347.42   Windshield wipers.
347.43   Safety glass.
347.435   Vehicle monitoring and feedback.
347.44   Painting requirements for school buses; restrictions as to painting of other vehicles.
347.445   Crossing gates for school buses.
347.447   Additional safety mirrors on school buses.
347.45   Tire equipment.
347.455   Modifications to height of vehicle.
347.46   Fenders and mudguards.
347.47   Drawbars, trailer hitches and mobile home couplings.
347.475   Airbags, prohibited practices.
347.48   Safety belts and child safety restraint systems.
347.485   Protective headgear for use on motorcycles.
347.486   General requirements.
347.487   Seating requirements.
347.488   Moped equipment.
347.489   Lamps and other equipment on bicycles and other vehicles and devices.
347.49   Equipment of vehicles transporting flammable liquids.
347.50   Penalties.
Ch. 347 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ch. Trans 305, Wis. adm. code.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
347.01347.01Words and phrases defined. Words and phrases defined in s. 340.01 are used in the same sense in this chapter unless a different definition is specifically provided.
347.02347.02Applicability of chapter.
347.02(1)(1)No provision of this chapter requiring vehicles to be equipped in a particular manner is applicable to any of the following vehicles unless the vehicle is expressly included within or made subject to the particular provision:
347.02(1)(a)(a) Farm tractors.
347.02(1)(b)(b) Implements of husbandry.
347.02(1)(c)(c) Vehicles drawn by animals.
347.02(1)(d)(d) Road machinery.
347.02(1)(e)(e) Bicycles.
347.02(1)(em)(em) Electric bicycles.
347.02(1)(g)(g) Motor bicycles.
347.02(1)(h)(h) Golf carts operated in accordance with s. 349.18 (1) (b) or (c) or (1m).
347.02(1)(i)(i) Electric scooters and electric personal assistive mobility devices.
347.02(1)(j)(j) Lightweight utility vehicles, as defined in s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2.
347.02(1)(k)(k) Personal delivery devices.
347.02(2)(2)No provision of this chapter requiring or prohibiting certain types of equipment on a vehicle is applicable when such vehicle is not operated upon or occupying a highway.
347.02(2m)(2m)
347.02(2m)(a)(a) No provision of this chapter requiring or prohibiting certain types of equipment on a vehicle is applicable to an imported vehicle which has been granted entry into the United States by the federal government solely for the purpose of test or experiment.
347.02(2m)(b)(b) The exemption under par. (a) is limited to the one-year period following the entry of the vehicle.
347.02(3)(3)Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the use of additional parts and accessories on any vehicle not inconsistent with this chapter.
347.02(4)(4)Beginning July 1, 1960, the provisions of this chapter covering lighting shall be applicable to all state, county and municipal trucks, truck tractors, trailers and semitrailers.
347.02(5)(5)If a vehicle registered under s. 341.25 (1) (a), 341.265, 341.266, or 341.269 has equipment which was designated by the manufacturer as optional equipment in the model year the vehicle was manufactured, it is not necessary for such equipment to be in operating condition unless it replaces equipment which is required by law to be both present and functioning.
347.02(6)(6)Notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter, the department may establish special equipment standards for vehicles operated under s. 343.135 which differ from the equipment standards established under this chapter. Equipment standards established under this subsection may not be less stringent than any federal standards established for the vehicle.
347.02(7)(7)The vehicle equipment requirements for a street modified vehicle shall be the same as the vehicle equipment requirements for a vehicle of the same type and model year that is not a street modified vehicle. The vehicle equipment requirements for a replica vehicle or a homemade vehicle specified in s. 341.268 (1) (b) 2. shall be the same as the vehicle equipment requirements for a vehicle of the same type and model year as the vehicle used for purposes of the reproduction.
347.02(8)(8)If the department establishes by rule limitations on the tinting of motor vehicle windows, the limitations do not apply to police vehicles owned by the state or a county, city, village, or town when tinting is necessary for the protection of personnel, passengers, or equipment.
347.03347.03Sale of prohibited equipment unlawful. No person shall sell for highway use any device, appliance, accessory or replacement part the use of which on a motor vehicle is unlawful.
347.04347.04Owner responsible for improperly equipped vehicle. Any owner of a vehicle not equipped as required by this chapter who knowingly causes or permits such vehicle to be operated on a highway in violation of this chapter is guilty of the violation the same as if he or she had operated the vehicle personally. No demerit points shall be assessed or counted pursuant to s. 343.32 against the operator’s license of the owner of the vehicle by reason of the owner’s conviction of any such violation unless the owner was personally operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
347.04 HistoryHistory: 1989 a. 105.
347.05347.05Reciprocity agreements as to equipment.
347.05(1)(1)The secretary, with the approval of the governor, is authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with the duly authorized representatives of other jurisdictions exempting the residents of those jurisdictions from details of vehicle equipment requirements of this state which are particularly burdensome to residents of such other jurisdictions operating vehicles in this state, provided the law of such other jurisdiction requires vehicles to be equipped in a manner rendering them substantially as safe as those equipped in the manner required by the laws of this state. The agreements shall provide substantially like exemptions for residents of this state when operating vehicles in such other jurisdiction.
