Chapter 349

349.01(2)(b) (b) “Chauffeur” means a person employed full time or on a regular basis, including leased drivers, for the principal purpose of operating a motor vehicle.

349.01(2)(m) (m) “Political subdivision” means a city, village, town, or county.

349.01 History History: 1989 a. 105; 2023 a. 1.

349.015 349.015 Applicability of chapter to electric scooters and electric personal assistive mobility devices. An electric scooter and an electric personal assistive mobility device shall be considered a vehicle for purposes of this chapter, except those provisions which by their express terms apply only to motor vehicles or which by their very nature would have no application to electric scooters or electric personal assistive mobility devices.

349.015 History History: 2001 a. 90; 2019 a. 11.

349.02 349.02 Police and traffic officers to enforce law.

349.02(1) (1) It is the duty of the police, sheriff’s and traffic departments of every unit of government and each authorized department of the state to enforce chs. 346 to 348 and 350. Police officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and traffic officers are authorized to direct all traffic within their respective jurisdictions either in person or by means of visual or audible signal in accordance with chs. 346 to 348 and 350. In the event of fire or other emergency, police officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and traffic officers and officers of the fire department may direct traffic as conditions may require notwithstanding the provisions of chs. 346 to 348 and 350.

349.02(2) (2) 

349.02(2)(a) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, traffic officer or motor vehicle inspector may not stop or inspect a vehicle solely to determine compliance with a statute or ordinance specified under par. (b) unless the police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, traffic officer or motor vehicle inspector has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of a statute or ordinance specified under par. (b) has been committed. This paragraph does not limit the authority of a police officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, traffic officer or motor vehicle inspector to make an arrest or issue a citation for a violation of any statute or ordinance specified under par. (b) observed in the course of a stop or inspection made for a lawful purpose. This paragraph does not apply to a traffic officer or motor vehicle inspector in the performance of duties under s. 110.075 (2).

349.02(2)(b) (b) The statutes and ordinances covered under par. (a) are all of the following:

349.02(2)(b)1. 1. This chapter and local ordinances enacted under this chapter.

349.02(2)(b)2. 2. Chapter 961 and local ordinances that strictly conform to s. 961.573 (1) or (2), 961.574 (1) or (2), or 961.575 (1) or (2).

349.02(2)(b)3. 3. Chapters 341 to 346.

349.02(2)(b)4. 4. Local ordinances enacted under s. 59.54 (25) or (25m) or 66.0107 (1) (bm).

349.02(2)(c) (c) Notwithstanding par. (a), a law enforcement officer may not stop a vehicle solely because the vehicle’s color differs from the color stated in the application for registration of that vehicle. This paragraph does not limit the authority of a law enforcement officer to issue a citation for improper registration of a vehicle whose color differs from the color stated in the application for registration of the vehicle, if the difference is observed in the course of a stop or inspection made for other purposes.

349.02(3) (3) 

349.02(3)(a) (a) In this subsection, “photo radar speed detection” means the detection of a vehicle’s speed by use of a radar device combined with photographic identification of the vehicle.

349.02(3)(b) (b) Notwithstanding sub. (1), the state and local authorities may not use photo radar speed detection to determine compliance with any speed restriction imposed by s. 346.57, 346.58, 346.59, 346.595 or 349.11 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith.

349.02 History History: 1971 c. 277; 1987 a. 34, 399; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1993 a. 246; 1995 a. 113, 201, 448; 1999 a. 90; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2003 a. 193; 2005 a. 116.

349.02 Annotation While it is clear that ss. 110.07 and 110.075 authorize the traffic officers of the state patrol and DOT to make stops and inspections and perhaps arrests for equipment violations, nothing in these statutes limits local law enforcements officers’ powers to do so. A city police officer is a traffic officer under s. 340.01 (70), and because s. 110.075 provides that any traffic officer can stop and inspect vehicles for violations of ch. 110 or rules issued under ch. 110, and because sub. (2) permits a police officer to enforce a city ordinance violation upon reasonable basis to believe a violation has occurred, a city officer had authority to make a stop for violation of an ordinance adopting a safety rule. State v. Bailey, 2009 WI App 140, 321 Wis. 2d 350, 773 N.W.2d 488, 08-3153.

349.02 Annotation In case of an emergency, a sheriff has the power to temporarily close any highway in the county and to divert traffic. 67 Atty. Gen. 335.

349.025 349.025 Quotas relating to the enforcement of traffic regulations prohibited.

349.025(1) (1) In this section:

349.025(1)(a) (a) “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 165.85 (2) (c).

