346.65 Note
2m. A person who owns a motor vehicle subject to seizure under this paragraph shall surrender to the clerk of circuit court the certificate of title issued under ch. 342 for the motor vehicle that is subject to seizure. The person shall comply with this subdivision within 5 working days after receiving notification of this requirement from the district attorney. When a district attorney receives a copy of a notice of intent to revoke the operating privilege under s. 343.305 (9) (a) of a person who has 2 or more prior convictions, suspensions or revocations, counting convictions under ss. 940.09 (1) and 940.25 in the person's lifetime, plus other convictions, suspensions or revocations counted under s. 343.307 (1), or when a district attorney notifies the department of the filing of a criminal complaint against a person under s. 342.12 (4) (a), the district attorney shall notify the person of the requirement to surrender the certificate of title to the clerk of circuit court. The notification shall include the time limits for that surrender, the penalty for failure to comply with the requirement and the address of the clerk of circuit court. The clerk of circuit court shall promptly return the certificate of title surrendered to the clerk of circuit court under this subdivision after stamping the certificate of title with the notation "Per section 346.65 (6) of the Wisconsin statutes, ownership of this motor vehicle may not be transferred without prior court approval". Any person failing to surrender a certificate of title as required under this subdivision shall forfeit not more than $500.
346.65(6)(a)3.
3. The court shall notify the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, that an order to equip a motor vehicle with an ignition interlock device, to immobilize a motor vehicle or to seize a motor vehicle has been entered. The registration records of the department shall reflect that the order has been entered against the vehicle and remains unexecuted. Any law enforcement officer may execute that order and shall transfer any motor vehicle ordered seized to the law enforcement agency that was originally ordered to seize the vehicle based on the information provided by the department. The law enforcement agency shall notify the department when an order has been executed under this subdivision and the department shall amend its vehicle registration records to reflect that notification.
Effective date note
NOTE: Subd. 3. is amended eff. 1-1-02 by
1999 Wis. Act 109 to read:
Effective date text
3. The court shall notify the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, that an order to seize a motor vehicle has been entered. The registration records of the department shall reflect that the order has been entered against the vehicle and remains unexecuted. Any law enforcement officer may execute that order and shall transfer any motor vehicle ordered seized to the law enforcement agency that was originally ordered to seize the vehicle based on the information provided by the department. The law enforcement agency shall notify the department when an order has been executed under this subdivision and the department shall amend its vehicle registration records to reflect that notification.
346.65(6)(a)4.
4. The following motor vehicles are not subject to seizure and forfeiture under this subsection:
346.65(6)(a)4.a.
a. A motor vehicle used by any person as a common carrier in the transaction of business as a common carrier unless the owner or other person in charge of the motor vehicle had knowledge of or consented to the commission of the violation or refusal.
346.65(6)(a)4.b.
b. A commercial motor vehicle used by any person unless the owner or other person in charge of the commercial motor vehicle had knowledge of or consented to the commission of the violation or refusal.
346.65(6)(a)4.c.
c. A rented or leased motor vehicle used by a person other than the owner of the motor vehicle unless the violation or refusal was committed with the knowledge or consent of the owner of the motor vehicle.
346.65(6)(b)
(b) Within 10 days after seizing or immobilizing a motor vehicle under
par. (a), the law enforcement agency that seized or immobilized the vehicle shall provide notice of the seizure or immobilization by certified mail to the owner of the motor vehicle and to all lienholders of record. The notice shall set forth the year, make, model and serial number of the motor vehicle, where the motor vehicle is located, the reason for the seizure or immobilization, and the forfeiture procedure if the vehicle was seized. When a motor vehicle is seized under this section, the law enforcement agency that seized the vehicle shall place the motor vehicle in a secure place subject to the order of the court.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (b) is amended eff. 1-1-02 by
1999 Wis. Act 109 to read:
Effective date text
(b) Within 10 days after seizing a motor vehicle under par. (a), the law enforcement agency that seized the vehicle shall provide notice of the seizure by certified mail to the owner of the motor vehicle and to all lienholders of record. The notice shall set forth the year, make, model and serial number of the motor vehicle, where the motor vehicle is located, the reason for the seizure, and the forfeiture procedure if the vehicle was seized. When a motor vehicle is seized under this section, the law enforcement agency that seized the vehicle shall place the motor vehicle in a secure place subject to the order of the court.
