346.65 Annotation
Probation with a condition of 30-days' confinement in the county jail is inadequate to meet the mandatory imprisonment requirement of sub. (2) (c). State v. Meddaugh,
148 Wis. 2d 204,
435 N.W.2d 269 (Ct. App. 1988).
346.65 Annotation
An OWI conviction in another state need not be under a law with the same elements as the Wisconsin statute to be counted as a prior conviction. State v. White,
177 Wis. 2d 121,
501 N.W.2d 463 (Ct. App. 1993).
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 91,
556 N.W.2d 737 (1996),
95-0852.
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 568,
570 N.W.2d 905 (Ct. App. 1997),
97-0499.
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),
96-1261.
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),
98-2484.
346.65 Annotation
A trial court cannot accept guilty pleas to both a second and a third offense OWI, and then apply the increased penalties of third offense OWI to the second offense conviction at sentencing. There must be a conviction before the graduated penalties can be used. State v. Skibinski,
2001 WI App 109,
244 Wis. 2d 229,
629 N.W.2d 12,
00-1278.
346.65 Annotation
A defendant convicted of a second or subsequent OWI is subject to the penalty enhancements provided for in both ss. 346.65 (2) and 939.62, if the application of each enhancer is based on a separate and distinct prior conviction or convictions. State v. Delaney,
2003 WI 9,
259 Wis. 2d 77,
658 N.W.2d 416,
01-1051.
346.65 Annotation
Nothing in sub. (2m) (a) prohibits chief judges from linking the aggravating and mitigating factors with an appropriate sentence within the broader range of sentences allowed under s. 346.65 when adopting guidelines for their districts. A court may refer to the guidelines when sentencing under s. 346.63 (1) (a), but as the guidelines specifically only apply to s. 343.63 (1) (b) and (5), it is inappropriate for a court to apply the guidelines as the sole basis for its sentence in a s. 346.63 (1) (a) case. That the various judicial districts have different guidelines and defendants may receive different sentences based on where the crime was committed does not make guidelines adopted under sub. (2m) (a) unconstitutional. State v. Jorgensen,
2003 WI 105,
264 Wis. 2d 157,
667 N.W.2d 318,
01-2690.
346.65 Annotation
The proper time to determine the number of a defendant's prior OWI convictions for sentence enhancement purposes is at sentencing, regardless of whether some convictions may have occurred after a defendant committed the present offense. State v. Matke,
2005 WI App 4,
278 Wis. 2d 403,
692 N.W.2d 265,
03-2278.
346.65 Annotation
Although the defendant's Michigan and Wisconsin convictions stemmed from one continuous stint of driving, they arose from two separate incidents — one incident in Michigan and one incident in Wisconsin. Because the extraterritorial jurisdiction exceptions in Wisconsin and Michigan were not applicable to the defendant's separate convictions in Wisconsin and Michigan, each state had jurisdiction only over his act of driving while intoxicated within each state's own boundaries. State v. Holder,
2011 WI App 116,
337 Wis. 2d 79,
803 N.W.2d 82,
09-2952.
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 of transportation 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.
346.65 Annotation
Wisconsin's New OWI Law. Mishlove & Stuckert. Wis. Law. June 2010.
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 under
ch. 814 in an amount of $365 in addition to the fine or forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and other surcharges imposed under
ch. 814.
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 40 percent of the amount to the secretary of administration 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 40 percent of the amount to the secretary of administration as provided in
s. 66.0114 (1) (bm). The treasurer of the city, town, or village shall transmit the remaining 60 percent 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 secretary of administration 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. 346.66(1)(a)
(a) 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.
346.66(1)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
sub. (2),
ss. 346.67 to
346.70 do not apply to private parking areas at farms or single-family residences.
346.66(1)(c)
(c) Sections 346.67 to
346.70 do not apply to accidents involving only snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, or vehicles propelled by human power or drawn by animals.
346.66(2)(a)(a) Sections 346.67,
346.68, and
346.69 apply to the operator of a vehicle that, whether by operator intention or lack of control, departs a highway or premises described in
sub. (1) (a) immediately prior to an accident if the accident does not occur on real property owned or leased by the operator.
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),
98-1688.
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).
346.67 Annotation
"Accident" in sub. (1) means an unexpected, undesirable event and may encompass intentional conduct. By including intentional conduct within the definition, the reporting requirements do not infringe on the 5th amendment privilege against self-incrimination. State v. Harmon,
2006 WI App 214,
296 Wis. 2d 861,
723 N.W. 2d 732,
05-2480.
