Chapter 167

167.26(2m)(a)2. 2. Providing a written warning notice to each owner of riparian property on the lake.

167.26(2m)(b) (b) Each warning notice placed by a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district or a nonprofit membership corporation under par. (a) 1. shall meet all of the following requirements:

167.26(2m)(b)1. 1. The size, lettering, and format of each notice shall be designed so as to make the notice readable by the public at a distance of 60 feet.

167.26(2m)(b)2. 2. Each notice shall contain the wording “DANGER — OPEN WATER,” “WARNING — ICE HOLES,” or “DANGER — THIN ICE” or wording of a similar nature.

167.26(2m)(b)3. 3. Each notice shall replicate the wording required under subd. 2. so that the wording on each notice is visible from the shoreline and from the water.

167.26(2m)(b)4. 4. Each notice shall be made of durable material and lettering and shall be replaced as necessary so that the notice remains readable throughout the winter season.

167.26(2m)(b)5. 5. The notices shall be placed no later than December 15 of each winter season.

167.26(2m)(c) (c) The written notices provided to each owner of riparian property by a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district or a nonprofit membership corporation under par. (a) 2. shall be provided no later than December 15 of each winter season.

167.26(3) (3) 

167.26(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a person barricading or marking an ice hole or opening in the manner specified in this section, or erecting a warning device or posting a notice for an ice hole or opening in the manner specified in this section, shall be exempt from liability for injury to or the death of any person or for damage to any property that results from creating the ice hole or opening.

167.26(3)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (c), a member of a qualified lake association or of a nonprofit membership corporation shall be exempt from any liability incurred by the qualified lake association or nonprofit membership corporation in creating an ice hole or opening that is subject to the barricading, fencing, or warning requirements under this section.

167.26(3)(c) (c) Any riparian property owner who is aware of the existence of an ice hole or opening in the stream, pond, or lake to which his or her riparian property abuts shall not be exempt from liability as provided in par. (a) if the owner fails to warn a person to whom the owner has given permission to cross the property in order to have access to the stream, pond, or lake by doing one of the following:

167.26(3)(c)1. 1. Directly warning the person of the existence of the ice hole or opening.

167.26(3)(c)2. 2. Posting a warning notice on the property that complies with the requirements specified under sub. (2m) (b) 1. to 5.

167.26(4) (4) This section shall not apply to ice holes caused by hydroelectric dams or by air bubbler systems installed by the corps of engineers for navigational purposes.

167.26(5) (5) This section shall apply to all navigable or public waters of the state.

167.26(6) (6) Any person violating sub. (1g), (1m), (2), or (2m) shall be imprisoned for not more than 6 months or fined not more than $100. Any person who removes a barricade, fencing, a warning notice, or a warning mechanism or other barrier or marking that complies with this section during the period beginning with December 15 of a given year and ending on March 30 of the following year may be imprisoned for not more than 6 months or fined not more than $100.

167.26 History History: 1975 c. 296; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 269; 1993 a. 133, 213, 491; 1997 a. 167; 2005 a. 395.

167.27 167.27 Capping and filling wells or similar structures.

167.27(1) (1) This section applies only to counties of a population of 750,000 or more.

167.27(2) (2) The owner of any real estate shall securely protect any well, seepage pit, cistern, cesspool, septic tank, or other similar structures in active use with a cover of concrete, metal or wood covered with sheet metal, securely fastened and of sufficient weight so it cannot be removed by small children and so as to make it free from danger to persons going upon such real estate.

167.27(3) (3) Whenever any shallow dug well, seepage pit, cistern, cesspool or septic tank is abandoned or its use discontinued, the owner of the real estate upon which it is located shall promptly fill the same to grade.

167.27(4) (4) Whenever any drilled, bored or deep dug well, except test wells of 10 inches or less in diameter, is abandoned or its use discontinued, the owner of the real estate upon which it is located shall promptly fill the same, either with alternate layers of sand or clay and concrete, and seal with a concrete cover at least 5 inches thick, or in accordance with recommendations of the department of health services.

