346.10 History
History: 1989 a. 105;
1999 a. 80.
346.11
346.11
Passing or meeting frightened animal. Whenever a person riding, driving or leading an animal which is frightened gives a signal of distress to the operator of a motor vehicle by a raising of the hand or otherwise, the operator of the motor vehicle shall promptly stop the vehicle unless a movement forward is necessary to avoid an accident or injury and shall, upon request, stop all motive power until such animal is under control.
346.11 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
346.12
346.12
Driving through safety zones prohibited. The operator of a vehicle shall not at any time drive through or over a safety zone when such safety zone is clearly indicated.
346.13
346.13
Driving on roadways laned for traffic. Whenever any roadway has been divided into 2 or more clearly indicated lanes, including those roadways divided into lanes by clearly indicated longitudinal joints, the following rules, in addition to all others consistent with this section, apply:
346.13(1)
(1) The operator of a vehicle shall drive as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not deviate from the traffic lane in which the operator is driving without first ascertaining that such movement can be made with safety to other vehicles approaching from the rear.
346.13(2)
(2) Upon a 2-way roadway which is divided into 3 lanes the operator of a vehicle shall not drive in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle where the roadway is clearly visible and such center lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in preparation for a left turn, or where such center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is marked or posted to give notice of such allocation.
346.13(3)
(3) Notwithstanding
sub. (2), when lanes have been marked or posted for traffic moving in a particular direction or at designated speeds, the operator of a vehicle shall drive in the lane designated.
346.13 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
346.13 Annotation
In calculating the time required to safely execute deviation from traffic lane or turn at intersection driver must consider condition of highway. Thompson v. Howe,
77 Wis. 2d 441,
253 N.W.2d 59 (1977).
346.14
346.14
Distance between vehicles. 346.14(1)
(1) The operator of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.
346.14(2)(a)(a) Upon a highway outside a business or residence district, the operator of any motor truck with a gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds or of any motor vehicle which is drawing or towing another vehicle where the combined gross weight is more than 10,000 pounds shall do all of the following:
346.14(2)(a)1.
1. Keep the vehicle he or she is operating at a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear of any vehicle immediately preceding it, being driven in the same direction.
346.14(2)(a)2.
2. Leave sufficient space so that an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger.
346.14(2)(b)
(b) This subsection does not apply upon any lane especially designated for use by motor trucks or by truck tractor-semitrailer or tractor-trailer units nor does it apply when overtaking and passing another vehicle, but the fact that the operator of any vehicle or combination of vehicles mentioned in this subsection follows the preceding vehicle more closely than 500 feet for one mile or more or follows more closely than 500 feet when the preceding vehicle is moving at the maximum speed then and there permissible for such following vehicle is prima facie evidence that the operator of such following vehicle is violating this subsection.
346.14 History
History: 1987 a. 27;
1989 a. 105.
346.14 Annotation
Sub. (1) not only imposes a duty upon a tailgating driver to the driver of the preceding vehicle, but to all other cars and persons who are causally affected by the negligence of tailgating. Northland Insurance Co. v. Avis Rent-A-Car,
62 Wis. 2d 643,
215 N.W.2d 439 (1974).
346.14 Annotation
This section does not impose an absolute liability upon drivers to avoid accidents. Millonig v. Bakken,
112 Wis. 2d 445,
334 N.W.2d 80 (1983).
346.15
346.15
Driving on divided highway. Whenever any highway has been divided into 2 roadways by an intervening unpaved or otherwise clearly indicated dividing space or by a physical barrier so constructed as to substantially impede crossing by vehicular traffic, the operator of a vehicle shall drive only to the right of such space or barrier and no operator of a vehicle shall drive over, across or within any such space or barrier except through an opening or at a crossover or intersection established by the authority in charge of the maintenance of the highway, except that the operator of a vehicle when making a left turn to or from a private driveway, alley or highway may drive across a paved dividing space or a physical barrier not so constructed as to impede crossing by vehicular traffic, unless such crossing is prohibited by signs erected by the authority in charge of the maintenance of the highway.
346.16
346.16
Use of controlled-access highways, expressways and freeways. 346.16(1)(1) No person shall drive a vehicle onto or from a controlled-access highway, expressway or freeway except through an opening provided for that purpose.
346.16(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), no pedestrian or person riding a bicycle or other nonmotorized vehicle and no person operating a moped or motor bicycle may go upon any expressway or freeway when official signs have been erected prohibiting such person from using the expressway or freeway.
346.16(2)(am)
(am) Except as provided in
par. (b), no person riding an electric personal assistive mobility device may go upon any expressway or freeway when official signs have been erected prohibiting persons specified in
par. (a) from using the expressway or freeway.
