Trans 305.40(1)
(1) A fender over each rear wheel is required on every motorcycle except those originally manufactured without a rear fender. A front fender is required on every motorcycle manufactured after March 1, 1996. The fender shall cover the complete tread width area of the tire and lengthwise from 15
° to the front and 60
° to the rear when measured at the center of the axle to the top of the tire on a vertical plane.
Trans 305.40(2)
(2) Every type 2 motorcycle shall be equipped with a rear bumper which meets the requirements for a homemade or reconstructed vehicle under
s. Trans 305.18.
Trans 305.40 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.41(1)
(1) The fuel system on every motorcycle shall be free of leaks.
Trans 305.41(2)
(2) Every fuel tank shall have a cap or positive closing device.
Trans 305.41(3)
(3) No fuel tank may be used for operation of the motorcycle except one produced by a manufacturer of fuel tanks for motorcycles or one that meets or exceeds industry standards for commercially manufactured tanks.
Trans 305.41 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.42(1)(1) Every motorcycle shall be equipped with a horn which is securely attached to the cycle and is in conformity with this section and s.
347.38, Stats.
Trans 305.42(2)
(2) The horn shall be activated by use of a button to make the electrical connection and shall be maintained in proper working condition.
Trans 305.42 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.43(1)
(1) Every motorcycle shall be equipped with all lighting devices required by
ch. 347, Stats. In addition, every motorcycle manufactured after January 1, 1972, shall be equipped with 2 amber direction signal lamps on the front and 2 direction signal lamps on the rear which may be red or amber.
Trans 305.43(2)
(2) A motorcycle may be equipped with no more than 2 auxiliary lamps, including auxiliary lamps on a side car.
Trans 305.43(3)
(3) Motorcycles and attached sidecars may be equipped with marker lamps provided that:
Trans 305.43(3)(b)
(b) No marker lamp interferes with the visibility of a headlamp, tail lamp, stop lamp or direction signal.
Trans 305.43(3)(c)
(c) No lamp shows a color except red to the rear and amber to the front.
Trans 305.43(4)
(4) All lighting devices shall be maintained in proper working condition and in conformity with
ch. 347, Stats. All wiring and connections shall be maintained in good condition and there shall be no cracked, broken or missing lenses or reflectors.
Trans 305.43 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.44
Trans 305.44 Mirrors. Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one mirror meeting the requirements of s.
347.40, Stats., and
s. Trans 305.26.
Trans 305.44 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.45(1)
(1) A type 1 motorcycle may be equipped with one sidecar securely attached to the frame of the motorcycle. A sidecar may only be attached to the right side of the motorcycle.
Trans 305.45(2)
(2) A tail lamp and stop lamp or a combination lamp performing both functions meeting the requirements of ss.
347.13 (1) and
347.14 (2), Stats., shall be mounted on the rear of any side car. A sidecar may be equipped with a headlamp if the headlamp is mounted as required by s.
347.09 (2), Stats.
Trans 305.45 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.46(1)
(1) Any motorcycle with a front suspension system modified before January 1, 1976, may have a rake of no more than 55 degrees, provided the trail is at least 2 inches.
Trans 305.46(2)
(2) Any motorcycle, commencing with the 1976 models, may be modified to cause the front suspension system to have a rake of no more than 50 degrees, provided the trail is at least 2 inches.
Trans 305.46(3)(a)
(a) “Rake" means the angle formed by the front suspension, or “forks," and a vertical line drawn from the top of the front “forks" perpendicular to the ground.
Trans 305.46(3)(b)
(b) “Trail" means the distance from a point on the roadway directly underneath the center of the front wheel to the projected point where an extension of the front frame through the fork head would intersect the roadway.
Trans 305.46(4)
(4) Every motorcycle shall be equipped with a shock absorbing front suspension system.
Trans 305.46(4)(a)
(a) The main tubes or the individual sliding tubes on a telescoping front suspension system shall be of one piece construction. Screw-on extensions, or “slugs," are prohibited.
Trans 305.46 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.47
Trans 305.47 Tires, wheels and rims. The tires of every motorcycle and of any attached sidecar or trailer shall meet the requirements of
s. Trans 305.30.
Trans 305.47 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.48
Trans 305.48 Definitions. For purposes of this subchapter, “vehicle" means heavy trucks, trailers and semitrailers.