349.025(1)(c) (c) “State agency” means an office, commission, department or independent agency in the executive branch of state government.

349.025(1)(d) (d) “Traffic regulation” means a provision of chs. 194 or 341 to 348 or an ordinance enacted in accordance with this chapter.

349.025(2) (2) No state agency or political subdivision of this state may require a law enforcement officer to issue a specific number of citations, complaints or warning notices during any specified time period for violations of traffic regulations.

349.025(3) (3) A state agency or political subdivision may, for purposes of evaluating a law enforcement officer’s job performance, compare the number of citations, complaints or warning notices issued by the law enforcement officer to the number of citations, complaints or warning notices issued by all law enforcement officers employed by the state agency or political subdivision who have similar job duties and who serve in the same administrative unit as the law enforcement officer.

349.025 History History: 1999 a. 16; 2023 a. 1.

349.03 349.03 Regulation by local authorities forbidden; exceptions.

349.03(1) (1) Chapters 341 to 348 and 350 shall be uniform in operation throughout the state. No local authority may enact or enforce any traffic regulation unless such regulation:

349.03(1)(a) (a) Is not contrary to or inconsistent with chs. 341 to 348 and 350; or

349.03(1)(b) (b) Is expressly authorized by ss. 349.06 to 349.25 or some other provision of the statutes.

349.03(2) (2) No local authority may enact or enforce any traffic regulation providing for suspension or revocation of motor vehicle operator’s licenses or requiring local registration of vehicles, except as authorized by s. 341.35, or in any manner excluding or prohibiting any motor vehicle, mobile home, vehicle transporting a manufactured home or modular home, recreational vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer whose owner has complied with chs. 341 to 348 from the free use of all highways, except as authorized by sub. (3) and ss. 66.0429 (1) and (3), 349.13, 349.17, 349.22 and 349.23.

349.03(2m) (2m) Notwithstanding sub. (2), a municipal court may suspend a license for a violation of a local ordinance in conformity with s. 346.63 (1) or (2m).

349.03(3) (3) In a county having a population of at least 750,000, city councils and village boards may, as to streets within their corporate limits, and the county board may, as to all other highways, establish one-way lanes to be used only by specified public transportation vehicles but only to facilitate mass transit and taxicab movement. The authority granted by this subsection may be exercised extraterritorially by the county board of the populous county on those portions of county trunk and state trunk highways in contiguous counties which are within 2 miles of the populous county if the highways so affected are connected to highways similarly affected in the populous county and if the board of the contiguous county concurs.

349.03(4) (4) If a violation under s. 343.305 or 346.63 or a local ordinance in conformity with s. 346.63 (1), (5) or (7) occurs within a law enforcement officer’s jurisdiction, he or she may enforce the violation anywhere in the state.

349.03(5) (5) 

349.03(5)(a) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a political subdivision may enter into a written agreement with the owner of a private road or driveway within a manufactured and mobile home community, as defined in s. 66.0435 (1) (cg), that is located within the boundaries of the political subdivision to enforce traffic regulations under ch. 346, or local ordinances in conformity with these regulations, on the private road or driveway.

349.03(5)(b) (b) The agreement under par. (a) may limit the traffic regulations or ordinances to be enforced on the private road or driveway under the agreement.

349.03 History History: 1971 c. 234, 277; 1973 c. 86, 87, 336; 1979 c. 59; 1981 c. 20, 165; 1983 a. 535; 1985 a. 194; 1987 a. 3, 27; 1989 a. 105; 1993 a. 113; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2007 a. 11; 2009 a. 129; 2017 a. 207 s. 5; 2023 a. 1.

349.03 Annotation This section, in prohibitory language, is the same concept of municipal power that is expressed affirmatively in s. 349.06. These sections must be read together and establish one test. Janesville v. Walker, 50 Wis. 2d 35, 183 N.W.2d 158 (1971).

349.03 Annotation A city ordinance prohibiting loud and unnecessary tire or engine noise was valid under sub. (1) and s. 349.06 (1). City of Janesville v. Garthwaite, 83 Wis. 2d 866, 266 N.W.2d 418 (1978).

349.04 349.04 Truck driver education surcharges.

349.04(1) (1) If a court imposes a fine or forfeiture for a violation of a provision of chs. 346 to 348 or a rule issued under chs. 346 to 348 and the violation involved a commercial motor vehicle, the court shall impose under ch. 814 a truck driver education surcharge of $8.

349.04(2) (2) If a fine or forfeiture is suspended in whole or in part, the truck driver education surcharge shall be reduced in proportion to the suspension.

