349.105 History
History: 1983 a. 243.
349.11
349.11
Authority to modify speed restrictions. 349.11(1)(a)(a) Whenever the department with respect to the state trunk highway system and the local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction determine upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that any statutory speed limit is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist upon any part of a highway or that the actual speed of vehicles upon any part of a highway is greater or less than is reasonable and prudent, the department with respect to the state trunk highway system and the local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction may, subject to the limitations set forth in
subs. (2) and
(3), determine and declare a reasonable and safe speed limit on the highway or part thereof in question. When appropriate signs giving notice of such speed limit have been erected and are in place, such speed limit shall be effective at all times or at such times as indicated by the signs.
349.11(1)(b)
(b) Whenever the department with respect to the state trunk highway system determines, upon the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation, that any statutory minimum speed limit is greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist upon any part of a highway or that the actual minimum speed of vehicles upon any part of a highway is greater or less than is reasonable and prudent, the department with respect to the state trunk highway system may, subject to applicable limitations in
subs. (2) and
(3), determine and declare a reasonable and safe minimum speed limit on the highway or part thereof in question. When appropriate signs giving notice of such minimum speed limit have been erected and are in place such minimum speed limit shall be effective at all times or at such times as indicated by the signs.
349.11(2)
(2) The department may not do any of the following:
349.11(2)(c)
(c) Modify the statutory speed limit on more than 2,000 miles of state trunk highways. The first mile outside of and immediately adjacent to any incorporated municipality shall not be counted in computing such 2,000 miles. This paragraph does not apply to freeways or to expressways, as defined in
s. 346.57 (1) (ag) and
(am).
349.11(3)(c)
(c) Modify any existing speed limit without the consent of the department except to reduce the speed limit as provided under
sub. (10), or to increase the speed limit stated in
s. 346.57 (4) (e),
(f) or
(g), or to reduce by 10 miles per hour or less the speed limit stated in
s. 346.57 (4) (a),
(b) or
(d) to
(j), or to reduce by 15 miles per hour or less the speed limit stated in
s. 346.57 (4) (k). Whenever department approval is required, no signs giving notice of a modification of the speed limit may be erected until such approval has been received.
349.11(4)
(4) The department upon request from any county highway committee or local authority shall, or upon its own initiative may, conduct an investigation of any bridge, causeway, viaduct or structure on any highway. If it finds that any such structure cannot with safety to itself withstand vehicles traveling at the speeds otherwise permitted by law or if it finds that such structure is substandard as to width and that it is necessary from the standpoint of traffic safety to reduce the speed of vehicles using such structure, the department shall determine and declare the maximum vehicular speed which such structure can withstand or which can be maintained in safety on such structure. When appropriate signs giving notice of such maximum speed have been erected at a suitable distance before each end of the structure, such posted speed limit is the effective speed limit on such structure at all times when the signs are in place. The findings and determination of the department are conclusive evidence of the maximum speed which can be maintained with safety to or on any such structure.
349.11(5)
(5) Except as provided in
sub. (10), the department and local authorities shall place and maintain upon all highways, where the speed limit is modified by them pursuant to this section, standard signs giving notice of such speed. All speed limit signs so erected shall conform to the rules of the department.
349.11(6)
(6) No liability shall attach to the department or to any local authority by reason of the posting of a speed limit pursuant to this section nor shall such posting guarantee that the posted speed is reasonable and safe under all conditions.
349.11(7)
(7) The department with respect to the state trunk highway system and local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction may increase the speed limits stated in
s. 346.57 (4) (a) and
(b), but any speed limit so established shall not be greater than the speed limit established on the adjoining sections of the same street or highway.
349.11(8)
(8) Notwithstanding the authority otherwise granted to modify speed restrictions in this section, except as provided in
sub. (9) and
s. 346.57 (4) (gm), the department may not establish or continue:
349.11(8)(a)
(a) A maximum speed limit on any highway within its jurisdiction in excess of 55 miles per hour;
349.11(8)(c)
(c) Maximum speed limits which are not uniformly applicable to all types of motor vehicles using a highway, except that a lower speed limit may be established for any vehicle operating under a special permit because of any weight or dimension of such vehicle.
