346.53(3)
(3) Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, unless a greater distance is indicated by an official traffic sign.
346.53(4)
(4) Within 4 feet of the entrance to an alley or a private road or driveway.
346.53(5)
(5) Closer than 15 feet to the near limits of a crosswalk.
346.53(6)
(6) Upon any portion of a highway where and at the time when parking is prohibited, limited or restricted by official traffic signs.
346.53 History
History: 1999 a. 85.
346.53 Annotation
The trial court erred in finding a truck driver, who parked on a highway for the purpose of unloading sewage into a manhole, negligent as a matter of law and refusing to submit the question of practicality to the jury. Nelson v. Travelers Insurance Co.
80 Wis. 2d 272,
259 N.W.2d 48 (1977).
346.54
346.54
How to park and stop on streets. 346.54(1)(1)
Upon streets where stopping or parking is authorized or permitted, a vehicle is not lawfully stopped or parked unless it complies with the following requirements:
346.54(1)(a)
(a) Upon a street where traffic is permitted to move in both directions simultaneously and where angle parking is not clearly designated by official traffic signs or pavement markings, a vehicle must be parked parallel to the edge of the street, headed in the direction of traffic on the right side of the street.
346.54(1)(b)
(b) Upon a one-way street or divided street where parking on the left side of the roadway is clearly authorized by official traffic signs or pavement markings, vehicles may be parked only as indicated by the signs or pavement markings.
346.54(1)(c)
(c) Upon streets where angle parking is clearly authorized by official traffic signs or pavement markings, vehicles shall be parked at the angle and within the spaces indicated.
346.54(1)(cm)1.1. In a parallel parking area, a motorcycle or moped may park at an angle. If parallel parking spaces are not indicated by pavement markings, no motorcycle or moped may be parked within 2 feet of another vehicle. Where a parallel parking space is indicated by pavement markings or where angle parking is authorized, up to 3 motorcycles or mopeds may park in the space.
346.54(1)(cm)2.
2. Up to 3 motorcycles or mopeds may be parked in a parking space where a parking meter has been installed unless the space is restricted by official traffic sign or pavement markings to a single motorcycle or moped. The operator of each motorcycle or moped parked in a single space regulated by a parking meter shall receive a citation for any violation of a time restriction.
346.54(1)(d)
(d) In parallel parking, a vehicle shall be parked facing in the direction of traffic with the right wheels within 12 inches of the curb or edge of the street when parked on the right side and with the left wheels within 12 inches of the curb or edge of the street when parked on the left side. In parallel parking, a vehicle shall be parked with its front end at least 2 feet from the vehicle in front and with its rear end at least 2 feet from the vehicle in the rear, unless a different system of parallel parking is clearly indicated by official traffic signs or pavement markings.
346.54(1)(e)
(e) Except as provided in par.
(cm) and s.
349.13 (6), for the purpose of parking, mopeds, electric scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices shall be considered bicycles. Except as provided in s.
349.13 (6), where possible without impeding the flow of pedestrian traffic, a bicycle, moped, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device may be parked on a sidewalk. Except as provided in s.
349.13 (6), a bicycle, moped, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device may be parked in a bike rack or other similar area designated for bicycle parking.
346.54(2)
(2) No person shall stop or leave a vehicle standing in violation of this section.
346.55
346.55
Other restrictions on parking and stopping. 346.55(3)
(3) No person may leave or park any motor vehicle on private property without the consent of the owner or lessee of the property.
346.55(4)
(4) Owners or lessees of public or private property may permit parking by certain persons and limit, restrict or prohibit parking as to other persons if the owner or lessee posts a sign on the property indicating for whom parking is permitted, limited, restricted or prohibited. No person may leave or park any motor vehicle on public or private property contrary to a sign posted thereon.
346.56
346.56
Penalty for violating sections 346.503 to 346.55. 346.56(1)(b)
(b) No forfeiture may be assessed under par.
(a) if within 30 days after the uniform traffic citation was issued the person provides proof that he or she has complied with the provision of s.
346.503 for which the citation was issued.
346.56(1g)
(1g) Any person violating s.
346.503 (2e) shall forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense. For a 2nd or subsequent conviction within 3 years, a person shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100.
346.56(1m)
(1m) Any person violating s.
346.52 to
346.54 or
346.55 (3) or
(4) 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.
346.56(4)
(4) Any person violating s.
346.505 (2) shall forfeit not less than $150 nor more than $300.