346.65(6)(c)
(c) The district attorney of the county where the motor vehicle was seized, or where the owner improperly refused to take the test under
s. 343.305 or violated
s. 346.63 (1) (a) or
(b) or
(2) (a) 1. or
2.,
940.09 (1) (a),
(b),
(c) or
(d) or
940.25 (1) (a),
(b),
(c) or
(d), shall commence an action to forfeit the motor vehicle within 30 days after the motor vehicle is seized. The action shall name the owner of the motor vehicle and all lienholders of record as parties. The forfeiture action shall be commenced by filing a summons, complaint and affidavit of the law enforcement agency with the clerk of circuit court. Upon service of an answer, the action shall be set for hearing within 60 days after the service of the answer. If no answer is served or no issue of law or fact joined and the time for that service or joining of issues has expired, the court may render a default judgment as provided in
s. 806.02.
346.65(6)(d)
(d) At the hearing set under
par. (c), the state has the burden of proving to a reasonable certainty by the greater weight of the credible evidence that the motor vehicle seized under
par. (a) 1. is a motor vehicle used in the violation or the improper refusal and owned by a person who committed a violation of
s. 346.63 (1) (a) or
(b) or
(2) (a) 1. or
2.,
940.09 (1) (a),
(b),
(c) or
(d) or
940.25 (1) (a),
(b),
(c) or
(d) and that the person had 2 or more prior convictions, suspensions or revocations, counting convictions under
ss. 940.09 (1) and
940.25 in the person's lifetime, plus other convictions, suspensions or revocations counted under
s. 343.307 (1). If the state fails to meet the burden of proof required under this paragraph, the motor vehicle shall be returned to the owner upon the payment of storage costs.
346.65(6)(e)
(e) If, upon default or after a hearing, the court determines that the motor vehicle is forfeited to the state, the law enforcement agency that seized the motor vehicle shall dispose of the motor vehicle by sealed bid or auction sale following the procedure under
s. 342.40 (3) (c), except as provided in
par. (em). The law enforcement agency that seized the motor vehicle shall distribute 50% of the proceeds of the sale in the following order:
346.65(6)(e)1.
1. To pay the costs of the sale and of the seizure and storage of the motor vehicle.
346.65(6)(e)2.
2. To pay the law enforcement agency that arrested the violator for the costs of the arrest, investigation and prosecution.
346.65(6)(e)3.
3. To pay the district attorney's costs of prosecution.
346.65(6)(em)
(em) If there is a perfected security interest in the motor vehicle, the law enforcement officer shall transfer the motor vehicle to the lienholder having the primary perfected security interest for sale following the procedure under
s. 342.40 (3) (c). The lienholder shall distribute the proceeds of the sale in the following order:
346.65(6)(em)1.
1. To pay the primary lienholder for the amount of the lien, plus costs incurred in selling the vehicle.
346.65(6)(em)2.
2. To pay any other lienholder of record for the amount of the lien.
346.65(6)(em)3.
3. To pay any balance remaining to the law enforcement officer for distribution under
pars. (e),
(f) and
(g).
346.65(6)(f)
(f) If a motor vehicle forfeited and sold under this subsection is owned in part by a person other than the person who committed the violation or refusal under
par. (a), any moneys remaining from the sale, after making any payment to the lienholders under
par. (em) and as provided in
par. (e) 1. to
4., shall be paid to that person to the extent of the person's interest in the motor vehicle.
346.65(6)(g)
(g) Any balance remaining from the proceeds of the sale of the motor vehicle after the distribution under
par. (f) shall be deposited in the school fund.
346.65(6)(h)
(h) After a determination is made that a motor vehicle seized is not subject to forfeiture, the agency having custody of the motor vehicle shall take reasonable steps to notify the owner or other person in charge of the motor vehicle of the location of the motor vehicle and of his or her right to take possession of the motor vehicle.
346.65(6)(k)
(k) Except as provided in
par. (km), no person may transfer ownership of any motor vehicle that is subject to immobilization or seizure or to equipping with an ignition interlock device under this subsection or make application for a new certificate of title under
s. 342.18 for the motor vehicle unless the court determines that the transfer is in good faith and not for the purpose of or with the effect of defeating the purposes of this subsection. The department may cancel a title or refuse to issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner to any person who violates this paragraph.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (k) is amended eff. 1-1-02 by
1999 Wis. Act 109 to read:
Effective date text
(k) Except as provided in par. (km), no person may transfer ownership of any motor vehicle that is subject to seizure under this subsection or make application for a new certificate of title under s. 342.18 for the motor vehicle unless the court determines that the transfer is in good faith and not for the purpose of or with the effect of defeating the purposes of this subsection. The department may cancel a title or refuse to issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner to any person who violates this paragraph.