349.11(8m)
(8m) Notwithstanding the authority otherwise granted to modify speed restrictions in this section, local authorities may not establish or continue:
349.11(8m)(a)
(a) A maximum speed limit on any highway within their respective jurisdictions in excess of 55 miles per hour;
349.11(8m)(c)
(c) Maximum speed limits which are not uniformly applicable to all types of motor vehicles using a highway, except that a lower speed limit may be established for any vehicle operating under a special permit because of any weight or dimension of such vehicle.
349.11(9)
(9) The department, with respect to any highway, may alter speed restrictions during an energy emergency to comply with federal law or if the department finds that extraordinary circumstances in this state require such alteration. All decisions made by the department under this subsection will be subject to review by the joint committee for review of administrative rules in accordance with
s. 227.26.
349.11(10)
(10) Notwithstanding any speed limits imposed under this section or under
s. 346.57, if a highway is being constructed, reconstructed, maintained or repaired, local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, any county highway committee performing maintenance on the state trunk highway system under
s. 84.07 and any local authority with respect to highways not under its jurisdiction that are being constructed, reconstructed, maintained or repaired by the local authority may, for the safety of the highway construction and maintenance workers, pedestrians and highway users, post a temporary speed limit less than the speed limit imposed under this section or under
s. 346.57. The temporary limits may be posted for the duration of the construction, reconstruction, maintenance or repair period. Temporary speed limits imposed under this subsection may be posted with signs on portable supports. When portable supports are used under this subsection, the bottom of the sign shall be not less than one foot above the surface of the pavement or shoulder.
349.12
349.12
Authority to designate no-passing zones. The department, county highway committees and local authorities, in regard to highways under their respective jurisdictions, may determine, in accordance with standards and procedures adopted by the department, where overtaking or passing or driving to the left of the center of the roadway would be especially hazardous and may, by signs approved by the department or by a yellow unbroken line on the pavement on the right-hand side of and adjacent to the center line or a lane line of a roadway, indicate the beginning and end of such zones.
349.13
349.13
Authority to regulate the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles. 349.13(1b)(1b) In this section, "owner" includes the lessee of a vehicle if the vehicle is registered, or required to be registered, by the lessee under
ch. 341.
349.13(1e)(a)(a) The department with respect to state trunk highways outside of corporate limits and the local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, including state trunk highways or connecting highways within corporate limits, may, within the reasonable exercise of the police power, prohibit, limit the time of or otherwise restrict the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles beyond the prohibitions, limitations or restrictions imposed by
ch. 346, except that they may not modify the exceptions set forth in
s. 346.50.
349.13(1e)(b)
(b) The department may also restrict or prohibit the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles on any part of a state trunk highway or connecting highway within corporate limits if the local authority having jurisdiction has not enacted any stopping, standing or parking regulation applicable to the highway or part thereof in question as provided under
par. (a).
349.13(1e)(c)1.1. The authority granted by this subsection may be delegated to a traffic officer or to the officer in charge of the maintenance of the highway in question, but, except as provided in
subd. 2., no prohibition, limitation or restriction on parking imposed under this section is effective unless official traffic signs or markers or parking meters have been placed or erected indicating the particular prohibition, limitation or restriction.
349.13(1e)(c)2.
2. Parking regulations that prohibit, limit or restrict the parking of vehicles for any period longer than 24 consecutive hours, during any hours between 12 midnight and 7 a.m., or any portion thereof or during a snow emergency as determined by a municipality, shall be effective in the municipality upon a two-thirds vote of its respective governing body notwithstanding this subsection and
s. 346.02 (7) when official traffic signs have been placed or erected at or reasonably near the corporate limits of the municipality on all state and county trunk highways and connecting highways informing motorists that 24-hour parking limitations, night parking regulations or snow emergency regulations are in effect in the municipality.