SPEED RESTRICTIONS
346.57
346.57
Speed restrictions. 346.57(1)(ag)
(ag) “Expressway" means a state trunk highway that, as determined by the department, has 4 or more lanes of traffic physically separated by a median or barrier and that gives preference to through traffic by utilizing interchanges or limiting at-grade access to selected public roads and public driveways.
346.57(1)(am)
(am) “Freeway" means a state trunk highway that has 4 or more lanes of traffic physically separated by a median or barrier and that gives preference to through traffic by limiting access to interchanges only.
346.57(1)(ar)
(ar) “Outlying district" means the territory contiguous to and including any highway within the corporate limits of a city or village where on each side of the highway within any 1,000 feet along such highway the buildings in use for business, industrial or residential purposes fronting thereon average more than 200 feet apart.
346.57(1)(b)
(b) “Semiurban district" means the territory contiguous to and including any highway where on either side of the highway within any 1,000 feet along such highway the buildings in use for business, industrial or residential purposes fronting thereon average not more than 200 feet apart or where the buildings in use for such purposes fronting on both sides of the highway considered collectively average not more than 200 feet apart.
346.57(2)
(2)
Reasonable and prudent limit. No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing. The speed of a vehicle shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and using due care.
346.57(3)
(3)
Conditions requiring reduced speed. The operator of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of sub.
(2), drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hillcrest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, when passing school children, highway construction or maintenance workers, sanitation workers, or other pedestrians, and when special hazard exists with regard to other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions.
346.57(4)
(4)
Fixed limits. In addition to complying with the speed restrictions imposed by subs.
(2) and
(3), no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of the following limits unless different limits are indicated by official traffic signs:
346.57(4)(a)
(a) Fifteen miles per hour when passing a schoolhouse at those times when children are going to or from school or are playing within the sidewalk area at or about the school.
346.57(4)(b)
(b) Fifteen miles per hour when passing an intersection or other location properly marked with a “school crossing" sign of a type approved by the department when any of the following conditions exists:
346.57(4)(b)2.
2. A school crossing guard is within a crosswalk at the intersection or the other location or, if no crosswalk exists, is in the roadway at the intersection or the other location.
346.57(4)(b)3.
3. A school crossing guard is placing in or removing from the roadway at or near the intersection or the other location a temporary sign or device that guides, warns, or regulates traffic.
346.57(4)(c)
(c) Fifteen miles per hour when passing a safety zone occupied by pedestrians and at which a public passenger vehicle has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers.
346.57(4)(e)
(e) Twenty-five miles per hour on any highway within the corporate limits of a city or village, other than on highways in outlying districts in such city or village.
346.57(4)(em)
(em) Twenty-five miles per hour on any service road within the corporate limits of a city or village unless modified by the authority in charge of the highway.
346.57(4)(f)
(f) Thirty-five miles per hour in any outlying district within the corporate limits of a city or village.
346.57(4)(g)
(g) Thirty-five miles per hour on any highway in a semiurban district outside the corporate limits of a city or village.
346.57(4)(gm)1.1. Except as provided in subd.
2., 65 miles per hour on any expressway.
346.57(4)(gm)2.
2. Seventy miles per hour on any freeway, including freeways that are a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, and on any portion of an expressway that gives preference to through traffic by utilizing interchanges only.
346.57(4)(h)
(h) In the absence of any other fixed limits or the posting of limits as required or authorized by law, 55 miles per hour.
346.57(4)(i)
(i) Fifteen miles per hour on any street or town road, except a state trunk highway or connecting highway, within, contiguous to or adjacent to a public park or recreation area when children are going to or from or are playing within such area, when the local authority has enacted an ordinance regulating such traffic and has properly marked such area with official traffic control devices erected at such points as said authority deems necessary and at those points on the streets or town roads concerned where persons traversing the same would enter such area from an area where a different speed limit is in effect.
346.57(4)(j)
(j) Thirty-five miles per hour on any town road where on either side of the highway within any 1,000 feet along such highway the buildings in use for business, industrial or residential purposes fronting thereon average less than 150 feet apart, provided the town board has adopted an ordinance determining such speed limit and has posted signs at such points as the town board deems necessary to give adequate warning to users of the town road.
346.57(4)(k)
(k) Forty-five miles per hour on any highway designated as a rustic road under s.
83.42.
346.57(5)
(5)
Zoned and posted limits. In addition to complying with the speed restrictions imposed by subs.
(2) and
(3), no person shall drive a vehicle in excess of any speed limit established pursuant to law by state or local authorities and indicated by official signs.