349.04(3) (3) If any deposit is made for an offense to which this section applies, the person making the deposit shall also deposit a sufficient amount to include the truck driver education surcharge under this section. If the deposit is forfeited, the amount of the truck driver education surcharge shall be transmitted to the secretary of administration under sub. (4). If the deposit is returned, the amount of the truck driver education surcharge shall also be returned.

349.04(4) (4) The clerk of the circuit court shall collect and transmit to the county treasurer the truck driver education surcharge as required under s. 59.40 (2) (m). The county treasurer shall then pay the secretary of administration as provided in s. 59.25 (3) (f) 2. The secretary of administration shall deposit all amounts received under this subsection in the general fund to be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.292 (1) (hm).

349.04(5) (5) This section first applies to fines and forfeitures imposed on the first day of the first month beginning after the director of the technical college system notifies the director of state courts under 2001 Wisconsin Act 16, section 9148 (1f) that the truck driver training center at Waukesha County Technical College is scheduled to open.

349.04 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33, 139, 326.

subch. II of ch. 349 SUBCHAPTER II

EXPRESS REGULATORY POWERS

349.06 349.06 Authority to adopt traffic regulations in strict conformity with state law.

349.06(1) (1) 

349.06(1)(a) (a) Except for the suspension or revocation of motor vehicle operator’s licenses or except as provided in par. (b), any local authority may enact and enforce any traffic regulation which is in strict conformity with one or more provisions of chs. 341 to 348 and 350 for which the penalty for violation thereof is a forfeiture.

349.06(1)(b) (b) Any local authority shall enact and enforce parking regulations and penalties for violations of those regulations which are in conformity with the provisions of ss. 346.503, 346.505 and 346.56.

349.06(1)(c) (c) Any local authority may enact and enforce any traffic regulation that is in strict conformity with any rule of the department promulgated under ch. 110, 347 or 348, except rules pertaining to federal motor carrier safety standards, for which the penalty for a violation thereof is a forfeiture.

349.06(1m) (1m) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a municipal court may suspend a license for a violation of a local ordinance in conformity with s. 346.63 (1) or (2m).

349.06(2) (2) Traffic regulations adopted by local authorities which incorporate by reference existing or future amendments to chs. 340 to 348 or rules of the department shall be deemed to be in strict conformity and not contrary to or inconsistent with such chapters or rules. This subsection does not require local traffic regulations to incorporate state traffic laws or rules by reference in order to meet the requirements of s. 349.03 or sub. (1).

349.06(3) (3) If an operator of a vehicle violates a local ordinance in strict conformity with s. 346.04 (1) or (2), 346.18 (6), 346.27, 346.37, 346.39, 346.46 (1), 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h), or (5), or 346.62 (2) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, utility work area, or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic or violates a local ordinance in strict conformity with s. 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h), or (5) or 346.62 (2) where sanitation workers are at risk from traffic and the operator knows or should know that sanitation workers are present, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture for the violation shall be doubled.

349.06 History History: 1971 c. 277, 278, 307; 1973 c. 336; 1975 c. 248; 1981 c. 20; 1987 a. 3, 27; 1993 a. 198, 256; 1995 a. 44; 1997 a. 190, 277; 2013 a. 39; 2021 a. 115.

349.06 Annotation Section 349.03, in prohibitory language, is the same concept of municipal power that is expressed affirmatively in this section. These sections must be read together and establish one test. Janesville v. Walker, 50 Wis. 2d 35, 183 N.W.2d 158 (1971).

349.06 Annotation A city ordinance prohibiting loud and unnecessary tire or engine noise was valid under s. 349.03 (1) and sub. (1). City of Janesville v. Garthwaite, 83 Wis. 2d 866, 266 N.W.2d 418 (1978).

349.06 Annotation A county can enact and enforce traffic ordinances in strict conformance with state statutes that are applicable to town roads. 64 Atty. Gen. 172.

349.065 349.065 Uniform traffic control devices. Local authorities shall place and maintain traffic control devices upon highways under their jurisdiction to regulate, warn, guide or inform traffic. The design, installation and operation or use of new traffic control devices placed and maintained by local authorities after the adoption of the uniform traffic control devices manual under s. 84.02 (4) (e) shall conform to the manual. After January 1, 1977, all traffic control devices placed and maintained by local authorities shall conform to the manual.

