347.12(1)
(1) Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a highway during hours of darkness, the operator shall use a distribution of light or composite beam directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal a person or vehicle at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, subject to the following requirements and limitations:
347.12(1)(a)
(a) Whenever the operator of a vehicle equipped with multiple-beam headlamps approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, the operator shall dim, depress or tilt the vehicle's headlights so that the glaring rays are not directed into the eyes of the operator of the other vehicle. This paragraph does not prohibit an operator from intermittently flashing the vehicle's high-beam headlamps at an oncoming vehicle whose high-beam headlamps are lit.
347.12(1)(b)
(b) Whenever the operator of a vehicle equipped with multiple-beam headlamps approaches or follows another vehicle within 500 feet to the rear, the operator shall dim, depress, or tilt the vehicle's headlights so that the glaring rays are not reflected into the eyes of the operator of the other vehicle. This paragraph does not prohibit an operator from intermittently flashing the vehicle's high-beam headlamps as provided under
par. (a).
347.12 Annotation
Sub. (1) (b) does not require proof that the headlights reflected into the eyes of another driver. The statute directs drivers operating within 500 feet to dim their headlights and concludes by describing the purpose of this requirement: to prevent the glaring rays from reflecting into another driver's eyes. An interpretation that would require an ordinary driver using high beams to know whether his or her headlights will impair another driver's vision is absurd. State v. Tomaszewski,
2010 WI App 51,
324 Wis. 2d 433,
782 N.W.2d 725,
09-0385.
347.13
347.13
Tail lamps and registration plate lamps. 347.13(1)
(1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, mobile home or trailer or semitrailer upon a highway during hours of darkness unless such motor vehicle, mobile home or trailer or semitrailer is equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted during hours of darkness, emits a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear. No tail lamp shall have any type of decorative covering that restricts the amount of light emitted when the tail lamp is in use. No vehicle originally equipped at the time of manufacture and sale with 2 tail lamps shall be operated upon a highway during hours of darkness unless both such lamps are in good working order. This subsection does not apply to any type of decorative covering originally equipped on the vehicle at the time of manufacture and sale.
347.13(2)
(2) Every tail lamp on a vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 72 inches nor less than 20 inches.
347.13(3)
(3) No person shall operate on a highway during hours of darkness any motor vehicle upon the rear of which a registration plate is required to be displayed unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a lamp so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. Such lamp may be incorporated as part of a tail lamp or may be a separate lamp.
347.13(4)
(4) Tail lamps and registration plate lamps shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted. In a tractor-semitrailer combination, 2 switches may be employed, one to activate semitrailer lamps and one to activate tractor lamps.
347.13 History
History: 1973 c. 252;
1995 a. 346.
347.13 Annotation
A tail lamp is functioning for its intended use and thus in good working order when during hours of darkness it emits a red warning light that is visible to another vehicle traveling 500 feet behind it. Sub.(1) does not requires all light bulbs in a tail lamp to be lit. Although s. 347.06 (3) and administrative rules require tail lamps to be kept in "proper working condition," "proper" is not a synonym for "perfect." Rather it is more akin to "good" or "suitable." State v. Brown,
2014 WI 69, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ___ N.W.2d ___,
11-2907.
347.14(1)(1) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, lightweight utility vehicle as defined in
s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2., mobile home, or trailer or semitrailer upon a highway unless such motor vehicle, lightweight utility vehicle, mobile home, or trailer or semitrailer is equipped with at least one stop lamp mounted on the rear and meeting the specifications set forth in this section. The stop lamp on a mobile home or trailer or semitrailer shall be controlled and operated from the driver's seat of the propelling vehicle. A stop lamp may be incorporated with a tail lamp. No vehicle originally equipped at the time of manufacture and sale with 2 stop lamps shall be operated upon a highway unless both such lamps are in good working order.
347.14(2)
(2) A stop lamp shall be so constructed as to be actuated upon application of the service or foot brake or separate trailer brake and shall emit a red or amber light plainly visible and understandable from all distances up to 300 feet to the rear during normal sunlight when viewed from the driver's seat of the vehicle following.
347.14 History
History: 2009 a. 157.
347.145
347.145
Deceleration warning lights for motorcycles, motor bicycles, mopeds or motor buses. 347.145(1)
(1) A motorcycle, motor bicycle or moped may be equipped with and use a system in which an amber light which pulses in a controlled fashion at a rate which varies exponentially with deceleration is center mounted on the rear of the vehicle.
