Chapter 343

343.03(5) (5) Inquiries before issuance.

343.03(5)(a) (a) Before issuing or renewing any license under this chapter, the department shall obtain driver record information from the national driver registry and commercial driver license information system to determine whether the applicant holds a commercial driver license, or a license that is revoked, suspended or canceled, or is otherwise disqualified. If the applicant is currently licensed in another state, the department shall obtain information on the applicant’s license status with the state of licensure before issuing a license.

343.03(5)(b) (b)

343.03(5)(b)1. 1. Before issuing or renewing a commercial driver license, the department shall, within the time period specified in 49 CFR 384.232, request from any other jurisdiction that has issued an operator’s license or commercial driver license to the person within the previous 10 years the driving record of the person as required under 49 CFR 384.206 (a) (2) (ii).

343.03(5)(b)2. 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to a renewal of a person’s commercial driver license if the department has previously issued or renewed a commercial driver license after September 30, 2005, and, in connection with the previous issuance or renewal, the department recorded on the person’s driving record under s. 343.23 (2) (a) the date on which the operator’s record check under subd. 1. was performed.

343.03(6) (6) Release of records.

343.03(6)(a) (a) Notwithstanding ss. 343.027, 343.14 (2j), and 343.237 (2), the department shall, upon request, provide to the commercial driver license information system and the driver licensing agencies of other jurisdictions any applicant or driver record information maintained by the department of transportation, including providing electronic access to any record or file under s. 343.23 (1) or (2).

343.03(6)(b) (b) The department shall, upon request and within 30 days of the request, provide to the driver licensing agencies of other jurisdictions the driving record of any person currently or previously licensed by the department, as required under 49 CFR 384.206 (a) (2) (iii).

343.03(6)(c) (c) The department shall, upon request and within the time period specified in s. 343.23 (2) (am) 1. b. and c., provide the operating record file information specified in s. 343.23 (2) (am) 1. b. and c. to any of the following requesters:

343.03(6)(c)1. 1. The person holding the commercial driver license.

343.03(6)(c)2. 2. The U.S. secretary of transportation.

343.03(6)(c)3. 3. Any employer or prospective employer of the person holding the commercial driver license, after notice to such person.

343.03(6)(c)4. 4. Any driver licensing agency of another jurisdiction or law enforcement agency.

343.03(6)(c)5. 5. Any governmental entity having access to the commercial driver license information system.

343.03(6)(c)6. 6. Any authorized agent of a requester specified in subds. 1. to 5.

343.03(7) (7) Notification of commercial driver license issuance and certain violations.

343.03(7)(a) (a) The department shall notify the commercial driver license information system within 10 days of an issuance, renewal or reinstatement of a commercial driver license, a commercial driver license upgrade authorizing the operation of a vehicle group not authorized on the prior commercial driver license, and of the surrender of a commercial driver license issued by another state.

343.03(7)(b) (b) Within 10 days after the disqualification of the holder of a commercial driver license from operating a commercial motor vehicle for at least 60 days, or after the revocation, suspension, or cancellation of a commercial driver license for at least 60 days, the department shall notify the commercial driver license information system and, if the license was not issued by the department, the jurisdiction that issued the license of the disqualification, revocation, suspension, or cancellation and the violation that resulted in the disqualification, revocation, suspension, or cancellation.

343.03(7)(c) (c) Within 10 days after a conviction of the holder of a commercial driver license issued by another jurisdiction for violating any state law or local ordinance of this state or any law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with any state law relating to motor vehicle traffic control, other than parking violations, or after a conviction of the holder of an operator’s license issued by another jurisdiction, other than a commercial driver license, for any such violation while operating a commercial motor vehicle, the department shall notify the driver licensing agency of the jurisdiction that issued the license of the conviction.

343.03 History History: 1989 a. 105; 1991 a. 12, 32, 39; 1995 a. 113; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 103; 2011 a. 23, 32; 2015 a. 77, 123; 2019 a. 50.

343.04 343.04 Vehicle classifications.

343.04(1) (1) Vehicle classes. For purposes of this chapter, motor vehicles are divided into the following classes:

343.04(1)(a) (a) Class A. A “Class A” motor vehicle is any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight or registered weight of over 26,000 pounds, if the aggregate total gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight or registered weight of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

343.04(1)(b) (b) Class B. A “Class B” motor vehicle is any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight or registered weight of over 26,000 pounds, and any such vehicle towing a vehicle or vehicles with an aggregate total gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight or registered weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

343.04(1)(c) (c) Class C. A “Class C” motor vehicle is any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight and registered weight of 26,000 pounds or less, including any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight and registered weight of less than 10,000 pounds, if any of the following applies:

343.04(1)(c)1. 1. The vehicle is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

343.04(1)(c)2. 2. The vehicle is transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73.

343.04(1)(d) (d) Class D. A “Class D” vehicle is any motor vehicle not included in par. (a), (b), (c) or (e).

343.04(1)(e) (e) Class M. A “Class M” vehicle is any motorcycle.

