Chapter 110

110.075 Annotation While it is clear that ss. 110.07 and 110.075 authorize the traffic officers of the state patrol and DOT to make stops and inspections and perhaps arrests for equipment violations, nothing in these statutes limits local law enforcements officers’ powers to do so. A city police officer is a traffic officer under s. 340.01 (70), and because s. 110.075 provides that any traffic officer can stop and inspect vehicles for violations of ch. 110 or rules issued pursuant to ch. 110, and because s. 349.02 (2) permits a police officer to enforce a city ordinance violation upon a reasonable basis to believe a violation has occurred, a city officer had authority to make a stop for violation of an ordinance adopting a safety rule. State v. Bailey, 2009 WI App 140, 321 Wis. 2d 350, 773 N.W.2d 488, 08-3153.

110.08 110.08 State operator’s license examiner system.

110.08(1) (1) The department shall employ a sufficient number of operator’s license examiners. The department may contract for specialists in driver’s license examining to augment the department’s training program for examiners.

110.08(1m) (1m) Each operator’s license examiner shall receive informational training on the powers and duties of the department relating to organ donor information under s. 343.175 once every 2 years and, for operator’s license examiners hired after January 1, 1997, prior to initial assignment to operator’s license examining activities. The informational training under this subsection shall be developed by all organ procurement organizations, as defined in s. 340.01 (41k), in cooperation with the department.

110.08(2) (2) Except as provided under sub. (5) (b) and s. 343.16 (1) (b) to (c), all examinations for operator’s licenses and permits shall be given by state examiners.

110.08(3) (3) The department shall employ state examiners, driver improvement personnel and clerical personnel at local examining centers, under the classified service.

110.08(4) (4) The department shall employ, train and assign sufficient driver improvement personnel to carry out an intensive driver improvement program including the reexamination and personal interview of problem drivers.

110.08(5) (5) 

110.08(5)(a) (a) The department shall provide in each county, directly or by contract as described in par. (b), at least 20 hours per week of services relating to operator’s licenses and identification cards.

110.08(5)(b) (b) The department shall provide the services required under par. (a) by the most cost-effective means possible, which may include contracting with counties or other local governments to provide these services. Notwithstanding any provision of ss. 343.14 and 343.16, a contract between the department and a county or other local government under this paragraph may authorize an employee of the county or local government to conduct any examination for an operator’s license except a driving skills test. The department may require any employee of a county or local government who provides services under a contract entered into under this paragraph to satisfy any requirement under s. 110.09 that would be required of an employee of the department.

110.08 History History: 1971 c. 164; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1050, 1654 (7) (a); 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 32; 1995 a. 113, 446; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32.

110.09 110.09 Background investigations of certain persons.

110.09(1) (1) 

110.09(1)(a) (a) Notwithstanding ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the department of transportation, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall conduct a background investigation of any person who has been selected to fill a position within the division of the department of transportation responsible for issuing operator’s licenses and identification cards. This background investigation may include requiring the person to be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards each bearing a complete set of the person’s fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by law enforcement agencies. The department of justice shall submit any such fingerprint cards to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions.

110.09(1)(b) (b) Notwithstanding ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, at any interval determined appropriate by the department, the department may conduct, in the manner specified in par. (a), additional background investigations of any person for whom an initial background investigation has been conducted under par. (a) and background investigations of other persons employed by the department within the division of the department responsible for issuing operator’s licenses and identification cards.

110.09(1)(c) (c) The department shall promulgate rules governing confidentiality of information obtained under this subsection.

110.09(2) (2) Notwithstanding ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the department shall require, as a precondition to allowing access to any information system in which is stored information maintained by the division of the department responsible for issuing operator’s licenses and identification cards, that any person to whom access is granted submit to a background investigation as provided in this subsection. Notwithstanding ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the department shall require the employer, including any state agency, of any person to whom the information will be made available to conduct the background investigation in a manner prescribed by the department. The department may require, as part of this background investigation, that the person be fingerprinted in the manner described in sub. (1) (a) and that these fingerprints be provided to the department of justice for submission to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions. Notwithstanding ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the department shall require that the employer certify the results of the background investigation and, based upon these results, may deny or restrict access to any information requested. In addition to the initial background investigation required under this subsection, the department may require on a periodic basis subsequent background investigations consistent with this subsection for persons with ongoing access to information. Any cost associated with the requirements under this subsection is the responsibility of the employer. For purposes of this subsection, “employer” includes a self-employed person. The department shall promulgate rules governing background investigations, and confidentiality of information obtained, under this subsection.