349.13(1g)
(1g) The department, with respect to state trunk highways outside of corporate limits, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction including state trunk highways or connecting highways within corporate limits, may authorize persons whose residences abut a highway in a zone where the time of parking is limited by official signs, markers or parking meters to park their vehicles in the highway zone without regard to the time limits posted.
349.13(1j)
(1j) The department, with respect to state trunk highways outside of corporate limits, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction including state trunk highways or connecting highways within corporate limits, may authorize persons to park their vehicles during specified hours on the near side of a highway adjacent to a schoolhouse located on property of the University of Wisconsin System when the persons are conducting business at the schoolhouse.
349.13(1k)(a)(a) Notwithstanding
s. 86.32 (1) and any other provision of this section, and as provided in
par. (b), a local authority, with respect to highways under its jurisdiction including connecting highways within corporate limits, may authorize persons whose residences abut a highway in a zone where parking is prohibited by official signs, guests of such persons, and commercial enterprises providing services to such persons to park their vehicles in the highway zone without regard to the posted prohibitions.
349.13(1k)(b)
(b) If a University of Wisconsin System college campus located in a 1st class city creates 721 parking spaces on campus, a 1st class city may initiate a program to reserve 721 parking spaces for persons whose residences are adjacent to the University of Wisconsin System college campus, guests of such persons, and commercial enterprises providing services to such persons. If a University of Wisconsin System college campus located in a 1st class city creates additional parking spaces on campus, a 1st class city may reserve an equal number of parking spaces for persons whose residences are adjacent to the University of Wisconsin System college campus, guests of such persons, and commercial enterprises providing services to such persons.
349.13(1m)
(1m) In addition to the requirements under
s. 346.503 (1m), the department, with respect to state trunk highways outside of corporate limits and parking facilities under its jurisdiction, and local authorities, with respect to highways under their jurisdiction including state trunk highways or connecting highways within corporate limits and parking facilities within corporate limits, may, by official traffic signs indicating the restriction, prohibit parking, stopping or standing upon any portion of a street, highway or parking facility reserved for any vehicle bearing special registration plates issued under
s. 341.14 (1),
(1a),
(1e),
(1m), or
(1q) or a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, upon which a special identification card issued under
s. 343.51 is displayed or any vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and displaying a registration plate, card or emblem issued by the other jurisdiction which designates the vehicle as a vehicle used by a physically disabled person.
349.13(2)
(2) Except as provided in this subsection, neither the department nor local authorities may extend stopping, standing or parking privileges to areas where stopping, standing or parking is prohibited by
ch. 346. The department and local authorities, with respect to highways under their respective jurisdictions as described in
sub. (1e) may do any of the following:
349.13(2)(a)
(a) Permit parking on sidewalk areas when such parking will not unduly interfere with pedestrian traffic.
349.13(2)(b)
(b) Permit parking on the roadway side of other parked vehicles when such double parking will not unduly interfere with the flow of vehicular traffic.
349.13(2)(c)
(c) Permit parking closer than 15 feet to the end of a safety zone when such parking will not unduly interfere with the flow of vehicular traffic.
349.13(2)(d)
(d) Designate parking upon the left side of a one-way street or roadway instead of the right side or permit parking on both sides.
349.13(2)(e)
(e) Designate angle parking on any roadway under its jurisdiction.
349.13(2)(f)
(f) Permit the parking of any vehicle or of school buses only on the near side of specified highways adjacent to schoolhouses during specified hours if the governing body of the municipality where the schoolhouse is located directs by ordinance.
349.13(3)
(3) Whenever any traffic officer finds a vehicle standing upon a highway in violation of a prohibition, limitation or restriction on stopping, standing or parking imposed under
ch. 346 or this section, or a disabled vehicle that obstructs the roadway of a freeway or expressway, as defined in
s. 346.57 (1) (ag), the traffic officer is authorized to move the vehicle or to require the operator in charge thereof to move the vehicle to a position where parking is permitted or to either private or public parking or storage premises. The removal may be performed by, or under the direction of, the traffic officer or may be contracted for by local authorities. Any charges for removal shall be regulated by local ordinance. The operator or owner of the vehicle removed shall pay the reasonable charges for moving or towing or any storage involved based upon the ordinance.
