This is the preview version of the Wisconsin State Legislature site.
Please see http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov for the production version.
The bill specifically prohibits using a wireless telephone while driving a motor
vehicle in an emergency or roadside response area. The penalty for a violation of this
prohibition is the same as is provided for the offense described above.
Also under current law, local authorities may post temporary reduced speed
limits on highways under construction or repair. The bill allows law enforcement
officers, fire fighters, or emergency medical responders to post temporary reduced
speed limits in response to an emergency.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB297,1 1Section 1 . 340.01 (15pu) of the statutes is created to read:
AB297,2,42 340.01 (15pu) “Emergency or roadside response area” means the section of
3roadway within 500 feet of an authorized emergency vehicle giving a visible signal
4or a tow truck displaying flashing red lamps, as required by s. 347.26 (6) (b).
AB297,2 5Section 2 . 346.17 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 346.17 (5) (a) and amended
6to read:
AB297,3,27 346.17 (5) (a) If Except as provided in par. (b), if an operator of a vehicle violates
8s. 346.04 (1) or (2) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or
9construction area or in a , utility work area, or emergency or roadside response area

1are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified
2in sub. (1) for the violation shall be doubled.
AB297,3 3Section 3 . 346.17 (5) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB297,3,124 346.17 (5) (b) If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.04 (1) or (2) where
5persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, utility
6work area, or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic and the
7violation results in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4), to another, the operator
8may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or
9both. In addition to the penalties specified under this paragraph, a court may also
10order a person convicted under this paragraph to perform not fewer than 100 nor
11more than 200 hours of community service work and attend traffic safety school, as
12provided under s. 345.60.
AB297,4 13Section 4 . 346.22 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 346.22 (1) (b) 1. and
14amended to read:
AB297,3,1915 346.22 (1) (b) 1. If Except as provided in subd. 2., if an operator of a vehicle
16violates s. 346.18 (6) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or
17construction area or in a , utility work area, or emergency or roadside response area
18are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified
19in par. (a), (c), (d), or (e) for the violation shall be doubled.
AB297,5 20Section 5 . 346.22 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB297,4,421 346.22 (1) (b) 2. If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.18 (6) where persons
22engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, utility work area,
23or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic and the violation
24results in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4), to another, the operator may be
25fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or both. In

1addition to the penalties specified under this subdivision, a court may also order a
2person convicted under this subdivision to perform not fewer than 100 nor more than
3200 hours of community service work and attend traffic safety school, as provided
4under s. 345.60.
AB297,6 5Section 6 . 346.43 (1) (b) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 346.43 (1) (b) 3. a. and
6amended to read:
AB297,4,117 346.43 (1) (b) 3. a. If Except as provided in subd. 3. b., if an operator of a vehicle
8violates s. 346.37 or 346.39 where persons engaged in work in a highway
9maintenance or construction area or in a , utility work area, or emergency or roadside
10response area
are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum
11forfeiture specified in subd. 1. for the violation shall be doubled.
AB297,7 12Section 7 . 346.43 (1) (b) 3. b. of the statutes is created to read:
AB297,4,2113 346.43 (1) (b) 3. b. If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.37 or 346.39 where
14persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, utility
15work area, or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic and the
16violation results in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4), to another, the operator
17may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or
18both. In addition to the penalties specified under this subd. 3. b., a court may also
19order a person convicted under this subd. 3. b. to perform not fewer than 100 nor more
20than 200 hours of community service work and attend traffic safety school, as
21provided under s. 345.60.
AB297,8 22Section 8 . 346.43 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB297,4,2523 346.43 (4) (a) If Except as provided in sub. (1) (b) 3. b., if a person violates s.
24346.37 (1) (a) 1., (c) 3., or (d) 1. or 346.39 (1) and the violation results in great bodily
25harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (14), to another, the person shall forfeit $500.
AB297,9
1Section 9. 346.43 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB297,5,42 346.43 (4) (b) If Except as provided in sub. (1) (b) 3. b., if a person violates s.
3346.37 (1) (a) 1., (c) 3., or (d) 1. or 346.39 (1) and the violation results in death to
4another, the person shall forfeit $1,000.
AB297,10 5Section 10 . 346.49 (1) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 346.49 (1) (c) 1. and
6amended to read:
AB297,5,117 346.49 (1) (c) 1. If Except as provided in subd. 2., if an operator of a vehicle
8violates s. 346.46 (1) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or
9construction area or in a , utility work area, or emergency or roadside response area
10are at risk from traffic, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified
11in par. (a) for the violation shall be doubled.
AB297,11 12Section 11 . 346.49 (1) (c) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB297,5,2113 346.49 (1) (c) 2. If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.46 (1) where persons
14engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, utility work area,
15or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic and the violation
16results in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4), to another, the operator may be
17fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or both. In
18addition to the penalties specified under this subdivision, a court may also order a
19person convicted under this subdivision to perform not fewer than 100 nor more than
20200 hours of community service work and attend traffic safety school, as provided
21under s. 345.60.
AB297,12 22Section 12 . 346.49 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB297,5,2523 346.49 (5) (a) If Except as provided in sub. (1) (c) 2., if a person violates s. 346.46
24(1) or (4) (a) or 346.47 (1) or (2) and the violation results in great bodily harm, as
25defined in s. 939.22 (14), to another, the person shall forfeit $500.
AB297,13
1Section 13. 346.49 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB297,6,42 346.49 (5) (b) If Except as provided in sub. (1) (c) 2., if a person violates s. 346.46
3(1) or (4) (a) or 346.47 (1) or (2) and the violation results in death to another, the
4person shall forfeit $1,000.
AB297,14 5Section 14 . 346.60 (3m) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 346.60 (3m) (a) 1.
6and amended to read:
AB297,6,137 346.60 (3m) (a) 1. If Except as provided in subd. 2., if an operator of a vehicle
8violates s. 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h), or (5) where persons engaged in work in a
9highway maintenance or construction area or in a , utility work area, or emergency
10or roadside response area
are at risk from traffic or where sanitation workers are at
11risk from traffic and the operator knows or should know that sanitation workers are
12present, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in sub. (2) or (3)
13for the violation shall be doubled.
AB297,15 14Section 15 . 346.60 (3m) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB297,6,2315 346.60 (3m) (a) 2. If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d)
16to (h), or (5) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or
17construction area, utility work area, or emergency or roadside response area are at
18risk from traffic and the violation results in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4),
19to another, the operator may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not
20more than 9 months, or both. In addition to the penalties specified under this
21subdivision, a court may also order a person convicted under this subdivision to
22perform not fewer than 100 nor more than 200 hours of community service work and
23attend traffic safety school, as provided under s. 345.60.
AB297,16 24Section 16 . 346.65 (5m) of the statutes is renumbered 346.65 (5m) (a) and
25amended to read:
AB297,7,7
1346.65 (5m) (a) If Except as provided in par. (b), if an operator of a vehicle
2violates s. 346.62 (2) to (4) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance
3or construction area or in a , utility work area, or emergency or roadside response
4area
are at risk from traffic or where sanitation workers are at risk from traffic and
5the operator knows or should know that sanitation workers are present, any
6applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture or fine specified in sub. (1), (3), (4m),
7or (5) for the violation shall be doubled.
AB297,17 8Section 17 . 346.65 (5m) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB297,7,179 346.65 (5m) (b) If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.62 (2) to (3) where
10persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, utility
11work area, or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic and the
12violation results in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4), to another, the operator
13may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or
14both. In addition to the penalties specified under this paragraph, a court may also
15order a person convicted under this paragraph to perform not fewer than 100 nor
16more than 200 hours of community service work and attend traffic safety school, as
17provided under s. 345.60.
AB297,18 18Section 18 . 346.89 (4m) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB297,8,219 346.89 (4m) No person may drive, as defined in s. 343.305 (1) (b), any motor
20vehicle while using a cellular or other wireless telephone, including using the
21telephone for a purpose other than communication, where persons engaged in work
22in a highway maintenance or construction area or in a , utility work area, or
23emergency or roadside response area
are at risk from traffic, except to report an
24emergency. This subsection does not apply to the use of a voice-operated or