110.09 History History: 2007 a. 20.

110.10 110.10 Ignition interlock device program. The department shall promulgate rules providing for the implementation of an ignition interlock device program that will be conveniently available to persons throughout this state. The rules shall include provisions regarding all of the following:

110.10(1) (1) The selection of persons to install, service and remove ignition interlock devices from motor vehicles.

110.10(2) (2) The periodic review of the fees charged to the owner of a vehicle for the installation, service and removal of an ignition interlock device.

110.10(3) (3) Requiring ignition interlock device providers operating in this state to establish pilot programs involving the voluntary use of ignition interlock devices.

110.10(4) (4) Requiring ignition interlock device providers operating in this state to provide the department and law enforcement agencies designated by the department with installation, service, tampering and failure reports in a timely manner.

110.10(4m) (4m) Requiring ignition interlock device providers operating in this state to accept, as payment in full for equipping a motor vehicle with an ignition interlock device and for maintaining the ignition interlock device, the amount ordered by the court under s. 343.301 (3) (b), if applicable.

110.10(5) (5) Requiring ignition interlock device providers to notify the department of any ignition interlock device tampering, circumvention, bypass or violation resets, including all relevant data recorded in the device’s memory. Upon receiving notice described in this subsection, the department shall immediately provide the notice and data to the assessment agency that is administering the violator’s driver safety plan.

110.10 History History: 1999 a. 109, 186; 2009 a. 100.

110.10 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 313, Wis. adm. code.

110.20 110.20 Motor vehicle emission inspection and maintenance program.

110.20(1) (1) Definitions. In this section, unless the context requires otherwise:

110.20(1)(ac) (ac) “Air pollution control equipment” has the meaning given in s. 285.30 (6) (a) 1.

110.20(1)(am) (am) “Federal act” means the federal clean air act, 42 USC 7401 et seq., and regulations issued by the federal environmental protection agency under that act.

110.20(1)(b) (b) “Nonexempt vehicle” means any motor vehicle as defined under s. 340.01 (35) which is owned by the United States or which is required to be registered in this state and to which one or more emission limitations adopted under s. 285.30 (2) applies.

110.20(1)(c) (c) “Nontransient emissions inspection” means an emissions inspection conducted on a vehicle without the use of a chassis dynamometer to vary vehicle engine loads.

110.20(2) (2) Program established. The department shall establish an inspection and maintenance program as provided in this section.

110.20(3) (3) Purpose.

110.20(3)(a) (a) The inspection and maintenance program shall be designed to determine compliance with the emission limitations promulgated under s. 285.30 (2) and compliance with s. 285.30 (6).

110.20(3)(c) (c) The inspection and maintenance program may be designed to provide information on the fuel efficiency of nonexempt vehicles.

110.20(3)(d) (d) The inspection and maintenance program shall be designed and operated to comply with the requirements of the federal act.

110.20(4) (4) Departmental cooperation. The department shall consult and cooperate with the department of natural resources in order to efficiently and fairly establish and administer the program established under this section.

110.20(5) (5) Counties. The department shall operate the inspection and maintenance program in each of the following counties:

110.20(5)(a) (a) Any county identified in a certification under s. 285.30 (3). The department shall terminate the program in the county when the county is withdrawn under s. 285.30 (4). If the program is being operated under contract, termination shall occur at the end of the contractual period in effect.

110.20(5)(b) (b) Any county whose board of supervisors has adopted a resolution requesting the department to establish an inspection and maintenance program in the county for the purpose of improving ambient air quality beyond the standards mandated by section 7409 of the federal act. The department shall terminate the program in the county when the county board adopts a resolution requesting termination of the program. If the program is being operated under contract, termination shall occur at the end of the contractual period in effect.