346.65(6)(km)
(km) If a person purchases a motor vehicle in good faith and without knowledge that the motor vehicle was subject to immobilization or seizure or to equipping with an ignition interlock device under this subsection and the department has no valid reason for not issuing a certificate of title other than the prohibition under
par. (k), the department shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the person requesting the new certificate of title if at the time of the purchase of the motor vehicle the certificate of title did not contain the notation stamped on the certificate of title by the clerk of circuit court under
par. (a) 2m. and if the person submits the affidavit required under
s. 342.12 (4) (c) 1. c.
346.65(6)(m)
(m) The court may order a vehicle to be immobilized under this subsection for not more than the period that the person's operating privilege is revoked under
s. 343.30 or
343.31. The court may order a vehicle to be equipped with an ignition interlock device under this subsection for not more than 2 years more than the period that the person's operating privilege is revoked under
s. 343.30 or
343.31. If the court orders any motor vehicle immobilized or equipped with an ignition interlock device under this subsection, the owner shall be liable for the reasonable costs of the immobilization or the equipping of the ignition interlock device. If a motor vehicle that is immobilized is subject to a security agreement, the court shall release the motor vehicle to the secured party upon the filing of an affidavit by the secured party that the security agreement is in default and upon payment of the accrued cost of immobilizing the motor vehicle.
346.65(7)
(7) A person convicted under
sub. (2) (b),
(c),
(d) or
(e) or
(2j) (b) or
(c) shall be required to remain in the county jail for not less than a 48-consecutive-hour period.
346.65 History
History: 1971 c. 278;
1973 c. 218;
1977 c. 193;
1979 c. 221;
1981 c. 20;
1985 a. 80,
337;
1987 a. 3,
27,
398,
399;
1989 a. 105,
176,
271;
1991 a. 39,
251,
277,
315;
1993 a. 198,
317,
475;
1995 a. 44,
338,
359,
425;
1997 a. 27,
135,
199,
237,
277,
283,
295;
1999 a. 32,
109.
346.65 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: For suspension or revocation of operating privileges upon convictions for OWI see s.
343.30.
346.65 Annotation
Penalty provisions of sub. (2) are mandatory and apply to subsequent violations committed prior to a conviction for the 1st offense. State v. Banks,
105 Wis. 2d 32,
313 N.W.2d 67 (1981).
346.65 Annotation
When the accused was represented by counsel in proceedings leading to the 2nd conviction, but not the first, there was no violation of the right to counsel precluding incarceration for the 2nd conviction since the first offense was a civil forfeiture case. State v. Novak,
107 Wis. 2d 31,
318 N.W.2d 364 (1982).
346.65 Annotation
The state has exclusive jurisdiction over 2nd offense for drunk driving. It is criminal and may not be prosecuted as an ordinance violation. County of Walworth v. Rohner,
108 Wis. 2d 713,
324 N.W.2d 682 (1982).
346.65 Annotation
Under sub. (3), a fine is mandatory but a jail sentence is discretionary. State v. McKenzie,
139 Wis. 2d 171,
407 N.W.2d 274 (Ct. App. 1987).
346.65 Annotation
Probation with a condition of 30-days' confinement in the county jail is inadequate to meet mandatory the imprisonment requirement of sub. (2) (c). State v. Meddaugh,
148 Wis. 2d 204,
435 N.W.2d 269 (Ct. App. 1988).
346.65 Annotation
A judgment entered in municipal court against a defendant for what is actually a second or subsequent offense is void. The state may proceed against the defendant criminally regardless of whether the judgment in municipal court is vacated. City of Kenosha v. Jensen,
184 Wis. 2d 91,
516 N.W.2d 4 (Ct. App. 1994).
346.65 Annotation
The general requirements for establishing prior criminal offenses in s. 973.12 are not applicable to the penalty enhancement provisions for drunk driving offenses under sub. (2). There is no presumption of innocence accruing to the defendant as to prior convictions, but the accused must have an opportunity to challenge the existence of the prior offense. State v. Wideman,
206 Wis. 2d 90,
556 N.W.2d 737 (1996).
346.65 Annotation
Sub. (2) is primarily a penalty enhancement statute. When a prior conviction is determined to be constitutionally defective, that conviction cannot be relied on for either charging or sentencing a present offense. State v. Foust,
214 Wis. 2d 567,
570 N.W.2d 905 (Ct. App. 1997).
346.65 Annotation
Seizure and forfeiture under sub. (6) of a vehicle used in the commission of the crime is an in rem civil forfeiture to which the constitution's double jeopardy clause is inapplicable. State v. Konrath,
218 Wis. 2d 290,
577 N.W.2d 601 (1998).
346.65 Annotation
The requirement under sub. (6) (k) that a court find a transfer to have been in good faith does not apply to security interests, but the creation of a security interest in a vehicle must be done in good faith in accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code. State v. Frankwick,
229 Wis. 2d 406,
599 N.W.2d 893 (Ct. App. 1999).
346.65 Annotation
When a person is charged under s. 346.63 (1) with a 2nd offense, the charge may not be reduced to a first offense and the court may not sentence under s. 346.65 (2) (a) 1. The department must treat this as a 2nd offense for purposes of revocation. 69 Atty. Gen. 47.
