346.39(1)
(1) Flashing red (stop signal). When a red lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, operators of vehicles shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at an intersection or at a limit line when marked, or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and the right to proceed is subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.
346.39(2)
(2) Flashing yellow (caution signal). When a yellow lens is illuminated with rapid intermittent flashes, operators of vehicles may proceed through the intersection or past such signal only with caution.
346.39 Annotation
Sub. (2) imposes a greater duty of care on a driver proceeding through an intersection with a flashing yellow light than on a driver proceeding where an intersection is not so controlled. Sabinasz v. Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Corp.
71 Wis. 2d 218,
238 N.W.2d 99 (1975).
346.40
346.40
Whistle signals. 346.40(1)(1) Whenever traffic is alternately being directed to stop and to proceed by a traffic officer using a whistle, such officer shall use the following whistle signals which shall signify as follows:
346.40(1)(a)
(a) One blast of the whistle means that all traffic not within the intersection shall stop.
346.40(1)(b)
(b) Two blasts of the whistle means that traffic which had been stopped prior to the one blast shall proceed through the intersection and that the traffic which was stopped by the one blast shall remain stopped.
346.40(2)
(2) The traffic officer shall regulate the interval between the one and the 2 blasts so as to permit traffic that is legally within the intersection to clear the intersection.
346.41
346.41
Display of unauthorized signs and signals prohibited. 346.41(1)(1) No person shall place, maintain or display upon or in view of any highway or at or in view of any railroad crossing any unauthorized sign, light, reflector, signal, marking or device which:
346.41(1)(a)
(a) Purports to be or is an imitation of or resembles or may be mistaken for an official traffic sign or signal or railroad sign or signal; or
346.41(1)(b)
(b) Attempts to direct the movement of traffic; or
346.41(1)(c)
(c) Hides from view or by its color, location, brilliance or manner of operation interferes with the effectiveness of any official traffic sign or signal or railroad sign or signal.
346.41(2)
(2) No person shall place or maintain nor shall any public authority permit upon any highway any traffic control device bearing thereon any advertising except that a federal yellow flag, 24 inches square and bearing either the words "Safety Patrol" or "School," attached to a light weight pole 8 feet or less in length may be used by members of school safety patrols standing adjacent to but off the roadway to warn traffic that children are about to cross the roadway.
346.41(3)
(3) No person shall place or maintain, or allow to be displayed any red or amber reflector within the limits of the highway boundaries at or near the entrance to a private road or driveway. The use of blue reflectors is permitted provided there is no disapproval by the highway authority in charge of maintenance of the highway.
346.41 History
History: 1981 c. 42.
346.41 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
Trans 200.04, Wis. adm. code.
346.42
346.42
Interference with signs and signals prohibited. No person may intentionally damage, deface, move, or obstruct an official traffic sign or signal or neighborhood watch sign under
s. 60.23 (17m) or
66.0429 (2) or intentionally interfere with the effective operation of such sign or signal.
346.43
346.43
Penalty for violating sections 346.37 to 346.42. 346.43(1)(a)(a) Any pedestrian violating
s. 346.37 or
346.38 may be required to forfeit not less than $2 nor more than $20 for the first offense and not less than $10 nor more than $50 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
346.43(1)(b)1.1. Unless otherwise provided in
subd. 2. or
3., any operator of a vehicle violating
ss. 346.37 to
346.39 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.
346.43(1)(b)2.
2. Any operator of a bicycle or electric personal assistive mobility device violating
s. 346.37,
346.38 or
346.39 may be required to forfeit not more than $20.
346.43(1)(b)3.
3. If an operator of a vehicle violates
s. 346.37 or
346.39 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
subd. 1. for the violation shall be doubled.
346.43(2)
(2) Any person violating
s. 346.42 may be required to forfeit not less than $30 nor more than $300.
346.43(3)
(3) Any person violating
s. 346.41 may be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $200 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $500 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.
REQUIRED STOPS
346.44
346.44
All vehicles to stop at signal indicating approach of train. 346.44(1)(1) The operator of a vehicle shall not drive on or across a railroad crossing under any of the following circumstances:
346.44(1)(a)
(a) While any traffic officer or railroad employee signals to stop;
346.44(1)(b)
(b) While any warning device signals to stop, except that if the operator of the vehicle after stopping and investigating finds that no railroad train is approaching the operator may proceed.
346.44(2)
(2) The operator of a vehicle shall not drive through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.
346.44 History
History: 1991 a. 316.
346.45
346.45
Certain vehicles to stop at railroad crossings. 346.45(1)(1) Except as provided in
sub. (3), the operator of any of the following vehicles before crossing at grade any track of a railroad, shall stop such vehicle within 50 feet, but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad:
346.45(1)(b)
(b) Every motor vehicle transporting any quantity of chlorine.