346.16(2)(b)
(b) A pedestrian or other person under
par. (a) or
(am) may go upon a portion of a hiking trail, cross-country ski trail, bridle trail or bicycle trail incorporated into the highway right-of-way and crossing the highway if the portion of the trail is constructed under
s. 84.06 (11).
346.16 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See s.
59.84 (2) (j) for additional restrictions on the use of expressways in Milwaukee County.
346.17
346.17
Penalty for violating sections 346.04 to 346.16. 346.17(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (5), any person violating
s. 346.04 (1) or
(2),
346.06,
346.12 or
346.13 (1) or
(3) 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.
346.17(2m)
(2m) Any person violating
s. 346.10 (1) shall forfeit not less than $60 nor more than $600.
346.17(2t)
(2t) Any person violating
s. 346.04 (2t) may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
346.17(3)(b)
(b) If the violation results in bodily harm, as defined in
s. 939.22 (4), to another, or causes damage to the property of another, as defined in
s. 939.22 (28), the person is guilty of a Class H felony.
346.17(3)(c)
(c) If the violation results in great bodily harm, as defined in
s. 939.22 (14), to another, the person is guilty of a Class F felony.
346.17(3)(d)
(d) If the violation results in the death of another, the person is guilty of a Class E felony.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (3) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(3) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), (c) or (d), any person violating s. 346.04 (3) shall be fined not less than $600 nor more than $10,000 and may be imprisoned for not more than 3 years.
346.17 Note
(b) If the violation results in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4), to another, or causes damage to the property of another, as defined in s. 939.22 (28), the person shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 and may be imprisoned for not more than 3 years.
346.17 Note
(c) If the violation results in great bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (14), to another, the person shall be fined not less than $1,100 nor more than $10,000 and may be imprisoned for not more than 3 years.
346.17 Note
(d) If the violation results in the death of another, the person shall be fined not less than $1,100 nor more than $10,000 and may be imprisoned for not more than 7 years and 6 months.
346.17(4)
(4) Any person violating
s. 346.075 may be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $200 for the first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $500 for the 2nd or subsequent violation within 4 years.
346.17(5)
(5) If an operator of a vehicle violates
s. 346.04 (1) or
(2) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area or in a utility work area are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in
sub. (1) for the violation shall be doubled.
346.175
346.175
Vehicle owner's liability for fleeing a traffic officer. 346.175(1)(a)(a) Subject to
s. 346.01 (2), the owner of a vehicle involved in a violation of
s. 346.04 (2t) or
(3) for fleeing a traffic officer shall be presumed liable for the violation as provided in this section.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (a) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(a) Subject to s. 346.01 (2), the owner of a vehicle involved in a violation of s. 346.04 (3) for fleeing a traffic officer shall be presumed liable for the violation as provided in this section.
346.175(1)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
par. (a), no owner of a vehicle involved in a violation of
s. 346.04 (2t) or
(3) for fleeing a traffic officer may be convicted under this section if the person operating the vehicle or having the vehicle under his or her control at the time of the violation has been convicted for the violation under this section or under
s. 346.04 (2t) or
(3).
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (b) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(b) Notwithstanding par. (a), no owner of a vehicle involved in a violation of s. 346.04 (3) for fleeing a traffic officer may be convicted under this section if the person operating the vehicle or having the vehicle under his or her control at the time of the violation has been convicted for the violation under this section or under s. 346.04 (3).
346.175(2)
(2) A traffic officer may proceed under
sub. (3) instead of pursuing the operator of a motor vehicle who flees after being given a visual or audible signal by the officer or marked police vehicle.
346.175(3)(a)(a) Within 72 hours after observing the violation, the traffic officer shall investigate the violation and may prepare a uniform traffic citation under
s. 345.11 for the violation and, within 96 hours after observing the violation, any traffic officer employed by the authority issuing the citation may personally serve it upon the owner of the vehicle.
346.175(3)(b)
(b) If with reasonable diligence the owner cannot be served under
par. (a), service may be made by leaving a copy of the citation at the owner's usual place of abode within this state in the presence of a competent member of the family at least 14 years of age, who shall be informed of the contents thereof. Service under this paragraph may be made by any traffic officer employed by the authority issuing the citation and shall be performed within 96 hours after the violation was observed.
346.175(3)(c)
(c) If with reasonable diligence the owner cannot be served under
par. (a) or
(b) or if the owner lives outside of the jurisdiction of the issuing authority, service may be made by certified mail addressed to the owner's last-known address. Service under this paragraph shall be performed by posting the certified mail within 96 hours after the violation was observed.