346.57(6)
(6)
Certain statutory limits to be posted. 346.57(6)(a)
(a) On state trunk highways and connecting highways and on county trunk highways or highways marked and signed as county trunks, the speed limits specified in sub.
(4) (e) and
(f) are not effective unless official signs giving notice thereof have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question. The speed limit specified in sub.
(4) (g) and
(k) is not effective on any highway unless official signs giving notice thereof have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question. The signs shall be erected at such points as the authority in charge of maintenance deems necessary to give adequate warning to users of the highway in question, but an alleged failure to post a highway as required by this paragraph is not a defense to a prosecution for violation of the speed limits specified in sub.
(4) (e),
(f),
(g) or
(k), or in an ordinance enacted in conformity therewith, if official signs giving notice of the speed limit have been erected at those points on the highway in question where a person traversing such highway would enter it from an area where a different speed limit is in effect.
346.57(6)(b)
(b) The limit specified under sub.
(4) (gm) is not effective unless official signs giving notice of the limit have been erected by the department.
346.57 Annotation
While sub. (2) is related to sub. (3), it is not limited by sub. (3). Sub. (3) creates a greater duty in respect to speed than sub. (2) does. Thoreson v. Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Corp.
56 Wis. 2d 231,
201 N.W.2d 745 (1972).
346.57 Annotation
Judicial notice may be taken of the reliability of the underlying principles of radar that employs the Doppler effect to determine speed. A prima facie presumption of accuracy of moving radar will be accorded upon competent testimony of the operating officer of required facts. State v. Hanson,
85 Wis. 2d 233,
270 N.W.2d 212 (1978).
346.57 Annotation
A prima facie presumption of accuracy applies to stationary radar devices. City of Wauwatosa v. Collett,
99 Wis. 2d 522,
299 N.W.2d 620 (Ct. App. 1980).
346.57 Annotation
An actor may claim the defense of legal justification if the conduct of a law enforcement officer causes the actor to reasonably believe that violating the law is the only means of preventing bodily harm to the actor or another and causes the actor to violate the law. State v. Brown,
107 Wis. 2d 44,
318 N.W.2d 370 (1982).
346.57 Annotation
This section does not impose absolute liability upon drivers to avoid accidents. Millonig v. Bakken,
112 Wis. 2d 445,
334 N.W.2d 80 (1983).
346.57 Annotation
The presumption of the accuracy of moving radar is discussed. The elements of the
Hanson/Kramer criteria are explained. Washington County v. Luedtke,
135 Wis. 2d 131,
399 N.W.2d 906 (1987).
346.58
346.58
Special speed restrictions for certain vehicles. 346.58(1)(a)
(a) “Metal tire" means a tire the surface of which in contact with the highway is wholly or partially of metal or other hard, nonresilient material.
346.58(1)(b)
(b) “Solid rubber tire" means a tire made of rubber but not inflated with compressed air.
346.58(2)
(2) In addition to complying with other speed restrictions imposed by law, no person may drive any vehicle equipped with metal tires or solid rubber tires at a speed in excess of 15 miles per hour. This subsection does not apply to operation of a bicycle.
346.59
346.59
Minimum speed regulation. 346.59(1)(1)
No person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or is necessary to comply with the law.
346.59(2)
(2) The operator of a vehicle moving at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic shall, if practicable, yield the roadway to an overtaking vehicle and shall move at a reasonably increased speed or yield the roadway to overtaking vehicles when directed to do so by a traffic officer.
346.59 History
History: 1977 c. 100;
2013 a. 365.
346.595
346.595
Motorcycles and mopeds. Whenever a motorcycle or a moped is operated the following rules apply:
346.595(1)
(1) All motor vehicles including motorcycles and mopeds are entitled to the full use of a traffic lane and no vehicle may be driven or operated in such a manner so as to deprive any other vehicle of the full use of a traffic lane. With the consent of both drivers, motorcycles may be operated not more than 2 abreast in a single lane, but mopeds may be so operated only where the speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less.
346.595(2)
(2) No person shall ride any motorcycle or moped while in a side-saddle position.
346.595(3)
(3) No passenger may ride a motorcycle who, when properly seated, cannot rest the feet on assigned foot rests or pegs. No passenger may ride on a moped.
346.595(3m)
(3m) No more than 2 persons may ride on a motorcycle having 2 wheels in tandem during operation unless a sidecar has been attached to the motorcycle and the additional passengers are provided with adequate seating within the sidecar.
346.595(4)
(4) No passenger shall ride in front of the operator on a motorcycle.