343.04(2) (2) Vehicle types. For purposes of this chapter, certain vehicles intended to carry school children or other passengers, or having special operating characteristics, are divided into the following vehicle types specified in pars. (a) to (f):

343.04(2)(a) (a) Hazardous materials transporter. Hazardous materials transporter vehicles are vehicles transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73.

343.04(2)(b) (b) Full air brakes equipped. Full air brakes equipped vehicles are commercial motor vehicles equipped with a braking system operating fully on the air brake principle.

343.04(2)(bm) (bm) Partial air brakes equipped. Partial air brakes equipped vehicles are commercial motor vehicles equipped with a braking system operating partially on the air brake principle and partially on the air over hydraulic brake principle.

343.04(2)(c) (c) Tanks. Tanks are commercial motor vehicles which are tank vehicles.

343.04(2)(d) (d) Passenger carrying. Passenger-carrying vehicles are motor vehicles designed to carry, or actually carrying, 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

343.04(2)(e) (e) School buses. All school buses, including those which are commercial motor vehicles.

343.04(2)(f) (f) Vehicles towing double or triple trailers. Vehicles towing double or triple trailers are commercial motor vehicles with double or triple trailers.

343.04 History History: 1989 a. 105; 1999 a. 140; 2003 a. 33; 2015 a. 123; 2019 a. 50.

subch. II of ch. 343 SUBCHAPTER II

ISSUANCE, EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF LICENSES

343.05 343.05 Operators to be licensed; exceptions.

343.05(1) (1) General provisions.

343.05(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, no person may at any time have more than one operator’s license. This prohibition includes, without limitation, having licenses from more than one state, having licenses under more than one name or birthdate, and having more than one license issued for the operation of different types or classes of vehicles. This paragraph does not apply to any person who has only operator’s licenses issued by this state and by a country, province, or subdivision that is a party to an agreement under s. 343.16 (1) (d).

343.05(1)(c) (c) A person may have both an operator’s license and a duly issued instruction permit allowing restricted operation of a vehicle group not authorized by the license.

343.05(2) (2) Commercial motor vehicles.

343.05(2)(a) (a) No person may operate a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person is one of the following:

343.05(2)(a)1. 1. A resident who is at least 18 years of age, who is not disqualified under s. 343.315, who has a valid commercial driver license which is not revoked, suspended, canceled or expired and, for the operation of any vehicle type under s. 343.04 (2), has an endorsement authorizing operation of the vehicle type.

343.05(2)(a)2. 2. A nonresident who has in his or her immediate possession a valid commercial driver license issued to the person in another jurisdiction or Mexico bearing all endorsements required for the specific class and type of vehicle being operated. A license is not valid under this subdivision if the license is restricted to operation inside the person’s home jurisdiction, or if the person is otherwise violating restrictions or exceeding operating authorization stated on the person’s license. If the nonresident is operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, he or she must be at least 21 years of age.

343.05(2)(a)4. 4. A person with a temporary license under s. 343.305 (8) (a) which expressly authorizes the operation of the applicable class and type of commercial motor vehicle and which is not expired.

343.05(2)(b) (b) This subsection does not apply to a person whose operation of a commercial motor vehicle is subject to waiver under s. 343.055.

343.05(2)(c) (c) A tow truck operator holding a valid commercial driver license who is engaged in the removal of a disabled or wrecked vehicle from the highway or eliminating a hazard is not required to hold an endorsement to his or her commercial driver license regardless of the type of vehicle being towed. This exception to the requirement for an endorsement does not apply to any subsequent towing of the vehicle, including moving the vehicle from one repair facility to another, unless one of the following applies:

343.05(2)(c)1. 1. The tow truck operator is accompanied by a driver who holds the required endorsements.

343.05(2)(c)2. 2. The vehicle is a vehicle that requires a “P” endorsement for its operation.

343.05(3) (3) Noncommercial vehicles. Except as provided in sub. (4):

343.05(3)(a) (a) No person may operate a motor vehicle which is not a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person possesses a valid operator’s license issued to the person by the department which is not revoked, suspended, canceled or expired.

343.05(3)(b) (b) No person may operate a motorcycle unless the person possesses a valid operator’s license specifically authorizing the operation of motorcycles.

343.05(3)(c) (c) No person may operate a moped or motor bicycle unless the person possesses a valid operator’s license or a special restricted operator’s license issued under s. 343.135 or a restricted license issued under s. 343.08. A license under this paragraph does not authorize operation of a moped or motor bicycle if the license is revoked, suspended, canceled or expired.

343.05(4) (4) Exemptions.

343.05(4)(a) (a) The following are exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter:

343.05(4)(a)1. 1. A person in the armed services while operating a motor vehicle owned by or leased to the federal government.

343.05(4)(a)2. 2. A person while temporarily operating or moving a farm tractor or implement of husbandry on a highway between fields or between a farm and a field.

343.05(4)(a)3m. 3m. A person while operating motorized construction equipment. This subdivision does not apply to a truck or a construction vehicle designed for use on a roadway or to any vehicle exceeding a speed of 35 miles per hour.

