March 21, 2025 - Introduced by Senator Bradley, cosponsored by Representatives Maxey, Donovan, Piwowarczyk, Rodriguez, Dittrich, Gundrum, Gustafson, Knodl, Kreibich, Mursau, Penterman, B. Jacobson and O'Connor. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
SB141,1,3
1An Act to amend 343.45 (3) and 343.46 (4); to create 343.45 (2m) and 343.46 2(2m) of the statutes; relating to: allowing an unlicensed person to use a motor
3vehicle and providing a penalty. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a person who owns or is in control of a motor vehicle is prohibited from allowing another person to operate the vehicle if the vehicle operator is not authorized to operate a motor vehicle. Current law also prohibits a person from renting a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to another person who is not authorized to operate a motor vehicle. A violation of either prohibition is a forfeiture of not more than $100.
This bill increases the penalty for both violations to a fine not to exceed $1,000 for a first offense and not to exceed $10,000 for a second or subsequent offense. The bill also provides that the prohibitions apply irrespective of whether the person permitting the operation of a motor vehicle had actual knowledge of the vehicle operator’s authorization to operate a motor vehicle.
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.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SB141,1
1Section 1. 343.45 (2m) of the statutes is created to read: SB141,2,42343.45 (2m) Subsections (1) and (2) apply irrespective of whether the person 3authorizing or permitting the operation of a motor vehicle had actual knowledge of 4the vehicle operator’s authorization under this chapter to operate a motor vehicle. SB141,25Section 2. 343.45 (3) of the statutes is amended to read: SB141,2,96343.45 (3) Except as another penalty is provided by s. 343.245 (4) (b), any 7person violating this section may be required to forfeit not more than $100 is subject 8to a fine not to exceed $1,000 for a first offense and not to exceed $10,000 for a 2nd 9or subsequent offense. SB141,310Section 3. 343.46 (2m) of the statutes is created to read: SB141,2,1311343.46 (2m) Subsection (1) applies irrespective of whether the person renting 12a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to another had actual knowledge of the 13vehicle operator’s authorization under this chapter to operate a motor vehicle. SB141,414Section 4. 343.46 (4) of the statutes is amended to read: SB141,2,1715343.46 (4) Any person violating this section may be required to forfeit not 16more than $100 is subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 for a first offense and not to 17exceed $10,000 for a 2nd or subsequent offense. SB141,518Section 5. Initial applicability. SB141,2,2019(1) This act first applies to a violation committed on the effective date of this 20subsection.