347.145(2)
(2) A motor bus may be equipped with amber lights that shine with a steady beam or that pulse during deceleration, braking, or standing and idling. The lights shall be mounted symmetrically with respect to the vertical center line of the motor bus in a horizontal alignment on the rear of the motor bus. The lights may be mounted no higher than the lower edge of the rear window, or no higher than 72 inches if the motor bus does not have a rear window.
347.145 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
Trans 305.43, Wis. adm. code.
347.15
347.15
Direction signal lamps or devices. 347.15(1)
(1) No person may sell any new motor vehicle, other than a moped or Type 1 motorcycle, unless such motor vehicle is equipped with direction signal lamps meeting the requirements of this section. No person may operate on a highway any motor vehicle sold new after January 1, 1955, or any mobile home, or trailer or semitrailer sold new after January 1, 1968, other than a vehicle which is operated pursuant to
s. 341.47 (1) (b) or a moped or Type 1 motorcycle, unless such vehicle is equipped with direction signal lamps meeting the requirements of this section. Any other vehicle may be equipped with such lamps.
Subsection (3m) notwithstanding direction signals are not required on trailers when the rear direction signals on the towing vehicle are fully visible from all distances to the rear to 300 feet during normal sunlight when viewed from the driver's seat of the vehicle following.
347.15(2)
(2) Except as provided in
sub. (1), there shall be at least 2 direction signal lamps showing to the front on motor vehicles and at least 2 showing to the rear on motor vehicles, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, trailers and semitrailers, so as to indicate intention to turn right or left. Lamps showing to the front shall be located on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable and lamps showing to the rear shall be located on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. Such lamps shall project a flashing white or amber light visible to the front and a flashing red or amber light visible to the rear. Direction signal lamps when in use shall be plainly visible and understandable from all distances to 300 feet during normal sunlight. No direction signal lamp shall have any type of decorative covering that restricts the amount of light emitted when the direction signal lamp is in use. When actuated, such lamps shall indicate the intended direction of turning by flashing the lights showing to the front and rear on the side toward which the turn is made. This subsection does not apply to any type of decorative covering originally equipped on the vehicle at the time of manufacture and sale.
347.15(3)
(3) Vehicles equipped with direction signal lamps shall be equipped with a signal visible to the signaling driver when the signaling driver's signal lamps are operating.
347.15(3m)
(3m) Any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles in use on a highway shall be equipped with direction signals meeting the requirements of this section when the distance from the center of the top of the steering post to the left outside limit of the body, cab or load of such motor vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeds 24 inches, or when the distance from the center of the top of the steering post to the rear limit of the body or load thereof exceeds 14 feet.
347.15(4)
(4) Vehicles sold new prior to July 1, 1958, are exempt from the requirements of this section if they either comply with the requirements of s.
85.06 (15), 1955 stats., or are exempt from the requirements of that section.
347.16
347.16
Clearance lamps and reflectors. 347.16(1)
(1) No person shall operate on a highway during hours of darkness any vehicle, except automobiles, having a width at any part in excess of 80 inches unless such vehicle is equipped with:
347.16(1)(a)
(a) Two clearance lamps mounted on the front of the vehicle so as to be visible from the front; and
347.16(1)(b)
(b) Two clearance lamps mounted on the rear of the vehicle so as to be visible from the rear; and
347.16(1)(c)
(c) Two reflectors mounted on the rear of the vehicle in such a manner as to indicate as nearly as possible the extreme width of the vehicle.
347.16(2)
(2) No person shall operate any of the following vehicles on a highway during hours of darkness unless such vehicles are equipped as indicated:
347.16(2)(a)
(a) Every truck tractor shall carry on the front 2 clearance lamps, one at each side.
347.16(2)(b)
(b) Every trailer or semitrailer shall carry on the rear 2 reflectors, one on each side.
347.16(3)
(3) Reflectorized material extending across the full width of the vehicle and otherwise meeting the mounting and visibility specifications for reflectors may be used in lieu of the reflectors required by this section.
347.16 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also s.
Trans 305.14, and
305.55, Wis. adm. code.
347.17
347.17
Color of clearance and marker lamps and reflectors. Whenever a vehicle is equipped with clearance lamps, sidemarker lamps or reflectors:
347.17(1)
(1) Those clearance and marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of the vehicle shall display or reflect an amber color;
347.17(2)
(2) Those clearance lamps and marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of the vehicle, or on both, shall display or reflect a red color.
347.17 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ss.
Trans 305.14 and
305.55, Wis. adm. code.
