device is so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an ordinary warning signal.
347.38(4)
(4) An authorized emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, but such siren shall not be used except when such vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in which events the driver of such vehicle shall sound the siren when reasonably necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers.
347.39(1)(1) No person shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle subject to registration unless such motor vehicle is equipped with an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent any excessive or unusual noise or annoying smoke. This subsection also applies to motor bicycles.
347.39(2)
(2) No muffler or exhaust system on any vehicle mentioned in
sub. (1) shall be equipped with a cutout, bypass or similar device nor shall there be installed in the exhaust system of any such vehicle any device to ignite exhaust gases so as to produce flame within or without the exhaust system. No person shall modify the exhaust system of any such motor vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle, and such original muffler shall comply with all the requirements of this section.
347.39(3)
(3) In this section, "muffler" means a device consisting of a series of chambers of baffle plates or other mechanical design for receiving exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine and which is effective in reducing noise.
347.39 History
History: 1983 a. 243.
347.40(1)(1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon a highway unless such vehicle is equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the operator a view of the roadway for a distance of 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle.
347.40(2)
(2) No person shall operate on a highway any school bus having a passenger-carrying capacity of 10 or more persons including the operator unless such bus is equipped with at least one mirror which is 7 inches in diameter so located as to enable the operator to see a reflection of the road from the entire front bumper forward to a point where direct observation is possible.
347.40(3)
(3) No person may operate or permit the operation of any motor bus on a highway unless the bus is equipped with 2 outside rearview mirrors, one to the right and one to the left of the operator. Each mirror shall have not less than 50 square inches of unobstructed reflective surface and shall be firmly supported and adjustable to give the operator a clear view past both the right and left rear of the bus.
347.40 History
History: 1975 c. 84;
1987 a. 235.
347.41
347.41
Speed indicators. No person shall operate on a highway any motor vehicle primarily designed for use upon a highway unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a speedometer which with reasonable accuracy registers the speed of the vehicle, except that motor trucks or truck tractors may be equipped with tachometers or any other devices that indicate speed and motor vehicles transported pursuant and in compliance with
s. 341.47 (1) (b) and
(c) may be equipped with a governor of speed of a type which restricts speed and which is set at a level equal to or below the limits of 55 miles per hour in lieu of a speedometer.
347.41 History
History: 1983 a. 54.
347.413
347.413
Ignition interlock device tampering. 347.413(1)
(1) No person may remove, disconnect, tamper with or otherwise circumvent the operation of an ignition interlock device installed in response to the court order under
s. 346.65 (6). This subsection does not apply to the removal of an ignition interlock device upon the expiration of the order requiring the motor vehicle to be so equipped or to necessary repairs to a malfunctioning ignition interlock device by a person authorized by the department.
347.413(2)
(2) The department shall promulgate a rule establishing specifications and requirements for approved types of ignition interlock devices and their calibration, installation and maintenance.
347.413(3)
(3) The department shall design a warning label which shall be affixed to each ignition interlock device upon installation. The label shall provide notice of the penalties for tampering with or circumventing the operation of the ignition interlock device under
sub. (1) and
s. 343.10 (5) (a) 3.
347.413 History
History: 1991 a. 277;
1993 a. 213.
347.415
347.415
Odometer tampering. 347.415(1)(1) No person shall, either personally or through an agent, remove, replace, disconnect, reset, tamper with, alter, or fail to connect the odometer of any motor vehicle with the intent to change or affect the number of miles indicated thereon.
347.415(2)
(2) No person may operate a motor vehicle subject to registration under
ch. 341 on any street or highway with knowledge that the odometer is removed, disconnected or nonfunctional. An exemption may be provided if parts are on back order to correct a nonfunctional odometer.
347.415(3)
(3) No person may advertise for sale, sell, use, install, or have installed any device which causes an odometer to register any mileage other than the true mileage driven. For purposes of this subsection, "true mileage driven" means that mileage traveled by the vehicle as measured and recorded by the odometer within the manufacturer's design tolerance.
347.415(5)
(5) Nothing in this section shall prevent the service, repair or replacement of an odometer, provided the mileage indicated thereon remains the same as before the service, repair or replacement. Where the odometer is incapable of registering the same mileage as before such service, repair or replacement, the odometer shall be adjusted to read zero, and a written notice shall be attached, by the owner or an agent, to the left door frame of the vehicle, or other location as prescribed by the department, specifying the mileage prior to service, repair or replacement of the odometer and the date on which it was serviced, repaired or replaced. No person may, with intent to defraud, remove or alter such a notice so affixed. No person who services, repairs or replaces an odometer that is incapable of registering the same mileage as before such service, repair or replacement may fail to adjust the odometer to read zero or fail to attach the notice required by this subsection.
347.417
347.417
Immobilization device tampering. 347.417(1)
(1) No person may remove, disconnect, tamper with or otherwise circumvent the operation of any immobilization device installed in response to a court order under
s. 346.65 (6). This subsection does not apply to the removal of an immobilization device pursuant to a court order or to necessary repairs to a malfunctioning immobilization device.
347.417(2)
(2) The department shall design a warning label which shall be affixed by the owner of each immobilization device before the device is used to immobilize any motor vehicle under
s. 346.65 (6). The label shall provide notice of the penalties for removing, disconnecting, tampering with or otherwise circumventing the operation of the immobilization device.
347.417 History
History: 1991 a. 277.
347.42
347.42
Windshield wipers. No person may operate on a highway any motor vehicle equipped with a windshield, except a moped or Type 1 motorcycle, unless the motor vehicle also is equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow or other moisture from the windshield. The device shall be so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the operator of the vehicle and shall at all times be maintained in good working order.