349.065 History History: 1973 c. 185.

349.065 Annotation The decision to erect a stop sign, once made, carries with it the responsibility to ensure that the sign is properly installed and maintained to ensure that it remains visible to the motorists whose conduct the sign was intended to control. A local government that erects a stop sign should not be shielded on public policy grounds from liability when a tree obscures the stop sign. Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation v. Midwest Mutual Insurance Co. 2001 WI App 148, 246 Wis. 2d 933, 632 N.W.2d 59, 00-1836.

349.065 Annotation Affirmed. 2002 WI 80, 254 Wis. 2d 77, 646 N.W.2d 777, 00-1836.

349.065 Annotation That the county erected a stop sign at the intersection of town and county highways, within the town right-of-way did not preclude possible liability in the town or the adjacent landowner for an accident resulting from the sign being obscured by a tree. Both units of government and the landowner had a duty to correct the hazardous condition created by the tree. Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation v. Midwest Mutual Insurance Co. 2001 WI App 148, 246 Wis. 2d 933, 632 N.W.2d 59, 00-1836.

349.065 Annotation Affirmed. 2002 WI 80, 254 Wis. 2d 77, 646 N.W.2d 777, 00-1836.

349.07 349.07 Authority to designate through highways.

349.07(1) (1) The department may, when it deems it necessary for the public safety, by order declare any state trunk highway or connecting highway or portion thereof to be a through highway.

349.07(2) (2) Every county highway committee may, when it deems necessary for the public safety, by order declare any county trunk highway or portion thereof to be a through highway, except that where a state trunk highway intersects a county trunk highway the department shall designate the through highway.

349.07(3) (3) Every local authority may, when it deems it necessary for the public safety, by ordinance or resolution declare any highway or portion thereof under its exclusive jurisdiction to be a through highway.

349.07(4) (4) No order, ordinance or resolution declaring any highway to be a through highway is effective until official stop signs or traffic control signals have been installed at the entrances thereto from other highways.

349.07(5) (5) Through highway declarations under this section shall not apply to any paralleling service roads.

349.07(6) (6) 

349.07(6)(a) (a) Nothing in this section shall prohibit local authorities from placing additional stop signs on the roadway or temporary school zoning warning signs or temporary stop signs in the roadway at school crossings during periods of daylight when school children are using such crossings if such signs do not physically obstruct traffic.

349.07(6)(b) (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit local authorities from placing temporary stop signs in the roadway at intersections or crosswalks for limited periods of time if the local authorities deem it necessary for the public safety and if the signs do not physically obstruct traffic.

349.07(7) (7) 

349.07(7)(a) (a) The department may, when it deems necessary for the public safety, by order provide for the installation of yield signs on state trunk highways and connecting highways, and the governing body of any city, or county, may by ordinance or resolution provide, when it deems it necessary for the public safety, for the installation of yield signs on any through highway which has been so declared under sub. (3) and under its exclusive jurisdiction to regulate merging traffic movements and conflicting movements occurring within the intersection of 2 or more highways. Yield signs shall not be used in lieu of stop signs where a highway directly crosses a through 2-way highway.

349.07(7)(b) (b) The governing body of any town, city, village or county may by ordinance or resolution provide for the installation of yield signs at any intersection over which it has exclusive jurisdiction, but if the intersection is part of a through highway such yield signs can be installed at such intersections only as provided in par. (a).

349.07(8) (8) The governing body of any town, city, village or county may by ordinance or resolution provide for the installation of stop signs and traffic signals at intersections on highways over which it has exclusive jurisdiction.

349.07 History History: 1975 c. 192; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (3), (8) (a); 1977 c. 116 ss. 7, 8, 9; 1977 c. 272; 1979 c. 34.

349.07 Annotation Legislative Council Note, 1977: Section 349.08 (6) (a), relating to the placement of yield signs, is renumbered s. 349.07 (7) (a) and amended to prohibit the use of yield signs in lieu of stop signs where a highway directly crosses a through 2-way highway; the present prohibition against the use of yield signs in lieu of stop signs is overly broad in that it is not restricted to highways which directly cross through highways. By definition, the entrances to a “through highway” from intersecting highways must be controlled by traffic control signals or stop signs; “through highway” is defined in s. 340.01 (67). [Bill 465-A]

349.08 349.08 Cost of signs and traffic control signals. The department may, when requested, furnish official traffic control devices and highway paint at cost to any local authority.

349.08 History History: 1975 c. 23, 48, 237, 239, 367, 422; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (3), (8) (a); 1977 c. 116.

349.085 349.085 Authority to install stop signs at railroad grade crossings. Local authorities may, by ordinance, when they deem it necessary for the public safety, install official stop signs at public traveled railroad grade crossings on highways maintained by the respective authorities.

349.085 History History: 1977 c. 116.