343.05(4)(b) (b) The following are exempt from the licensing requirements of sub. (3):

343.05(4)(b)1. 1. A nonresident who is at least 16 years of age and who has in his or her immediate possession a valid operator’s license issued to the person in the person’s home jurisdiction.

343.05(4)(b)1m. 1m. A person who operates a limited use off-highway motorcycle, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (o), only as authorized under s. 23.335.

343.05(4)(b)2. 2. Any nonresident of the United States who holds an international driving permit or a valid operator’s license issued by a country which is a signatory to either the 1943 regulation of inter-American automotive traffic or the 1949 Geneva convention on road traffic.

343.05(4)(b)3. 3. Any nonresident of the United States who holds an international driving permit or a valid operator’s license issued by Germany, Mexico, or Switzerland or by any other nation having a reciprocal agreement with the United States concerning driving privileges.

343.05(4)(c) (c) An exemption under par. (b) 2. or 3. applies only for a period of one year after a nonresident’s arrival in the United States.

343.05(5) (5) Penalties.

343.05(5)(ag) (ag) In this subsection, “great bodily harm” has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (14).

343.05(5)(am) (am) Any person who violates sub. (1) or (2) shall be:

343.05(5)(am)1. 1. Fined not less than $200 nor more than $600 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both for the first such violation.

343.05(5)(am)2. 2. Fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not less than 5 days nor more than 6 months or both for the 2nd offense occurring within 3 years.

343.05(5)(am)3. 3. Fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 and imprisoned for not less than 10 days nor more than 6 months for the 3rd or subsequent offense occurring within 3 years.

343.05(5)(b) (b)

343.05(5)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subds. 2. to 5. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) may be required to forfeit not more than $200 for the first offense, may be fined not more than $300 and imprisoned for not more than 30 days for the 2nd offense occurring within 3 years, and may be fined not more than $500 and imprisoned for not more than 6 months for the 3rd or subsequent offense occurring within 3 years. In this paragraph, a violation of a local ordinance in conformity with this section or a violation of a law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with this section shall count as a previous offense.

343.05(5)(b)2. 2. A person whose operator’s license has expired not more than 3 months before a violation of sub. (3) (a) may be required to forfeit not more than $100 for the first offense.

343.05(5)(b)4. 4. Except as provided in subd. 2. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) and, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm to another person is required to forfeit not less than $5,000 nor more than $7,500, except that, if the person knows at the time of the violation that he or she does not possess a valid operator’s license, the person is guilty of a Class I felony.

343.05(5)(b)5. 5. Except as provided in subd. 2. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) and, in the course of the violation, causes the death of another person is required to forfeit not less than $7,500 nor more than $10,000, except that, if the person knows at the time of the violation that he or she does not possess a valid operator’s license, the person is guilty of a Class H felony.

343.05(5)(c) (c) Any person who violates sub. (3) (b) or (c) may be required to forfeit not more than $100.

343.05(6) (6) Other offenses; penalties. Section 343.44 and the penalties thereunder shall apply in lieu of this section to any person operating a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state with an operator’s license which is revoked or suspended.

343.05 History History: 1971 c. 164 s. 83; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 273, 288, 447; 1979 c. 345; 1981 c. 42, 138; 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1983 a. 243, 534, 535, 538; 1985 a. 65; 1989 a. 87, 105, 359; 1991 a. 32, 39; 1995 a. 113, 269, 347; 1997 a. 237; 2005 a. 412; 2009 a. 103, 276; 2011 a. 113; 2013 a. 163; 2015 a. 170; 2019 a. 50.

343.05 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 343.37 for limitations on nonresident operators.

343.05 Annotation The guidelines for operating a commercial vehicle under this section constitute a fundamental public policy to promote highway safety. The discharge of an at-will employee for refusing to violate this section was a wrongful discharge. Kempfer v. Automated Finishing, Inc., 211 Wis. 2d 100, 564 N.W.2d 692 (1997), 95-0649.

343.05 Annotation A person has a privilege, but not a right, to drive a motor vehicle upon a public highway. To exercise that privilege, the person must satisfy the licensing requirements of the state. County of Fond du Lac v. Derksen, 2002 WI App 160, 256 Wis. 2d 490, 647 N.W.2d 922, 01-2870.

343.05 Annotation Summary judgment is inapplicable in hearings under this chapter. State v. Baratka, 2002 WI App 288, 258 Wis. 2d 342, 654 N.W.2d 875, 02-0770.

343.05 Annotation Three-wheeled trucks and automobiles, golf carts, and other special purpose vehicles such as street sweepers, industrial fork-lifts, and motorized wheelbarrows are not motorcycles, and operators are not required to have special driver licenses. 58 Atty. Gen. 17.

343.05 Annotation A driver license authorizing motor-driven cycle operation is not required for the operation of a motor-driven cycle on private property. 64 Atty. Gen. 79.

343.055 343.055 Commercial driver license waivers.