347.18
347.18
Mounting of clearance lamps and reflectors. 347.18(1)(1) Whenever
s. 347.16 requires any reflector to be displayed upon a vehicle, each such reflector shall be mounted at a height not less than 16 inches nor more than 60 inches above the ground on which the vehicle stands. On vehicles which are more than 80 inches wide, the front and rear reflectors shall be mounted so as to indicate as nearly as possible the extreme width of the vehicle. Any required red reflector on the rear of a vehicle may be incorporated with the tail lamp but such reflector shall meet all the other reflector requirements of this chapter.
347.18(2)
(2) Whenever this chapter requires a vehicle to be equipped with clearance lamps, such lamps shall be mounted in such a manner as to indicate the extreme width of the vehicle and as near to the top thereof as practicable except that when rear identification lamps are mounted at the extreme height of the vehicle, rear clearance lamps may be mounted at optional heights.
347.18 History
History: 1975 c. 121.
347.18 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ss.
Trans 305.14 and
305.55, Wis. adm. code.
347.19
347.19
Visibility of clearance lamps and reflectors. 347.19(1)(1) Every reflector required by
s. 347.16 to be displayed upon a vehicle shall be of such size and characteristics and so maintained as to be readily visible during the hours of darkness from all distances within 500 feet to 50 feet from the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps.
347.19(2)
(2) Front and rear clearance lamps when lighted shall be capable of being seen and distinguished under normal atmospheric conditions during hours of darkness at a distance of 500 feet from the front and rear, respectively, of the vehicle.
347.20
347.20
Lamp or flag on projecting load or fixture. 347.20(1)(1) No person shall operate on a highway during hours of darkness any vehicle with a load or fixture thereon extending more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the bed or body thereof unless there is displayed at the extreme rear end of the load or fixture a red light or lantern plainly visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the sides and rear. The red light or lantern shall be in addition to any tail lamp or clearance lamp which the vehicle is required to carry.
347.20(2)
(2) No person shall operate on a highway, at times other than hours of darkness, any vehicle with a load or fixture thereon extending more than 4 feet beyond the rear of the bed or body thereof unless there is displayed at the extreme rear end of such load or fixture a red flag or cloth not less than 12 inches square and so hung that the entire area is visible to the operator of a vehicle approaching from the rear.
347.20(3)
(3) This section does not apply to vehicles loaded with loose hay or straw.
347.20 History
History: 1981 c. 176.
347.21
347.21
Lamps and flags on trains of agricultural vehicles. 347.21(1)(1) No person shall operate on a highway during hours of darkness any train of vehicles authorized by
s. 348.08 (1) (d) unless there is mounted on each side of every vehicle in such train, including farm tractors and implements of husbandry, at least one lamp emitting a red or amber light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the side of the vehicle on which mounted or, in lieu thereof, at least one red or amber reflector or, notwithstanding
s. 347.245, one slow moving vehicle emblem visible from all distances within 500 feet to 50 feet of the side of the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps.
347.21(1m)
(1m) No person shall operate on a highway during hours of darkness any train of vehicles authorized by
s. 348.08 (1) (b) unless there is mounted on each side of every vehicle in such train, including farm tractors and implements of husbandry, at least one lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the side of the vehicle on which mounted or, in lieu thereof, at least one red reflector visible from all distances within 500 feet to 50 feet of the side of the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1m) is amended eff. 11-1-15 by
2013 Wis. Act 377 to read:
Effective date text
(1m) No person shall operate on a highway during hours of darkness any train of vehicles authorized by s. 348.08 (1) (b) unless there is mounted on each side of every vehicle in such train at least one lamp emitting a red or amber light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the side of the vehicle on which mounted or, in lieu thereof, at least one red or amber reflector visible from all distances within 500 feet to 50 feet of the side of the vehicle when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps.
347.21(2)
(2) No person shall operate on a highway, at times other than hours of darkness, any train of agricultural vehicles authorized by
s. 348.08 (1) (b) unless there is displayed a red flag at least 12 inches square on each rear corner of the rearmost vehicle in the train.
347.22
347.22
Lamps on farm tractors, self-propelled farm implements, and lightweight utility vehicles. 347.22(1)
(1) No person shall operate or park a farm tractor, self-propelled farm implement, or lightweight utility vehicle, as defined in
s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2., upon a highway during hours of darkness unless such tractor, implement, or lightweight utility vehicle carries the lighted headlamps and tail lamps which would be required of other motor vehicles under similar circumstances.