110.20(6) (6) Mandatory inspection.

110.20(6)(a) (a) The program shall require an emissions inspection under sub. (11) of any nonexempt vehicle customarily kept in a county identified in sub. (5) as follows:

110.20(6)(a)1. 1. For a nonexempt vehicle required to be registered on an annual or other periodic basis in this state, within the period of time specified by the department under sub. (9) (d) prior to renewal of registration in the 4th year after the nonexempt vehicle’s model year and every 2 years thereafter, except as provided in sub. (9) (j).

110.20(6)(a)2. 2. For a nonexempt vehicle required to be registered on an annual or other periodic basis in this state, within the period of time specified by the department under sub. (9) (d) of registration other than renewal if the year of registration is at least 6 years after the nonexempt vehicle’s model year.

110.20(6)(a)3. 3. For a nonexempt vehicle that is registered under s. 341.26 (2m), owned by the United States or subject to one-time registration, at any time during the 4th year following the nonexempt vehicle’s model year and every 2 years thereafter.

110.20(6)(a)4. 4. For a nonexempt vehicle, whenever the owner of the vehicle is notified under sub. (9) (g) that an emissions inspection must be performed.

110.20(6)(b) (b) The program shall require an air pollution control equipment inspection to determine compliance with s. 285.30 (6) of any nonexempt vehicle customarily kept in a county identified in sub. (5) whenever a nontransient emissions inspection is performed or at the time of application for a waiver under sub. (13).

110.20(6m) (6m) Prohibited inspections. The department may not require an emissions inspection of any vehicle prior to the inspection of the vehicle scheduled under sub. (6) (a) 1. or (9) (d) or (j) if an interest in the vehicle is transferred to a surviving spouse under s. 342.17 (4).

110.20(7) (7) Voluntary inspections. The inspection and maintenance program shall require inspection of any nonexempt vehicle which a person presents for inspection at an inspection station or at any other location where, as established under sub. (8) (bm), the vehicle may be inspected.

110.20(8) (8) Contractors and other inspection methods.

110.20(8)(am) (am)

110.20(8)(am)1. 1. The emissions test and equipment inspection of nonexempt vehicles may be performed by persons under contract with the department. Each such contract shall require the contractor to operate inspection stations, which may be permanent or mobile, for a minimum of 3 years and shall provide for equitable compensation to the contractor if the operation of an inspection and maintenance program within any county is terminated within 3 years after the inspection and maintenance program in the county is begun. No officer, director or employee of the contractor may be an employee of the department. The department may contract with any person, including any person engaged in the business of selling, maintaining, or repairing motor vehicles or of selling motor vehicle replacement or repair parts. The department shall require the contractor to operate a sufficient number of inspection stations, permanent or mobile, to ensure public convenience in those counties identified under sub. (5).

110.20(8)(am)1m. 1m. Each contract under subd. 1. may authorize or require the contractor to install and operate self-service inspection stations and may allow the use of different methods for emissions testing and equipment inspection, consistent with methods established under par. (bm), than those used at inspection stations that are not self-service.

110.20(8)(am)2. 2. The department may require the contractor to test the fuel efficiency of nonexempt vehicles during emission inspections.

110.20(8)(am)3. 3. The department may delegate to the contractor specified registration functions of the department under ch. 341. The department may direct the contractor to perform specified registration functions under ch. 341.

110.20(8)(am)4. 4. The department may delegate to the contractor functions associated with the issuance of a temporary operating permit under sub. (10) (b) or the waiver of compliance under sub. (13) (a) or both.

110.20(8)(am)6. 6. The contractor shall collect, maintain and report data as the department requires. The department shall reserve the right to enter and inspect test station premises, equipment and records at all reasonable times in the discharge of its administrative duties.