346.175(4)
(4) Defenses to the imposition of liability under this section include:
346.175(4)(a)
(a) That a report that the vehicle was stolen was given to a traffic officer before the violation occurred or within a reasonable time after the violation occurred.
346.175(4)(b)
(b) If the owner of the vehicle provides a traffic officer employed by the authority issuing the citation with the name and address of the person operating the vehicle or having the vehicle under his or her control at the time of the violation and sufficient information for the officer to determine that probable cause does not exist to believe that the owner of the vehicle was operating the vehicle at the time of the violation, then the owner of the vehicle shall not be liable under this section or under
s. 346.04 (2t) or
(3).
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (b) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(b) If the owner of the vehicle provides a traffic officer employed by the authority issuing the citation with the name and address of the person operating the vehicle or having the vehicle under his or her control at the time of the violation and sufficient information for the officer to determine that probable cause does not exist to believe that the owner of the vehicle was operating the vehicle at the time of the violation, then the owner of the vehicle shall not be liable under this section or under s. 346.04 (3).
346.175(4)(c)
(c) If the vehicle is owned by a lessor of vehicles and at the time of the violation the vehicle was in the possession of a lessee, and the lessor provides a traffic officer employed by the authority issuing the citation with the information required under
s. 343.46 (3), then the lessee and not the lessor shall be liable under this section or under
s. 346.04 (2t) or
(3).
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (c) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(c) If the vehicle is owned by a lessor of vehicles and at the time of the violation the vehicle was in the possession of a lessee, and the lessor provides a traffic officer employed by the authority issuing the citation with the information required under s. 343.46 (3), then the lessee and not the lessor shall be liable under this section or under s. 346.04 (3).
346.175(4)(d)
(d) If the vehicle is owned by a dealer, as defined in
s. 340.01 (11) (intro.) but including the persons specified in
s. 340.01 (11) (a) to
(d), and at the time of the violation the vehicle was being operated by or was under the control of any person on a trial run, and if the dealer provides a traffic officer employed by the authority issuing the citation with the name, address and operator's license number of the person operating the vehicle, then that person, and not the dealer, shall be liable under this section or under
s. 346.04 (2t) or
(3).
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (d) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(d) If the vehicle is owned by a dealer, as defined in s. 340.01 (11) (intro.) but including the persons specified in s. 340.01 (11) (a) to (d), and at the time of the violation the vehicle was being operated by or was under the control of any person on a trial run, and if the dealer provides a traffic officer employed by the authority issuing the citation with the name, address and operator's license number of the person operating the vehicle, then that person, and not the dealer, shall be liable under this section or under s. 346.04 (3).
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (5)(intro.) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(5) Notwithstanding the penalty otherwise specified under s. 346.17 (3) for a violation of s. 346.04 (3):
346.175(5)(a)
(a) A vehicle owner or other person found liable under this section for a violation of
s. 346.04 (2t) or
(3) shall be required to forfeit not less than $300 nor more than $1,000.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (a) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(a) A vehicle owner or other person found liable under this section for a violation of s. 346.04 (3) shall be required to forfeit not less than $300 nor more than $1,000.
346.175(5)(b)
(b) Imposition of liability under this section shall not result in suspension or revocation of a person's operating license under
s. 343.30 or
343.31, nor shall it result in demerit points being recorded on a person's driving record under
s. 343.32 (2) (a).
346.177
346.177
Railroad crossing improvement assessment for vehicles illegally passing at railroad crossings. 346.177(1)(1) Whenever a court imposes a forfeiture under
s. 346.17 (2m) for a violation of
s. 346.10 (1), the court shall also impose a railroad crossing improvement assessment equal to 50% of the amount of the forfeiture.
346.177(2)
(2) If a forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the railroad crossing improvement assessment shall be reduced in proportion to the suspension.
346.177(3)
(3) If any deposit is made for an offense to which this section applies, the person making the deposit shall also deposit a sufficient amount to include the railroad crossing improvement assessment under this section. If the deposit is forfeited, the amount of the railroad crossing improvement assessment shall be transmitted to the state treasurer under
sub. (4). If the deposit is returned, the amount of the railroad crossing improvement assessment shall also be returned.
346.177(4)
(4) The clerk of the circuit court shall collect and transmit to the county treasurer the railroad crossing improvement assessment as required under
s. 59.40 (2) (m). The county treasurer shall then pay the state treasurer as provided in
s. 59.25 (3) (f) 2. The state treasurer shall deposit all amounts received under this subsection in the transportation fund to be appropriated under
s. 20.395 (2) (gj).
346.177 History
History: 1997 a. 237.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
346.18
346.18
General rules of right-of-way.