347.05(2)(2)This section does not authorize reciprocity agreements as to laws governing the size and weight of vehicles.
347.05 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (c).
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT
347.06347.06When lighted lamps required.
347.06(1)(1)Except as provided in subs. (2) and (4), no person may operate a vehicle upon a highway during hours of darkness or during a period of limited visibility unless all headlamps, tail lamps, and clearance lamps with which the vehicle is required to be equipped are lighted. Parking lamps as described in s. 347.27 may not be used for this purpose. This subsection does not apply if lamps that are automatically activated whenever the vehicle is started are in use, if the headlamps are of sufficient intensity to satisfy the requirements for daytime running lamps under 49 CFR 571.108, S7.10.13.
347.06(2)(2)Headlamps need not be lighted on a towed vehicle or on a vehicle having at least 2 lighted adverse weather lamps on the front thereof and being operated under the circumstances described in s. 347.26 (3) (b).
347.06(3)(3)The operator of a vehicle shall keep all lamps and reflectors with which such vehicle is required to be equipped reasonably clean and in proper working condition at all times.
347.06(4)(4)A duly authorized warden, as defined in s. 24.01 (11), may operate a vehicle owned or leased by the department of natural resources upon a highway during hours of darkness or during a period of limited visibility without lighted headlamps, tail lamps, or clearance lamps in the performance of the warden’s duties under s. 29.924 (2).
347.07347.07Special restrictions on lamps and the use thereof.
347.07(1)(1)Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with headlamps also is equipped with any adverse weather lamps, spotlamps or auxiliary lamps, or with any other lamp on the front thereof projecting a beam of intensity greater than 300 candlepower, not more than a total of 4 of any such lamps or combinations thereof on the front of the vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when such vehicle is upon a highway.
347.07(2)(2)Except as provided in sub. (3), or as otherwise expressly authorized or required by this chapter, no person shall operate any vehicle or equipment on a highway which has displayed thereon:
347.07(2)(a)(a) Any color of light other than white or amber visible from directly in front; or
347.07(2)(b)(b) Any color of light other than red on the rear; or
347.07(2)(c)(c) Any flashing light.
347.07(3)(3)A motorcycle may be equipped with a lighting device that illuminates the ground directly beneath the motorcycle if all of the following apply:
347.07(3)(a)(a) The lighting device is not visible to approaching vehicles.
347.07(3)(b)(b) The lighting device does not display a red, blue, or amber light.
347.07(3)(c)(c) The lighting device does not display a flashing, oscillating, or rotating light.
347.07 HistoryHistory: 2015 a. 27.
347.08347.08Determining the visibility distance and mounted height of lamps.
347.08(1)(1)Whenever this chapter states a requirement as to distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, such distance shall be measured during hours of darkness under normal atmospheric conditions and upon a straight, level, unlighted highway unless a different time, direction or condition is expressly stated.
347.08(2)(2)Whenever this chapter requires a lamp or device to be mounted at a certain height, the distance shall be measured from the center of the lamp or device to the level ground upon which the vehicle stands when such vehicle is without load.
347.09347.09Headlamps on motor vehicles.
347.09(1)(1)No person may operate a motor vehicle on a highway during hours of darkness or during a period of limited visibility, unless the vehicle is equipped as follows:
347.09(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c), every motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least 2 headlamps, which headlamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in sub. (2) and s. 347.10 and shall be mounted symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the vehicle with at least one on each side of the center of the front of the motor vehicle.
347.09(1)(b)(b) Every moped or motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one and not more than 2 headlamps, which headlamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in sub. (2) and s. 347.10.
347.09(1)(c)(c) Every motor bicycle or vehicle registered under s. 341.067 and operated by a person licensed under s. 343.075 or 343.135 shall be equipped with at least one and not more than 2 headlamps, which headlamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in sub. (2) and s. 347.11.
347.09(2)(2)Every headlamp on a motor vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches.
347.09 HistoryHistory: 1983 a. 243; 1985 a. 65; 2015 a. 165; 2019 a. 50.
347.09 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See also ss. Trans 305.11, 305.43, and 305.55, Wis. adm. code.
347.10347.10Headlamp specifications for motor vehicles other than mopeds and motor bicycles.
347.10(1)(1)Except as provided in sub. (4), the headlamps or the auxiliary driving lamp or the auxiliary passing lamp or combination thereof on motor vehicles other than mopeds and motor bicycles shall be so arranged that the driver may select at will between distributions of light projected to different elevations. No such lamp shall have any type of decorative covering that restricts the amount of light emitted when the lamp is in use. Such lamps may, in addition, be so arranged that such selection can be made automatically. This subsection does not apply to any type of decorative covering originally equipped on the vehicle at the time of manufacture and sale.
347.10(2)(2)Multiple-beam headlamps shall comply with the following requirements:
347.10(2)(a)(a) There shall be an uppermost distribution of light or composite beam so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead for all conditions of loading;
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2021-22 Wisconsin Statutes updated through 2023 Wis. Act 272 and through all Supreme Court and Controlled Substances Board Orders filed before and in effect on November 8, 2024. Published and certified under s. 35.18. Changes effective after November 8, 2024, are designated by NOTES. (Published 11-8-24)