Trans 305.48 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.485(1)
(1) The following sections of subch.
II apply to heavy trucks, trailers and semitrailers:
Trans 305.485 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (2) (a), renum. (2) (b) to (e) to be (2) (f), (g), (i) and (j), cr. (2) (b) to (e) and (h),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.
Trans 305.49(1)
(1) When a vehicle is equipped with an axle or axles that raises or lowers by means of air pressure, spring force or hydraulic pressure, the control valves shall be installed as follows:
Trans 305.49(1)(a)
(a) The control valve that regulates the amount of pressure shall be mounted outside of the driver's compartment.
Trans 305.49(1)(b)
(b) The control valve that regulates the movement of the axle or axles so as to raise or lower the axle or axles may be in the driver's compartment.
Trans 305.49(2)
(2) This section applies to vehicles manufactured commencing with the 1998 model year.
Trans 305.49 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (2),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.
Trans 305.50
Trans 305.50 Bed and body on trailers and semitrailers. The bed or body of a trailer or semitrailer may not contain holes, cracks or other openings which would allow the vehicle contents to drop, leak or spill upon the highway.
Trans 305.50 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am.
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.
Trans 305.51
Trans 305.51 Brakes on heavy trucks, trailers and semitrailers. Trans 305.51(1)(1) The brake system on every heavy truck, trailer or semitrailer required by s.
347.35 (3), Stats., to have brakes shall be maintained in proper working condition and in conformity with this section.
Trans 305.51(2)
(2) Every heavy truck, semitrailer or trailer over 10,000 pounds gross weight and required to have brakes shall have braking ability on every wheel, except as exempted by
s. Trans 327.03 (4) or other applicable law.
Trans 305.51(3)
(3) No person may operate any heavy truck, trailer or semitrailer upon a highway if:
Trans 305.51(3)(b)
(b) The brake lining, pads, drums or rotors on any wheel are worn below the manufacturer's recommended minimum operating level;
Trans 305.51(3)(d)
(d) The cables are frayed or hoses are abraded, damaged, deteriorated or leaking; or
Trans 305.51(3)(e)
(e) There is visual evidence of leakage of grease, oil or brake fluid that may have contaminated the braking surface.
Trans 305.51(4)
(4) This section does not apply to any trailer or semi-trailer when its actual gross weight is less than 3,000 pounds, or to farm trailers.
Trans 305.51 Note
Note: Ch.
Trans 308 establishes requirements as to the design, type and performance standards of brakes required by s.
347.35 (3), Stats., on trailers and semitrailers. Section
347.36, Stats., also establishes minimum performance standards for brakes on combinations of vehicles.
Trans 305.51 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (1) to (3) (intro.),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.
Trans 305.52(1)
(1) When 2 or more vehicles are operated in combination, the coupling devices connecting the vehicles shall be designed, constructed and installed and the vehicles shall be designed and constructed, so that when the combination is operated in a straight line on a level, smooth, paved surface, the path of the towed vehicle will not deviate more than 3 inches to either side of the path of the vehicle that tows it.
Trans 305.52 Note
Note: Ch.
Trans 308 establishes requirements as to the type, design and strength of couplings, safety chains, leveling bars and cables required by s.
347.47, Stats., on trailers, semitrailers and mobile homes.
Trans 305.52(3)
(3) When used as part of a fifth wheel assembly on a truck tractor, the king pin shall fit snugly into the upper and lower halves, but may not bind.
Trans 305.52 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; am. (3),
Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97.
Trans 305.53
Trans 305.53 Fenders and mud guards. Every trailer or semi-trailer shall be equipped with adequate fenders to cover the tires, except when the construction of the trailer or semitrailer is such that the body, bed, load, or load-carrying area covers the tires. Semitrailers operated in intercity movement and not equipped with dump bodies shall have sufficient mud guards as specified in s.
347.46 (2), Stats., unless exempted under s.
347.46 (2) (c), Stats.
Trans 305.53 History
History: Cr.
Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.
Trans 305.54
Trans 305.54 Frames on heavy trucks, trailers and semi-trailers. Trans 305.54(1)(1) No frame may be repaired, modified or altered, nor may additional support be added to a frame, if the structural integrity or alignment of the vehicle is adversely affected.
Trans 305.54(2)
(2) No frame may be rusted, damaged or cracked to the extent that it no longer properly supports the vehicle or the load carried on the vehicle.