Trans 305.02 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (6),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97;
corrections in (8) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register May 2004 No. 581.
Trans 305.03
Trans 305.03 Enforcement. No person may operate or allow to be operated on Wisconsin highways any vehicle subject to this chapter that is not in conformity with the applicable requirements of this chapter. 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.
Trans 305.03 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.04
Trans 305.04 Penalty. Unless a different penalty is provided by statute, any violation of this chapter shall be punishable as prescribed in s.
110.075 (7), Stats.
Trans 305.04 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.05
Trans 305.05 Definitions. Words and phrases defined in chs.
340 and
341, Stats., are used in the same sense in this chapter unless a different definition is specified. In this chapter:
Trans 305.05(3)
(3) “Auxiliary lamp" means any lamp mounted on a vehicle with a bulb having wattage in excess of 10 watts and which is not required equipment under
ch. 347, Stats., or this chapter, except a spot lamp. Auxiliary lamps may include adverse weather lamps, fog lamps, driving lamps and off-road lamps.
Trans 305.05(4)
(4) “Back-up lamp" means any lamp designed to provide road illumination to the rear of a vehicle when the vehicle is in reverse gear.
Trans 305.05(5)
(5) “Braking system" means the components required to stop a motor vehicle including the braking pedal, master cylinder, connecting hoses, lines, fluids, linkage, drums, shoes, rotors, pads, calipers and parking brake.
Trans 305.05(6)
(6) “Bumper" means a device mounted at the front or rear of a vehicle for absorbing shock and providing a contact point that may reduce damage to the vehicle in a collision.
Trans 305.05(7m)
(7m) “Door handle" means a device including a knob, latch release or lever that is used to open or close, or both, a door either from the interior or exterior of a vehicle.
Trans 305.05(8)
(8) “Driver's compartment" means the interior part of the vehicle designed for use by the vehicle operator while controlling the movement of the vehicle.
Trans 305.05(9)
(9) “Driving lamp" means an auxiliary lamp which projects a fixed narrow beam of light intended to illuminate objects beyond the normal distance illuminated by headlamps.
Trans 305.05(10)
(10) “Exhaust system" means all components used on a motor vehicle for discharging exhaust fumes including mufflers.
Trans 305.05(12)
(12) “Fender" means a guard or covering over the wheels of a vehicle to prevent the splashing of water, mud or other materials which may be thrown by the wheels.
Trans 305.05(13)
(13) “Firewall" means that portion of the vehicle separating the passenger compartment from the engine compartment.
Trans 305.05(14)
(14) “Floor pan" means that portion of a vehicle separating the passenger and trunk compartments from the road beneath a vehicle.
Trans 305.05(15)
(15) “Fog lamp" means an auxiliary lamp using a fluted lens which projects a wide-angle beam of light intended to illuminate objects 400 to 700 feet in front of a vehicle. This lamp is also referred to as an adverse weather lamp.
Trans 305.05(16)
(16) “Frame" means the structure which supports the body, drive train, steering mechanism and axles of the vehicle. The frame includes the structural components of unibodies and may include chassis components if they are an integral part of the structural integrity of the vehicle.
Trans 305.05(17)
(17) “Fuel system" includes the fuel tank, cap, filler pipe, pump, carburetor, injector systems and all accompanying components.
Trans 305.05(18)
(18) “Hazard warning lamps" means lamps that flash simultaneously to the front and rear on both the right and left sides of a motor vehicle to warn motorists of a hazard.
Trans 305.05(19)
(19) “Heavy truck" means a motor truck, truck tractor, or road tractor with a gross vehicle weight rating or actual gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds. The term also includes any combination vehicle where one of the vehicles in the combination is a motor truck, truck tractor or road tractor and the gross combination weight rating or actual weight of the combination exceeds 10,000 pounds.
Trans 305.05(20)
(20) “High-mounted stop lamp" means an additional lamp of a stop lamp system giving a brake-actuated, steady warning light to the rear of the vehicle intended to provide a signal to both the operator of the next following vehicle and through intervening vehicles to the operators of the other following vehicles.
Trans 305.05(22)
(22) “Horn" means a warning device, mounted on a motor vehicle, which produces audible sound.
Trans 305.05(23)
(23) “Immediate family member" means a spouse, child, stepchild, foster child or other dependent if the spouse, child, stepchild, foster child or other dependent resides in the household of the owner of a motor vehicle.
Trans 305.05(24)
(24) “Lash" means the condition in which the steering wheel may be turned through some part of a revolution without associated movement of the wheel or wheels that turn the vehicle.
Trans 305.05(25)
(25) “Light truck" means a motor truck, truck tractor, road tractor or combination vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating or actual gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less.