346.65 Annotation
An uncounseled civil forfeiture conviction may provide the basis for criminal penalties for a subsequent offense. Schindler v. Clerk of Circuit Court,
715 F.2d 341 (1983).
346.65 Annotation
New Law's `Get Tough' Provisions Fall Short of the Mark. Pangman & Mutschler. Wis. Law. Feb. 1993.
346.65 Annotation
Targeting the Repeat Offender. Emerson & Maasen. Wis. Law. Feb. 1993.
346.655
346.655
Driver improvement surcharge. 346.655(1)
(1) If a court imposes a fine or a forfeiture for a violation of
s. 346.63 (1) or
(5), or a local ordinance in conformity therewith, or
s. 346.63 (2) or
(6) or
940.25, or
s. 940.09 where the offense involved the use of a vehicle, it shall impose a driver improvement surcharge in an amount of $345 in addition to the fine or forfeiture, penalty assessment, jail assessment and crime laboratories and drug law enforcement assessment.
346.655(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), the clerk of court shall collect and transmit the amount under
sub. (1) to the county treasurer as provided in
s. 59.40 (2) (m). The county treasurer shall then make payment of 38.5% of the amount to the state treasurer as provided in
s. 59.25 (3) (f) 2.
346.655(2)(b)
(b) If the forfeiture is imposed by a municipal court, the court shall transmit the amount to the treasurer of the county, city, town or village, and that treasurer shall make payment of 38.5% of the amount to the state treasurer as provided in
s. 66.0114 (1) (b). The treasurer of the city, town or village shall transmit the remaining 61.5% of the amount to the treasurer of the county.
346.655(3)
(3) All moneys collected from the driver improvement surcharge that are transmitted to the county treasurer under
sub. (2) (a) or
(b), except the amounts that the county treasurer is required to transmit to the state treasurer under
sub. (2) (a) or
(b), shall be retained by the county treasurer and disbursed to the county department under
s. 51.42 for services under
s. 51.42 for drivers referred through assessment.
346.655(4)
(4) Any person who fails to pay a driver improvement surcharge imposed under
sub. (1) is subject to
s. 343.30 (1z).
346.655 Annotation
Imprisonment or suspension of a license under s. 345.47 (1) (a) and (b) does not eliminate the liability of a defendant for payment of a surcharge under s. 346.655.
73 Atty. Gen. 24.
ACCIDENTS AND ACCIDENT REPORTS
346.66
346.66
Applicability of sections relating to accidents and accident reporting. In addition to being applicable upon highways,
ss. 346.67 to
346.70 are applicable upon all premises held out to the public for use of their motor vehicles, all premises provided by employers to employees 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. These sections do not apply to private parking areas at farms or single-family residences or to accidents involving only snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles or vehicles propelled by human power or drawn by animals.
346.66 Annotation
The test for whether a premises is held out to the public is whether on any given day, potentially any resident of the community with a driver's license and access to a motor vehicle could use the premises in an authorized manner. State v. Carter,
229 Wis. 2d 200,
598 N.W.2d 619 (Ct. App. 1999).
346.665
346.665
Definition. In
ss. 346.67 to
346.72, notwithstanding
s. 340.01 (42), "owner" means, with respect to a vehicle that is registered, or required to be registered, by a lessee of the vehicle under
ch. 341, the lessee of the vehicle.
346.665 History
History: 1997 a. 27.
346.67
346.67
Duty upon striking person or attended or occupied vehicle. 346.67(1)(1) The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person or in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then forthwith return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until the operator has fulfilled the following requirements:
346.67(1)(a)
(a) The operator shall give his or her name, address and the registration number of the vehicle he or she is driving to the person struck or to the operator or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with; and
346.67(1)(b)
(b) The operator shall, upon request and if available, exhibit his or her operator's license to the person struck or to the operator or occupant of or person attending any vehicle collided with; and
346.67(1)(c)
(c) The operator shall render to any person injured in such accident reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of such person to a physician, surgeon or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that such treatment is necessary or if such carrying is requested by the injured person.
346.67(2)
(2) Any stop required under
sub. (1) shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
346.67 History
History: 1991 a. 316;
1997 a. 258.