349.13(3m)
(3m) No vehicle involved in trespass parking on a private parking lot or facility shall be removed without the permission of the vehicle owner, except upon the issuance of a repossession judgment or upon formal complaint and a citation for illegal parking issued by a traffic or police officer.
349.13(4)
(4) In counties having a population of 500,000 or more whenever any traffic officer finds a vehicle disabled so as to cause a hazard on any portion of the interstate system, limited access highway or any expressway, even though it may be impossible for the operator to avoid stopping or temporarily leaving the vehicle thereon, the county may remove such vehicle to a position where parking is permitted or to either private or public parking or storage premises. The removal may be performed by such officer or under the officer's direction or such removal may be contracted for by such counties and any charges shall be regulated by ordinance. The operator or owner of the vehicle removed shall pay a reasonable charge for moving or towing or any storage involved based upon said ordinance.
349.13(5)(a)(a) No person who removes or stores a vehicle under
subs. (3) to
(4) or otherwise at the request of a law enforcement officer, and no person who removes or stores a disabled vehicle, accident debris or other object that obstructs the roadway of a freeway or expressway, as defined in
s. 346.57 (1) (ag), may incur any civil liability for the act, except for civil liability for failure to exercise reasonable care in the performance of the act or for conduct that is willful, wanton or malicious.
349.13(5)(b)1.a.
a. "Personal property" means all property within the vehicle which is not mounted, attached or affixed to the vehicle.
349.13(5)(b)1.b.
b. "Proper identification" means identification which would be sufficient to establish ownership to release the vehicle.
349.13(5)(b)2.
2. A person who has custody of a vehicle removed or stored under
subs. (3) to
(4) or otherwise at the request of a law enforcement officer shall release the personal property within the vehicle to the owner of the vehicle during regular office hours upon presentation by the owner of proper identification.
349.13(5)(b)3.
3. No charge may be assessed against the owner for the removal or release of the personal property.
349.13(5)(b)4.
4. If the owner removes the personal property from a motor vehicle under this paragraph, the vehicle shall be deemed abandoned unless the person enters into a written agreement to pay the full charges for towing and storage. The owner shall be informed of this subdivision by the person who has custody of the vehicle before the property is released. A vehicle deemed abandoned under this subdivision may be disposed of as are other abandoned vehicles by the local authority.
349.13(5)(c)
(c) A traffic or police officer who requests removal of a vehicle under
subs. (3) to
(4) by a towing service shall, within 24 hours of requesting the removal, notify the towing service of the name and last-known address of the registered owner and all lienholders of record of the vehicle if the vehicle is to be removed to any location other than a public highway within one mile from the location from which the vehicle is to be removed and if the officer is not employed by a municipality or county that has entered into a towing services agreement which requires the municipality or county to provide notice to such owner and lienholders of the towing.
349.13 History
History: 1973 c. 248;
1975 c. 299;
1977 c. 29 ss.
1654 (3), (8) (a),
1656 (43);
1977 c. 116,
272,
418;
1979 c. 34,
59,
231,
276,
325;
1981 c. 227;
1981 c. 255 ss.
10,
11,
13;
1983 a. 77 s.
15;
1983 a. 213;
1985 a. 29;
1985 a. 87 s.
5;
1989 a. 304;
1991 a. 269,
316;
1993 a. 246;
1995 a. 448;
1997 a. 27,
159,
258;
1999 a. 85;
2003 a. 142;
2005 a. 326;
2009 a. 246.