346.67 Annotation
"Accident" in the context of sub. (1) includes, at a minimum, the operator's loss of control of the vehicle that results in a collision. Because the defendant's loss of control of the vehicle occurred on the highway, even though the resulting collision occurred off the highway, she was "involved in an accident" "upon a highway" within the meaning of sub. (1) and s. 346.02 (1). State v. Dartez,
2007 WI App 126,
301 Wis. 2d 499,
731 N.W.2d 340,
06-1845.
346.675
346.675
Vehicle owner's liability for failing to stop at the scene of an accident. 346.675(2)
(2) Any person who observes a violation of
s. 346.67 (1),
346.68, or
346.69 may, within 24 hours after observing the violation, report the violation to a traffic officer of the county or municipality in which the violation occurred. If possible, the report shall contain the following information:
346.675(2)(b)
(b) The time and the approximate location at which the violation occurred.
346.675(2)(c)
(c) The vehicle registration number and color of all vehicles involved in the violation.
346.675(2)(d)
(d) Identification of each vehicle involved in the violation as an automobile, station wagon, motor truck, motor bus, motorcycle, or other type of vehicle.
346.675(2)(e)
(e) If the violation included damage to property other than a vehicle, a description of such property.
346.675(3)(a)(a) Within 72 hours after receiving a report containing all of the information in
sub. (2), the traffic officer may investigate the violation and, after verifying the information provided under
sub. (2) (c) to
(e) and determining that there is probable cause to believe that a violation of
s. 346.67 (1),
346.68, or
346.69 has occurred, may prepare a uniform traffic citation under
s. 345.11 and personally serve it upon the owner of the vehicle being operated in the commission of the violation of
s. 346.67 (1),
346.68, or
346.69.
346.675(3)(b)
(b) If with reasonable diligence the owner specified in
par. (a) 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.
346.675(3)(c)
(c) If with reasonable diligence the owner specified in
par. (a) cannot be served under
par. (a) or
(b) or if the owner specified in
par. (a) lives outside of the jurisdiction of the issuing authority, service may be made by certified mail addressed to the owner's last-known address.
346.675(4)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), it shall be no defense to a violation of this section that the owner was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
346.675(4)(b)
(b) The following are defenses to a violation of this section:
346.675(4)(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.
346.675(4)(b)2.
2. If the owner of the vehicle, including a lessee specified in
subd. 3., or a person on a trial run specified in
subd. 4. provides a traffic officer with the name and address of the person operating the vehicle 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 person operating the vehicle shall be charged under
s. 346.67 (1),
346.68, or
346.69 and the owner, including a lessee, or person on a trial run shall not be charged under this section.
346.675(4)(b)3.
3. Subject to
subd. 2., 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 with the information required under
s. 343.46 (3), then the lessee and not the lessor shall be charged under this section.
346.675(4)(b)4.
4. Subject to
subd. 2., 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 any person on a trial run, and if the dealer provides a traffic officer with the name, address, and operator's license number of the person authorized to operate the vehicle on the trial run, then this person, and not the dealer, shall be charged under this section.
346.675 History
History: 2005 a. 411.
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
A driver's knowledge of a collision with an 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; assistance following accident. 346.70(1)(1)
Immediate notice of accident. The operator or occupant 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(1m)
(1m) Law enforcement contact and involvement following an accident. 346.70(1m)(a)1.1. No person in the business of towing, recovery, or repair of motor vehicles may contract for retrieval, recovery, or removal from the scene of a traffic accident described in
sub. (1) of any motor vehicle that has sustained damage unless the person notifies, or has been contacted by, a law enforcement agency prior to retrieval, recovery, or removal of the vehicle.
346.70(1m)(a)2.
2. This paragraph does not apply with respect to removal of a motor vehicle from the roadway at the scene of an accident if such removal is necessary to avoid imminent danger to motorists or other persons.
346.70(1m)(b)
(b) No person may knowingly assist an operator or occupant of a motor vehicle involved in an accident as described in
sub. (1) to flee the scene of the accident unless the accident has, or the person is advised that the accident has, first been reported to a law enforcement agency, except to provide medical assistance.
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 making the report required by
sub. (2), and if there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of making the report, the occupant shall make the report.