110.20(8)(am)7. 7. Each contract under subd. 1. may authorize the contractor to enter into subcontracts for the performance of any of the contractor’s functions or duties under the contract. In performing any such function or duty, a subcontractor shall comply with all requirements applicable to the contractor. With the department’s approval, the contractor may subcontract with any person engaged in the business of selling, maintaining, or repairing motor vehicles or of selling motor vehicle replacement or repair parts.

110.20(8)(am)8. 8. Each contract under subd. 1. shall require that, if an emissions inspection is performed by a contractor or subcontractor engaged in the business of selling, maintaining, or repairing motor vehicles or of selling motor vehicle replacement or repair parts and the inspection shows that the vehicle does not comply with applicable emission limitations, the contractor or subcontractor shall advise the vehicle owner as specified in sub. (12).

110.20(8)(bm) (bm) The emissions test and equipment inspection of nonexempt vehicles may be performed by the department or by persons who are not under contract with the department but who are otherwise authorized by the department to perform such testing and inspection. The department may establish methods for emissions testing and equipment inspection by the department or other authorized persons of nonexempt vehicles, in addition to testing and inspection by contractors. These methods may include the installation and operation by the department or other authorized persons of self-service inspection stations and the utilization of any technology related to emissions or data transmission with which motor vehicles may be equipped, including reading and reporting diagnostic codes stored in any on-board diagnostic system capable of monitoring all emission-related engine systems or components. The department may establish methods for emissions testing and equipment inspection specifically applicable to self-service inspection stations, which methods shall apply equally to self-service inspection stations operated by contractors under par. (am) 1m. and self-service inspection stations operated under this paragraph.

110.20(8)(c) (c)

110.20(8)(c)1. 1. Notwithstanding subs. (5), (6), and (9) (d), the department of transportation may, with concurrence of the department of natural resources, grant a temporary exemption for nonexempt vehicles during any period in which the department of transportation is unable to operate an inspection and maintenance program. An exemption granted under this subdivision is valid until the next required inspection of the vehicle required under sub. (6), or until the time given by the department of transportation to complete inspection of the vehicle, whichever occurs first. Notwithstanding subs. (7) and (10m), the department of transportation may deny requests for inspection during any period in which exemptions are granted under this subdivision.

110.20(8)(c)2. 2. For purposes of ss. 341.04 (1), 341.09 (2m) (a) 1. b. and 2. and (9), and 341.65 (2) (e) 2m., an inspection under this section is not required during any period in which a temporary exemption is granted under subd. 1. For purposes of ss. 341.09 (5), 341.10 (10) (intro.), 341.26 (2m) (am), and 341.63 (1) (e), a vehicle does not require inspection under sub. (6) during any period in which a temporary exemption is granted under subd. 1.

110.20(9) (9) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules which:

110.20(9)(a) (a) Specify procedures for the inspection of vehicles, including the method of measuring emissions, the types of equipment which may be used in performing the measurements and the calibration requirements for the equipment. The procedures and methods shall be capable of being correlated with the federal test procedures established under section 7525 of the federal act.

110.20(9)(b) (b) Prescribe a procedure for determining whether the cost of necessary repairs and adjustments exceeds the limit under sub. (13).

110.20(9)(c) (c) Specify procedures under which a vehicle may be refused inspection for safety reasons or for defects which would result in inaccurate measurement of emissions.

110.20(9)(d) (d) Specify a period of time during which an emissions inspection must be performed for a nonexempt vehicle subject to sub. (6) (a) 1. or 2.

110.20(9)(e) (e) Prescribe a procedure for conducting all federally required performance audits of inspection and maintenance program operations and personnel and all enforcement against contractors, and other persons authorized by the department to perform testing and inspection, required by 40 CFR 51.364.

110.20(9)(f) (f) Establish a performance monitoring system to inform the public regarding repair efficacy.

110.20(9)(g) (g) Prescribe a procedure for remote sensing of not less than 0.5 percent of nonexempt vehicles and, for such vehicles that grossly exceed applicable emission limitations, as determined by the department, notifying vehicle owners by mail that an emissions inspection must be performed under sub. (6) (a) 4.

110.20(9)(h) (h) Provide procedures for identifying any nonexempt vehicle subject to a recall by the manufacturer of the vehicle that is related to emissions and ensuring motorist compliance with the recall.