349.13 Annotation
Legislative Council Note, 1977: The last 2 sentences of sub. (1) are eliminated as unnecessary. These sentences contain explanations of what is meant by a sign which indicates that stopping or standing is prohibited and what is meant by a sign prohibiting parking. Although these explanations attempt to explain the conduct required of motorists by these signs, they do not define the key terms, "park or parking" and "stand or standing". In place of these explanations, definitions of the terms "park or parking" and "stand or standing" are created in 340.01 (42m) and (59m) in this bill. "Stop" is presently defined in s. 340.01 (62). [Bill 465-A]
349.13 Annotation
It is not a violation of due process to tow an illegally parked car without first giving the owner notice and the opportunity to be heard regarding the lawfulness of towing the car. Sutton v. City of Milwaukee,
672 F.2d 644 (1982).
349.135
349.135
Authority to regulate radios or other electric sound amplification devices. 349.135(1)
(1) Notwithstanding
s. 346.94 (16), the governing body of any town, city, village or county may, by ordinance, provide that, except as provided in
s. 347.38 (1), no person may operate or park, stop or leave standing a motor vehicle while using a radio or other electric sound amplification device emitting sound from the vehicle that is clearly audible under normal conditions from a distance of 50 or more feet, unless the electric sound amplification device is being used to request assistance or warn against an unsafe condition. The ordinance may provide that any person violating the ordinance may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $80 for the first violation and not less than $100 nor more than $200 for the 2nd or subsequent violation within a year.
349.135(2)
(2) Any ordinance enacted under
sub. (1) may not apply to any of the following:
349.135(2)(a)
(a) The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm.
349.135(2)(c)
(c) The operator of a vehicle that is being used for advertising purposes.
349.135(2)(d)
(d) The operator of a vehicle that is being used in a community event or celebration, procession or assemblage.
349.135(2)(f)
(f) The operator of a motorcycle being operated outside of a business or residence district.
349.135 History
History: 1995 a. 373;
1997 a. 35.
349.137
349.137
Authority to regulate use of motor vehicle immobilization devices. 349.137(1)(b)
(b) "Parking area" means an area used for parking that is not on a highway.
349.137(1)(c)
(c) "Parking enforcer" means a person who enforces restrictions against unauthorized parking. The term includes a person who owns or operates a parking area and any employees or agents of an owner or operator.
349.137(1)(d)
(d) "Removal fee" means a fee charged by a parking enforcer to remove an immobilization device, including any amounts imposed for parking in violation of a restriction against unauthorized parking.
349.137(1)(e)
(e) "Unauthorized parking" means parking a motor vehicle in a parking area contrary to a sign posted under
s. 346.55 (4).
349.137(2)
(2) No person may use an immobilization device to immobilize a motor vehicle to enforce restrictions against unauthorized parking except in conformity with a municipal ordinance enacted under this section or a rule adopted under
s. 36.11 (8).
349.137(3)
(3) The governing body of any municipality may by ordinance or the chancellor of a campus of the University of Wisconsin System may by rule under
s. 36.11 (8) provide for the use of immobilization devices to enforce restrictions against unauthorized parking. Any ordinance under this subsection or rule under
s. 36.11 (8) shall do all of the following:
349.137(3)(a)
(a) Require the owner or operator of a parking area in which immobilization devices may be used to post and maintain in a manner that is clearly visible to operators entering the parking area a sign at each vehicular entrance to the parking area. At least one additional sign shall be posted for every 10 parking spaces in the parking area. The ordinance or rule shall require all such signs to be at least 12 inches by 18 inches in size and to clearly indicate all of the following:
349.137(3)(a)1.
1. That unauthorized parking is prohibited in the parking area.
349.137(3)(a)2.
2. That an immobilization device may be used in the parking area to enforce restrictions against unauthorized parking.
349.137(3)(a)3.
3. Whether a removal fee will be charged to remove an immobilization device and, if so, the amount of the fee.
349.137(3)(ag)
(ag) Prohibit a parking enforcer from using an immobilization device to immobilize a motor vehicle to enforce parking restrictions against unauthorized parking unless the parking enforcer possesses a valid license authorizing that activity issued by the municipality.