347.22(2)
(2) No person shall operate or park a farm tractor, self-propelled farm implement, or lightweight utility vehicle, as defined in
s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2., upon a highway during hours of darkness with any lamp thereon showing any light to the rear other than red in color.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is amended eff. 11-1-15 by
2013 Wis. Act 377 to read:
Effective date text
(2) Except as provided in s. 347.25 (2g), no person shall operate or park a farm tractor, self-propelled farm implement, or lightweight utility vehicle, as defined in s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2., upon a highway during hours of darkness with any lamp thereon showing any light to the rear other than red or amber in color.
347.22 History
History: 2009 a. 157;
2013 a. 377.
347.23
347.23
Lamps on highway maintenance equipment. 347.23(1)(1) No person shall operate upon a highway during hours of darkness any road machinery or motor vehicle used in highway construction or maintenance unless such vehicle or road machinery is equipped either as prescribed by
par. (a) or
(b):
347.23(1)(a)
(a) A red light visible from a distance of 500 feet shall be displayed on each side of the front and on each side of the rear to give adequate warning of the presence of such vehicle or machinery and to show safe clearance for passing or overtaking vehicles; or
347.23(1)(b)
(b) In lieu of the red lights prescribed by
par. (a), 2 amber floodlamps may be used, one to be mounted on each side of the vehicle or machinery so as to illuminate its sides and its attachments, if any, to show safe clearance for passing or overtaking vehicles. Such floodlamps shall display an amber light of sufficient illuminating power to indicate safe clearance from a distance of 200 feet to the front and rear of such vehicle or machinery.
347.23(2)
(2) The lights specified in
sub. (1) need not be displayed upon motor vehicles used in highway construction or maintenance work when such vehicles are traveling along the highway at their normal operating speed in the ordinary course of traffic.
347.23(4)
(4) No person shall operate upon the left-hand side of a highway during hours of darkness any road machinery or motor vehicle used in highway construction or maintenance, including snow and ice control, unless such vehicle or machinery is equipped with an auxiliary lamp or lamps projecting a flashing amber light visible from all directions for a 360-degree lens (beehive type lamp) or revolving type lamp and visible front and rear for reflectorized stationary directional type lamps. For flashing type lamps the number of flashes per minute shall be between 60 and 90. For revolving type lamps the revolutions per minute shall be between 45 and 90. The lenses of such auxiliary lamps shall not be less than 6 inches in diameter for the reflectorized stationary directional type lamp; 3-3/4 inches minimum diameter and 5-inch minimum height for the 360-degree lens (beehive type lamp); and 3-3/4 inches minimum width and 4-5/8 inches minimum height for the revolving type lamp. The lamps shall be equipped with bulbs of 50 candlepower minimum. The lamps shall be mounted approximately midway between the transverse extremities of the vehicle or machinery and at the highest practicable point.
347.24
347.24
Lamps and reflectors on nonmotor vehicles and equipment. 347.24(1)(a)(a) Except as provided under
pars. (b) and
(c), no person may operate on a highway during hours of darkness any implement of husbandry or any other vehicle not specifically required by law to be equipped with lamps or other lighting devices unless such implement or vehicle is equipped with at least 2 lighted lamps or lanterns exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet ahead and 2 lighted lamps or lanterns exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear or, as an alternative to the red lamps or lanterns, 2 red reflectors mounted as specified in
s. 347.18 and meeting the visibility requirements of
s. 347.19 may be displayed on the rear of such vehicle or implement of husbandry.
347.24(1)(am)
(am) No person may operate on a highway during hours of darkness any implement of husbandry that extends 4 feet or more to the left of the center line of its towing vehicle unless the implement is equipped with an amber reflector meeting the visibility requirements of
s. 347.19 and mounted on the left side, facing forward, so as to mark the extreme width of the implement to drivers of oncoming vehicles.
347.24(1)(b)
(b) Any implement of husbandry or any other vehicle not specifically required by law to be equipped with lamps or other lighting device and which was manufactured on or before January 1, 1984, shall comply with the lamp requirements of s.
347.24 (1), 1981 stats.
347.24(1)(c)
(c) An implement of husbandry which is an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle need only comply with the lamp requirements established under
s. 23.33 (6).
347.24(2)
(2) No person may operate on a highway during hours of darkness a vehicle drawn by an animal unless the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp or lantern exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet ahead and 2 lighted lamps or lanterns exhibiting red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear and mounted in such a manner as to indicate the extreme width of the vehicle.
347.24(3)(a)(a) In this subsection, "wide implement of husbandry" means any implement of husbandry that has a total width in excess of 15 feet or that partly extends, when operated primarily on the right half of the roadway, over the center of the roadway into any lane intended for travel in the opposite direction.