1hands-free device if the driver of the motor vehicle does not use his or her hands to
2operate the device, except to activate or deactivate a feature or function of the device.
AB297,19 3Section 19. 349.06 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB297,8,124 349.06 (3) If an operator of a vehicle violates a local ordinance in strict
5conformity with s. 346.04 (1) or (2), 346.18 (6), 346.27, 346.37, 346.39, 346.46 (1),
6346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h), or (5), or 346.62 (2) where persons engaged in work in
7a highway maintenance or construction area or in a , utility work area, or emergency
8or roadside response area
are at risk from traffic or violates a local ordinance in strict
9conformity with s. 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h), or (5) or 346.62 (2) where sanitation
10workers are at risk from traffic and the operator knows or should know that
11sanitation workers are present, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture
12for the violation shall be doubled.
AB297,20 13Section 20. 349.11 (10) of the statutes is renumbered 349.11 (10) (a) and
14amended to read:
AB297,8,2515 349.11 (10) (a) Notwithstanding any speed limits imposed under this section
16or under s. 346.57, if a highway is being constructed, reconstructed, maintained, or
17repaired, local authorities with respect to highways under their jurisdiction, any
18county highway committee performing maintenance on the state trunk highway
19system under s. 84.07, and any local authority with respect to highways not under
20its jurisdiction that are being constructed, reconstructed, maintained , or repaired by
21the local authority may, for the safety of the highway construction and maintenance
22workers, pedestrians, and highway users, post a temporary speed limit less than the
23speed limit imposed under this section or under s. 346.57. The temporary limits may
24be posted for the duration of the construction, reconstruction, maintenance, or repair
25period.
AB297,9,4
1(c) Temporary speed limits imposed under this subsection may be posted with
2signs on portable supports. When portable supports are used under this subsection,
3the bottom of the sign shall be not less than one foot above the surface of the
4pavement or shoulder.
AB297,21 5Section 21. 349.11 (10) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB297,9,96 349.11 (10) (b) Notwithstanding any speed limits imposed under this section
7or under s. 346.57, a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, or emergency medical
8responder may post a temporary speed limit less than the speed limit imposed under
9this section or under s. 346.57 in reasonable response to an emergency.
AB297,22 10Section 22 . Nonstatutory provisions.
AB297,9,1611 (1) In the 2021-23 fiscal biennium, the department of transportation shall
12conduct an advertising campaign to acquaint the public with the hazards posed by
13highway construction and maintenance areas, utility areas, and emergency or
14roadside response areas and the traffic laws and associated penalties related to
15highway construction and maintenance areas, utility areas, and emergency or
16roadside response areas.
AB297,23 17Section 23. Initial applicability.
AB297,9,1918 (1) This act first applies to violations committed on the effective date of this
19subsection.
AB297,9,2020 (End)
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