Trans 305.05(27)
(27) “Nontransparent materials" means all materials, including those that may be sprayed or painted, on motor vehicle glazing, which reduce the amount of visible light passing through the motor vehicle glazing material or otherwise restrict or distort the clear view of any object or person. The term does not include tinted films applied to the interior or exterior surface of motor vehicle glazing material.
Trans 305.05(28)
(28) “Parking lamps" means 2 lamps mounted on the front of a motor vehicle, one on each side, designed to mark the front of the vehicle when parked.
Trans 305.05(30)
(30) “Registration plate lamp" means a lamp designed to illuminate the rear registration plate of a vehicle.
Trans 305.05(32)
(32) “Restraining device" means any device designed to secure persons in the seat of a motor vehicle, including safety belts and airbags, in order to mitigate the results of any accident.
Trans 305.05(34)
(34) “Shock absorbing device" means an energy dissipating device on a vehicle which increases vehicle stability and improves steering, handling and ride performance. It includes shock absorbers and struts.
Trans 305.05(35)
(35) “Side marker lamps" means lamps used on each side of a vehicle to indicate its length and to make the vehicle visible when approaching from the side.
Trans 305.05(36)
(36) “Semitrailer" and “trailer" have the meaning provided in s.
340.01 (57) and
(71), Stats., except that for purposes of this chapter, the terms include mobile homes.
Trans 305.05(38)
(38) “Steering wheel" means a circular device mounted on the steering shaft in the driver's compartment of a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, for use by the driver to maneuver the steering system of a motor vehicle.
Trans 305.05(40)
(40) “Suspension system" means that portion of a vehicle between the frame and the axles including, but not limited to, springs, torsion bars, shackles, shock absorbers, cross stabilization bars, anti-sway bars, and all attachment parts.
Trans 305.05(41)
(41) “Tire and rim" means the rubber tire and its mounting surface on which the vehicle is suspended. The component parts are defined as follows:
Trans 305.05(41)(a)
(a) “Bead" means the part of the tire which is shaped to fit the rim, made of high-tensile steel wire wrapped and reinforced by the plies.
Trans 305.05(41)(b)
(b) “Belt" means the layer or layers made of fabric or other material located under the tread area.
Trans 305.05(41)(c)
(c) “Cord" means the textile or steel wire strands, or the like, forming the plies or other structure of the tire.
Trans 305.05(41)(e)
(e) “Major tire groove" means the circular grooves where the wear indicator bars are located.
Trans 305.05(41)(f)
(f) “Ply" means the layer of rubber-coated parallel strands or cords forming the tire body.
Trans 305.05(41)(g)
(g) “Rib" means the tread section running around the circumference of the tire.
Trans 305.05(41)(h)
(h) “Rim" means the metal support for tire and tube assembly. Tire beads are seated on the rim.
Trans 305.05(41)(j)
(j) “Tread" means the portion of the tire that comes in contact with the road.
Trans 305.05(42)
(42) “Windshield" means the transparent shield of safety glass mounted forward of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle other than a motor driven cycle.
Trans 305.05(43)
(43) “Windshield critical area" means that portion of a motor vehicle windshield normally used by the driver for necessary observations to the front of the vehicle. This includes the areas normally swept by a factory installed windshield wiper system.
Trans 305.05 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (19), r. (24) and (25), renum. (26) to (36m) to be (24) to (36) and am. (25),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97; corrections in (2) and (11) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, April, 1999, No. 520, eff. 5-1-99;
CR 01-120: cr. (7m)
Register May 2002 No. 557, eff. 6-1-02.
Trans 305.06
Trans 305.06 Identification of vehicles. No person may operate a vehicle on a highway if:
Trans 305.06(1)
(1) The vehicle identification number is missing, obliterated, altered or not properly attached.
Trans 305.06(2)
(2) The vehicle is a homemade, reconstructed or replica vehicle and does not have a vehicle identification number assigned by a manufacturer or by the department.
Trans 305.06 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.065
Trans 305.065 Homemade, replica, street modified, reconstructed and off-road vehicles. Trans 305.065(1)
(1)
Inspection. Upon completion of assembly or reconstruction, every homemade or reconstructed vehicle shall be inspected prior to being registered or titled for compliance with this chapter,
ch. Trans 149 and
ch. 347, Stats. The inspection shall be performed by an inspector authorized by the department to perform inspections of salvage vehicles under s.
342.07, Stats. This subsection does not apply to trailers or semitrailers.
Trans 305.065(2)(a)(a) Homemade and reconstructed vehicles. The department shall issue a title indicating that a vehicle is a homemade or reconstructed vehicle where the make of the vehicle would otherwise be shown on the title. The model year shown on the title shall match the calendar year of the inspection performed under this section.