347.43(1)(1) No person may operate upon a highway any motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1936, unless such motor vehicle is equipped with safety glass wherever glass is used thereon in partitions, doors, windows or windshields.
347.43(2)
(2) No person shall sell any new motor vehicle unless such vehicle is equipped with safety glass in accordance with the requirements of
sub. (1).
347.43(3)
(3) In this section, "safety glass" means glass so treated or combined with other materials as to reduce, in comparison with ordinary sheet glass or plate glass, the likelihood of injury to persons by objects from external sources or by such glass when it is struck, cracked or broken.
347.43(4)
(4) If a common carrier or person operating under a permit or certificate issued by the department is convicted of operating a vehicle in violation of this section, the department may suspend or revoke the permit or certificate until such time as the vehicle has been equipped with safety glass as required by this section.
347.44
347.44
Painting requirements for school buses; restrictions as to painting of other vehicles. 347.44(1)
(1) All school buses shall be painted as follows:
347.44(1)(a)
(a) With the exception of trim, the body, including hood, fenders, cowl and roof shall be painted a uniform color, national school bus glossy yellow, according to national institute of standards and technology specifications;
347.44(1)(b)
(b) The body trim, if used, shall be black; and
347.44(1)(c)
(c) The words, "SCHOOL BUS", in black letters at least 8 inches high shall appear on both the front and rear of the upper body area or on a sign attached thereto.
347.44(2)
(2) A motor vehicle described in
s. 340.01 (56) (b) may, but need not, comply with
sub. (1). If the motor vehicle complies with
sub. (1), the vehicle shall comply with other regulations relating to school buses prescribed by the department by rule.
347.44(3)
(3) No person may paint or in any way designate a motor vehicle in the manner described in
sub. (1) except as expressly authorized by this section.
347.44(4)
(4) When a motor vehicle in compliance with
sub. (1),
s. 347.25 (2), and the rules of the department relating to school bus equipment is no longer operated as a school bus, the registration of the motor vehicle for another purpose may not be permitted until the owner:
347.44(4)(a)
(a) Physically removes the signs identifying the vehicle as a school bus, the lights required by
s. 347.25 (2) and such other equipment as the department may specify by rule; and
347.44(4)(b)
(b) Repaints the entire vehicle to a color other than national school bus glossy yellow or any color commonly referred to as yellow.
347.45(1)(1) All automobiles, motor trucks, motor buses, truck tractors, trailers, semitrailers and mobile homes when operated upon a highway shall be completely equipped with tires inflated with compressed air and all other motor vehicles when operated on a highway shall be equipped with tires of rubber or of some material or construction of equal resiliency. No person may operate on a highway any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or mobile home having any metal tire in contact with the roadway, except that tire chains of reasonable proportions may be used when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid, and except as provided in
sub. (2) (c).
347.45(2)
(2) No person shall operate on a highway any vehicle, including farm tractors, self-propelled farm implements, implements of husbandry, animal-drawn vehicles and road machinery, if such vehicle has on the periphery of any of its tires any block, stud, flange, cleat, spike or other protuberance of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except that:
347.45(2)(a)
(a) Farm tractors, self-propelled farm implements, implements of husbandry, animal-drawn vehicles and road machinery may be operated with metal tires or tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway; and
347.45(2)(b)
(b) Tire chains of reasonable proportions may be used on any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.
347.45(2)(c)
(c) A pneumatic tire may have embedded in it wire or wire coils for improving traction on ice and snow, but such tire shall be so constructed that the per cent of wire or wire coils in contact with the roadway does not exceed, after the first 1,000 miles of use or operation, 5% of the total tire area in contact with the roadway. During the first 1,000 miles of use or operation of any such tire the wire or wire coils in contact with the roadway shall not exceed 20% of the total tire area in contact with the roadway. Tires equipped with tungsten carbide studs shall be limited in usage and design as follows:
347.45(2)(c)1.
1. The department shall, by rule, designate the times of year during which any type of tire described in this paragraph may be used.
347.45(2)(c)2.
2. Such tires may be used only on authorized emergency vehicles, school buses, vehicles used to deliver mail and automobiles with out-of-state registrations and then only if such automobile is in the course of passing through this state for a period of not more than 30 days.
347.45(2)(c)3.
3. Such studs shall not project more than one-eighth inch beyond the tread surface of the tire.
347.45(3)
(3) The authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question may, in its discretion, issue a special permit authorizing operation upon such highway of a vehicle the operation of which would otherwise be prohibited under this section.
347.45(4)
(4) No person shall knowingly operate on any highway any vehicle on which any tire has been regrooved or recut or offer such tire for sale or exchange. This subsection shall not apply to regrooved or recut commercial vehicle tires which are designed and constructed in such a manner that regrooving or recutting is an acceptable and safe practice, nor does this subsection apply to regrooving or recutting done in a tire recapping process.
347.455
347.455
Modifications to height of vehicle. 347.455(1)
(1) Except as further provided in this section, no person may operate any vehicle on a highway if modifications have been made to the suspension system, axles or chassis of the vehicle which cause any portion of the vehicle to ride more than 4 inches above the height of the vehicle specified by the manufacturer. The height of the vehicle shall be measured from the level surface on which the vehicle stands.
347.455(2)
(2) If the modification is for the purpose of strengthening or improving handling, modifications may be made to the suspension system, axles or chassis of a 4-wheel drive vehicle or a motor truck which has a gross weight of not more than 8,000 pounds which cause the vehicle to ride 5 or less inches above the height of the vehicle specified by the manufacturer. The height of the vehicle shall be measured from the level surface on which the vehicle stands.