346.45(1)(c)
(c) Every motor vehicle which, in accordance with
sub. (4), is required to be marked or placarded with one of the following markings:
346.45(1)(d)
(d) Every cargo tank motor vehicle, whether loaded or empty, used for the transportation of any liquid having a flashpoint below 200° Fahrenheit, as determined by the test method approved for that product by the American society for testing and materials.
346.45(1)(e)
(e) Every cargo tank motor vehicle transporting a commodity which at the time of loading has a temperature above its flashpoint as determined by the same standard method of testing as prescribed in
par. (d).
346.45(2)
(2) The operator of every vehicle required to stop before crossing any track shall listen and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train, and shall not proceed until such precautions have been taken and until the operator has ascertained that the course is clear. Wherever an auxiliary lane is provided for stopping at a railroad, operators of vehicles required to stop shall use such lane for stopping.
346.45(3)(a)
(a) A railroad grade crossing when a police officer or crossing flagman directs traffic to proceed.
346.45(3)(b)
(b) A railroad grade crossing when an official traffic control signal permits traffic to proceed.
346.45(3)(c)
(c) An abandoned railroad grade crossing with a sign indicating the rail line is abandoned.
346.45(3)(d)
(d) A railroad grade crossing which is marked with a sign in accordance with
s. 195.285 (3). Such signs shall be erected by the maintaining authority only upon order of the office of the commissioner of railroads as set forth in
s. 195.285.
346.45(4)
(4) The department shall adopt rules for the marking and placarding of vehicles being used to transport hazardous materials which are potentially dangerous to life and property, which rules shall be in accordance with the regulations of the U.S. department of transportation.
346.455
346.455
Vehicles to stop at fire station. 346.455(1)
(1) The operator of a motor vehicle approaching an authorized emergency vehicle shall stop not less than 30 feet from that vehicle and shall remain stopped, if all of the following apply:
346.455(1)(a)
(a) The authorized emergency vehicle is about to be or is being driven backwards into a driveway entrance to a fire station.
346.455(1)(b)
(b) The authorized emergency vehicle is giving visual signal by means of at least one flashing, oscillating or rotating red light or by a member of the fire department or fire patrol standing on the roadway in a position that is visible to approaching traffic and directing traffic to stop.
346.455(2)
(2) The operator of a motor vehicle required to stop under
sub. (1) shall remain stopped until a member of the fire department or fire patrol directs the operator to proceed or until the visual signal under
sub. (1) (b) is terminated and all members of the fire department or fire patrol have left the roadway.
346.455 History
History: 1995 a. 424.
346.457
346.457
Owner's liability for vehicle illegally passing fire truck. 346.457(1)(1) Subject to
s. 346.01 (2), the owner of a vehicle involved in a violation of
s. 346.455 (1) or
(2) shall be liable for the violation as provided in this subsection.
346.457(2)
(2) A member of the fire department or fire patrol who observes a violation of
s. 346.455 (1) or
(2) may prepare a written report indicating that a violation has occurred. The report shall contain the following information:
346.457(2)(a)
(a) The time and location at which the violation occurred.
346.457(2)(b)
(b) The license number and color of the vehicle involved in the violation.
346.457(2)(c)
(c) Identification of the vehicle as an automobile, motor truck, motor bus, motorcycle or other type of vehicle.
346.457(3)
(3) Within 24 hours after observing the violation, the member of the fire department or fire patrol may deliver the report to a traffic officer of the political subdivision in which the violation occurred. A report which does not contain all of the information in
sub. (2) may nevertheless be delivered and shall be maintained by the political subdivision for statistical purposes.
346.457(4)(a)(a) Within 48 hours after receiving a report containing all of the information in
sub. (2) and after conducting an investigation, the traffic officer may prepare a uniform traffic citation under
s. 345.11 for the violation and may personally serve it upon the owner of the vehicle.
346.457(4)(b)
(b) If with reasonable diligence the owner of the vehicle cannot be served under
par. (a) 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.
346.457(5)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), it is not a defense to a violation of
s. 346.455 (1) or
(2) that the owner of the vehicle was not in control of the vehicle at the time of the violation.
346.457(5)(b)1.
1. 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.
346.457(5)(b)2.
2. That the owner of the vehicle provides a traffic officer with the name and address of the person who was in control of the vehicle at the time of the violation and the person so named admits having the vehicle under his or her control at the time of the violation. In such a case, that person and not the owner shall be charged with the violation.
346.457(5)(b)3.
3. That 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 with the information required under
s. 343.46 (3). In such a case, the lessee and not the lessor shall be charged with the violation.
346.457(5)(b)4.
4. That 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 under the control of a person on a trial run and the dealer provides a traffic officer with the name, address and operator's license number of that person. In such a case, that person and not the dealer shall be charged with the violation.
346.46
346.46
Vehicles to stop at stop signs and school crossings. 346.46(1)(1) Except when directed to proceed by a traffic officer or traffic control signal, every operator of a vehicle approaching an official stop sign at an intersection shall cause such vehicle to stop before entering the intersection and shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles which have entered or are approaching the intersection upon a highway which is not controlled by an official stop sign or traffic signal.