Trans 305.065(2)(b)
(b) Replica and street modified vehicles. The department shall issue a title indicating that a vehicle, except a motorcycle, is a replica or street modified vehicle and the make and model year shown on the title shall be the original make and model year of the street modified vehicle or the make and model year of the vehicle being replicated. The installation of reproduction body parts on a previously manufactured and titled vehicle body and frame is not considered by the department to constitute a replica vehicle for purposes of identifying the vehicle on its title. A vehicle shall be considered a replica or a street modified vehicle if it has been certified by the owner to be a replica or a street modified vehicle for purposes of registration under s.
341.268, Stats. A vehicle shall also be considered a street modified vehicle if the vehicle's engine has been replaced with one which required adaptation beyond ordinary replacement.
Trans 305.065(3)
(3) Registration. As provided in s.
341.10 (6), Stats., no vehicle originally designed and manufactured for off-highway use may be registered by the department unless it bears the label required by section 114 of the national traffic and motor vehicle safety act of 1966, as amended. The label shall be affixed by the original manufacturer and shall certify that at the time of manufacture the vehicle met all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. Vehicles generally not eligible to be registered include, but are not limited to, mini-bikes, go-carts, all-terrain vehicles, and utility terrain vehicles.
Trans 305.065 Note
Note: Section 114 of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, as amended, has been recodified at 49 USCA 30101 et seq.
49 CFR Part 567 establishes standards for the location and contents of the required label.
Trans 305.065 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (1) and (2) (b),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97;
CR 03-122: am. (1) and (2) (b)
Register May 2004 No. 581, eff. 6-1-04;
2013 Wis. Act 363: am. (3) Register May 2014 No. 701, eff. 6-1-14. Trans 305.07
Trans 305.07 Definitions. For purposes of this subchapter, “motor vehicle" means automobiles, motor homes and light trucks.
Trans 305.07 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.075(1)
(1) Auxiliary lamps that are fog lamps or adverse weather lamps may not be used in lieu of headlamps during those times when headlamps are required except as expressly allowed by s.
347.26 (3), Stats. Other auxiliary lamps may not be used in lieu of headlamps.
Trans 305.075(2)
(2) Unless specifically permitted by this chapter or by
ch. 347, Stats., no motor vehicle may be operated upon a highway with a lighted auxiliary lamp unless the auxiliary lamp:
Trans 305.075(2)(a)
(a) Is mounted below the level of the center of the headlamps, except that when added equipment, such as a snow plow, blocks the transmission of light from factory installed headlights, alternate headlights may be mounted above the factory installed headlights and may temporarily be used during the time the light obstructing equipment is in place.
Trans 305.075(2)(c)
(c) Every auxiliary lamp shall be properly aimed so as to conform with manufacturers recommendations, and so that glaring light rays from the auxiliary lamp are not directed into the eyes of an approaching driver.
Trans 305.075(2)(d)
(d) Meets the photometric specifications in SAE technical reports J581, J582 and J583 for auxiliary driving lamps, auxiliary low beam lamps or front fog lamps.
Trans 305.075 Note
Note: SAE Standard J581 was approved in March 1979 and completely revised by the Lighting Coordinating Committee in June 1989. SAE Recommended Practice J582 was approved in January 1981 and completely revised by the Lighting Committee in September 1984. SAE Standard J583 was approved in May 1937 and completely revised by the Lighting Committee in July 1977 with an editorial change in May 1981. The SAE standards, published in the 1994 SAE Handbook, are available in the offices of the Department of Transportation, the Secretary of State, and the Legislative Reference Bureau. These standards may also be purchased from the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.
Trans 305.075(3)
(3) Whenever the operator of a vehicle equipped with auxiliary lamps projecting a beam beyond that of the vehicle's low beam headlamps approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet, or approaches or follows another vehicle within 500 feet, the operator shall extinguish the auxiliary lamps in order to prevent glaring rays being directed into the eyes of the operator of another vehicle.
Trans 305.075(4)
(4) Adverse weather lamps shall be mounted below a horizontal line between the centers of the headlamps. If equipped with 2 adverse weather lamps, they shall be mounted on the same horizontal plane and on opposite sides of the center of the vehicle.
Trans 305.075(5)
(5) Motor vehicles may be equipped with auxiliary off-road lamps that may face to the front or rear of the vehicle. The lamps shall be wired independently of all other lighting circuits and may not be lighted when the vehicle is operated or driven upon a highway.
Trans 305.075 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (1) and (5), renum. (2) (c) to be (2) (d), cr. (2) (c),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.