346.67 Annotation
Failure to stop and render aid to multiple victims of a single accident may result in multiple charges without multiplicity defects arising. State v. Hartnek,
146 Wis. 2d 188,
430 N.W.2d 361 (Ct. App. 1988).
346.67 Annotation
A "person injured" in sub. (1) (c) includes a person who is fatally injured. A subsequent determination of instantaneous death does not absolve a person of the duty to investigate whether assistance is possible. State v. Swatek,
178 Wis. 2d 1,
502 N.W.2d 909 (Ct. App. 1993).
346.68
346.68
Duty upon striking unattended vehicle. The operator of any vehicle which collides with any vehicle which is unattended shall immediately stop and either locate and notify the operator or owner of such vehicle of the name and address of the operator and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle or leave in a conspicuous place in the vehicle struck, a written notice giving the name and address of the operator and of the owner of the vehicle doing the striking and a statement of the circumstances thereof. Any such stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.
346.68 History
History: 1997 a. 258.
346.68 Annotation
Driver's knowledge of collision with unattended vehicle need not be proved under this section. 68 Atty. Gen. 274.
346.69
346.69
Duty upon striking property on or adjacent to highway. The operator of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to fixtures or other property legally upon or adjacent to a highway shall take reasonable steps to locate and notify the owner or person in charge of such property of such fact and of the operator's name and address and of the registration number of the vehicle the operator is driving and shall upon request and if available exhibit his or her operator's license and shall make report of such accident when and as required in
s. 346.70.
346.69 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
346.70
346.70
Duty to report accident. 346.70(1)
(1)
Immediate notice of accident. The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, any damage to state or other government-owned property, except a state or other government-owned vehicle, to an apparent extent of $200 or more or total damage to property owned by any one person or to a state or other government-owned vehicle to an apparent extent of $1,000 or more shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of such accident to the police department, the sheriff's department or the traffic department of the county or municipality in which the accident occurred or to a state traffic patrol officer. In this subsection, "injury" means injury to a person of a physical nature resulting in death or the need of first aid or attention by a physician or surgeon, whether or not first aid or medical or surgical treatment was actually received; "total damage to property owned by one person" means the sum total cost of putting the property damaged in the condition it was before the accident, if repair thereof is practical, and if not practical, the sum total cost of replacing such property. For purposes of this subsection if any property which is damaged is held in a form of joint or multiple ownership, the property shall be considered to be owned by one person.
346.70(2)
(2) Written report of accident. Unless a report is made under
sub. (4) by a law enforcement agency, within 10 days after an accident of the type described in
sub. (1), the operator of a vehicle involved in the accident shall forward a written report of the accident to the department. The department may accept or require a report of the accident to be filed by an occupant or the owner in lieu of a report from the operator. Every accident report required to be made in writing shall be made on the appropriate form approved by the department and shall contain all of the information required therein unless not available. The report shall include information sufficient to enable the department to determine whether the requirements for deposit of security under
s. 344.14 are inapplicable by reason of the existence of insurance or other exceptions specified in
ch. 344.
346.70(3)
(3) Who to report when operator unable. Whenever the operator of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving the notice and making the report required by
subs. (1) and
(2), the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident shall give the notice and make the report required by
subs. (1) and
(2). If the owner of the vehicle is physically or mentally incapable of giving the notice and making the report required by
subs. (1) and
(2), and if there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of giving the notice and making the report, the occupant shall give the notice and make the report.
346.70(3m)
(3m) Duty of department with respect to accident reports. 346.70(3m)(a)(a) The department may require any operator, occupant or owner of a vehicle involved in an accident of which report must be made as provided in
s. 346.70 to file supplemental reports whenever the original report is insufficient in the opinion of the department and may require witnesses of accidents to render reports to the department.
346.70(3m)(b)
(b) The department shall tabulate and may analyze all accident reports and shall publish annually or at more frequent intervals statistical information based thereon as to the number and circumstances of traffic accidents.
346.70(3m)(c)
(c) The department shall prepare and supply at its own expense to police departments, coroners, sheriffs and other suitable agencies or individuals, forms or an automated format for accident reports required to be made to the department. Any report forms and automated format shall call for sufficiently detailed information to disclose with reference to a traffic accident the cause, conditions then existing, and the persons and vehicles involved.
346.70(4)
(4) Police and traffic agencies to report. 346.70(4)(a)(a) Every law enforcement agency investigating or receiving a report of a traffic accident as described in
sub. (1) shall forward an original written report of the accident or a report of the accident in an automated format to the department within 10 days after the date of the accident.