110.20(9)(i) (i) Provide a procedure for detecting and preventing the fraudulent classification of any nonexempt vehicle as a vehicle that is not a nonexempt vehicle.

110.20(9)(j) (j) Prescribe an annual frequency for inspection for any model year subset of nonexempt vehicles if the department determines annual inspection to be appropriate after additional program evaluation.

110.20(9)(k) (k) Prescribe a procedure for any method for emissions testing and equipment inspection established under sub. (8) (bm).

110.20(9)(L) (L) Prescribe procedures for authorizing persons other than contractors, subcontractors of contractors, or the department to perform emission testing and equipment inspection as provided under sub. (8) (bm).

110.20(9)(m) (m) Require each person engaged in the business of selling, maintaining, or repairing motor vehicles or of selling motor vehicle replacement or repair parts, in a county identified in sub. (5), that performs emissions inspections to collect and periodically report to the department information related to vehicle repairs and reinspections after the vehicle has failed an inspection test, including the repairs performed, any technician recommended repairs not performed at the owner’s request, the name and address of the facility that performed the repairs, the name of the individual who performed the repairs, and, if applicable, the identification number of the recognized repair facility or recognized automotive emission repair technician, or both, that performed the repairs. The reports shall also include compiled information containing the number of vehicles submitted for reinspection and percentages indicating the number of vehicles that passed, failed, and received waivers after repair following a failed inspection test. The department shall make information gathered from these reports available to the public.

110.20(9)(n) (n) Prescribe procedures for granting temporary exemptions under sub. (8) (c) 1.

110.20(10) (10) Reciprocity; temporary operating permit and exemptions. The department may promulgate rules which:

110.20(10)(a) (a) Authorize the acceptance of an inspection performed in another state instead of an inspection required under this section if the inspection in the other state was performed under procedures, requirements and standards comparable to those required under this section and it satisfies the requirements of the federal act.

110.20(10)(b) (b) Authorize the issuance of a temporary operating permit, valid for not more than 30 days, to allow time for inspection and necessary repairs and adjustments of any motor vehicle subject to inspection under sub. (6).

110.20(10)(c) (c) Permit a temporary exemption for nonexempt vehicles absent from an emissions inspection area.

110.20(10)(d) (d) Authorize the issuance of a certificate of compliance for nonexempt vehicles that fail the inspection tests under sub. (11) (a) for applicable emission limitations but complete a comprehensive physical and functional diagnostic inspection which indicates that no adjustments or repairs will bring the vehicle into compliance with applicable emissions limitations.

110.20(10m) (10m) Reinspection. The owner of a nonexempt vehicle inspected under this section is entitled, if the inspection determines that any applicable emission limitation is exceeded, to one reinspection of the same vehicle at any inspection station within this state operated by a contractor under sub. (8) (am), or at any other location where, as established under sub. (8) (bm), the vehicle was initially inspected, if the reinspection takes place within 30 days after the initial inspection or the owner presents satisfactory evidence that the repairs and adjustments which were performed on the vehicle could not have been made within 30 days of the initial inspection.

110.20(11) (11) Inspection tests; results.

110.20(11)(a) (a) A contractor shall perform the tests required under the federal act, and any testing and inspection method established under sub. (8) (bm) shall include the tests required under the federal act. The tests shall include one of the approved short tests required by the federal act to determine compliance with applicable emission limitations for carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. The department may require contractors to provide information on the fuel efficiency of the motor vehicle.

110.20(11)(b) (b) The department shall require each contractor to furnish the results of the emissions inspection in writing to the person presenting the vehicle for inspection before he or she departs from the inspection station. For emissions inspections not conducted by a contractor, the department shall require any testing and inspection method established under sub. (8) (bm) to include the contemporaneous furnishing of the results of the emissions inspection in writing to the person having the vehicle inspected. If the inspection shows that the vehicle does not comply with one or more applicable emissions limitations, the results shall include, to the extent possible, a description of the noncompliance and the adjustments or repairs likely to be needed for compliance.