CHAPTER 349
VEHICLES — POWERS OF STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES
GENERAL PROVISIONS
349.01 Words and phrases defined.
349.02 Police and traffic officers to enforce law.
349.025 Quotas relating to the enforcement of traffic regulations prohibited.
349.03 Regulation by local authorities forbidden; exceptions.
EXPRESS REGULATORY POWERS
349.06 Authority to adopt traffic regulations in strict conformity with state law.
349.065 Uniform traffic control devices.
349.07 Authority to designate through highways.
349.08 Cost of signs and traffic control signals.
349.085 Authority to install stop signs at railroad grade crossings.
349.09 Authority to remove prohibited signs or signals.
349.10 Authority to designate one-way highways, safety zones, turns and lanes.
349.105 Authority to prohibit certain traffic on expressways and freeways.
349.11 Authority to modify speed restrictions.
349.12 Authority to designate no-passing zones.
349.13 Authority to regulate the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles.
349.135 Authority to regulate radios or other electric sound amplification devices.
349.137 Authority to regulate use of motor vehicle immobilization devices.
349.14 Authority to use parking meters.
349.145 Authority to establish disabled parking enforcement assistance councils.
349.15 Authority to modify weight limitations and classify highways.
349.16 Authority to impose special or seasonal weight limitations.
349.17 Authority of cities, villages and towns to regulate heavy traffic.
349.18 Additional traffic-control authority of counties and municipalities.
349.185 Authority to regulate certain events and pedestrians.
349.19 Authority to require accident reports.
349.20 Authority to prohibit use of bridges for fishing or swimming.
349.21 Authority to regulate school bus warning lights.
349.215 Authority to appoint school crossing guards.
349.22 Authority to establish mass transit way.
349.23 Authority to designate bicycle lanes and bicycle ways.
349.235 Authority to restrict use of in-line skates on roadway.
LICENSING POWERS
349.24 Authority to license taxicab operators and taxicabs.
349.25 Authority to license hayrack and sleigh rides.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
349.01
349.01
Words and phrases defined. 349.01(1)
(1) Words and phrases defined in
s. 340.01 are used in the same sense in this chapter unless a different definition is specifically provided.
349.01(2)
(2) In this chapter, "chauffeur" means a person employed full time or on a regular basis, including leased drivers, for the principal purpose of operating a motor vehicle.
349.01 History
History: 1989 a. 105.
349.02
349.02
Police and traffic officers to enforce law. 349.02(1)
(1) It is the duty of the police, sheriff's and traffic departments of every unit of government and each authorized department of the state to enforce
chs. 346 to
348 and
350. Police officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and traffic officers are authorized to direct all traffic within their respective jurisdictions either in person or by means of visual or audible signal in accordance with
chs. 346 to
348 and
350. In the event of fire or other emergency, police officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and traffic officers and officers of the fire department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of
chs. 346 to
348 and
350.
349.02(2)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, traffic officer or motor vehicle inspector may not stop or inspect a vehicle solely to determine compliance with a statute or ordinance specified under
par. (b) unless the police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, traffic officer or motor vehicle inspector has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of a statute or ordinance specified under
par. (b) has been committed. This paragraph does not limit the authority of a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, traffic officer or motor vehicle inspector to make an arrest or issue a citation for a violation of any statute or ordinance specified under
par. (b) observed in the course of a stop or inspection made for a lawful purpose. This paragraph does not apply to a traffic officer or motor vehicle inspector in the performance of duties under
s. 110.075 (2).
349.02(2)(b)
(b) The statutes and ordinances covered under
par. (a) are all of the following:
349.02(2)(b)1.
1. This chapter and local ordinances enacted under this chapter.
349.02(2)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding
par. (a), a law enforcement officer may not stop a vehicle solely because the vehicle's color differs from the color stated in the application for registration of that vehicle. This paragraph does not limit the authority of a law enforcement officer to issue a citation for improper registration of a vehicle whose color differs from the color stated in the application for registration of the vehicle, if the difference is observed in the course of a stop or inspection made for other purposes.
349.02(3)(a)(a) In this subsection, "photo radar speed detection" means the detection of a vehicle's speed by use of a radar device combined with photographic identification of the vehicle.
349.02(3)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), the state and local authorities may not use photo radar speed detection to determine compliance with any speed restriction imposed by
s. 346.57,
346.58,
346.59,
346.595 or
349.11 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith.
349.02 Annotation
In case of an emergency, a sheriff has the power to temporarily close any highway in the county and to divert traffic. 67 Atty. Gen. 335.