167.27(5) (5) Whenever any mine shaft, exploration shaft or test well is abandoned or its use discontinued, the operator or contractor shall promptly fill same to grade or enclose the same with a fence of strong woven wire not less than 46 inches wide with one barbwire above or cap same with a reinforced concrete slab at least 6 inches thick or with a native boulder at least 3 times the diameter of the top of the shaft or test well bore. The strands of the woven wire shall not be smaller than No. 12 wire and the cross wires and meshes shall not be smaller than No. 16 wire; the strands shall not be more than 12 inches apart, and the meshes shall not exceed 8 inches square. All wires must be tightly stretched and securely fastened to sufficient posts firmly set not more than 8 feet apart. In case any person shall neglect to repair or rebuild such fence which the person is so required to build and maintain, any person may complain to the department of safety and professional services or to the local governing body, which shall give notice in writing to the person who is required to build and maintain such fence. The department of safety and professional services or the local governing body shall then proceed to examine the fence, and if it shall determine that such fence is insufficient, it shall notify the person responsible for its erection and maintenance and direct the person to repair or rebuild the fence within such time as it shall deem reasonable. Any person refusing to comply with such order shall be subject to the penalties provided.

167.27(6) (6) Existing abandoned mine shafts, exploration shafts or test wells shall be securely protected by owner of the real estate upon which it is located.

167.27(7) (7) Any person violating this section shall be fined not less than $10 nor more than $200 or imprisoned not exceeding 6 months, or both.

167.27(8) (8) Any violation of this section coming to the attention of the department of safety and professional services or municipal authorities shall be reported to the attorney general or district attorney for prosecution.

167.27 History History: 1993 a. 482; 1995 a. 27 ss. 4471, 4472, 9116 (5) and 9126 (19); 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2011 a. 32; 2017 a. 207 s. 5.

167.30 167.30 Use of firearms, etc., near park, etc.

167.30(1) (1) Any person who shall discharge or cause the discharge of any missile from any firearm, slung shot, bow and arrow or other weapon, within 40 rods of any public park, square or enclosure owned or controlled by any municipality within this state and resorted to for recreation or pleasure, when such park, square or enclosure is wholly situated without the limits of such municipality, shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 60 days or by fine of not more than $25 nor less than one dollar.

167.30(2) (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the discharge of a firearm if the actor’s conduct is justified or, had it been subject to a criminal penalty, would have been subject to a defense described in s. 939.45.

167.30 History History: 2011 a. 35.

167.31 167.31 Safe use and transportation of firearms and bows.

167.31(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

167.31(1)(a) (a) “Aircraft” has the meaning given under s. 114.002 (3).

167.31(1)(am) (am) “Airgun” has the meaning given in s. 29.001 (7).

167.31(1)(b) (b) “Encased” means enclosed in a case that is completely zipped, snapped, buckled, tied or otherwise fastened with no part of the firearm exposed.

167.31(1)(bg) (bg) “Family member of the landowner” means a person who is related to the landowner as a parent, child, spouse, or sibling.

167.31(1)(bn) (bn) “Farm tractor” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (16).

167.31(1)(c) (c) “Firearm” means a weapon that acts by force of gunpowder.

167.31(1)(cm) (cm) “Handgun” has the meaning given in s. 175.60 (1) (bm).

167.31(1)(d) (d) “Highway” has the meaning given under s. 340.01 (22).

167.31(1)(dm) (dm) “Implement of husbandry” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (24).

167.31(1)(e) (e) “Motorboat” has the meaning given under s. 30.50 (6).

167.31(1)(em) (em) “Peace officer” has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (22).

167.31(1)(et) (et) “Private security person” has the meaning given in s. 440.26 (1m).

167.31(1)(f) (f) “Roadway” has the meaning given under s. 340.01 (54).

167.31(1)(fg) (fg) “Stationary” means not moving, regardless of whether the motor is running.

167.31(1)(fm) (fm) “Street” means a highway that is within the corporate limits of a city or village.

167.31(1)(fr) (fr) “Transmission facility” means any pipe, pipeline, duct, wire, cable, line, conduit, pole, tower, equipment, or other structure used to transmit or distribute electricity to or for the public or to transmit or distribute communications or data to or from the public.

167.31(1)(g) (g) “Unloaded” means any of the following:

167.31(1)(g)1. 1. Having no shell or cartridge in the chamber of a firearm or in the magazine attached to a firearm.

167.31(1)(g)2. 2. In the case of a cap lock muzzle-loading firearm, having the cap removed.

167.31(1)(g)3. 3. In the case of a flint lock muzzle-loading firearm, having the flashpan cleaned of powder.

167.31(1)(g)4. 4. In the case of an electronic ignition muzzle-loading firearm, having the battery removed and disconnected from the firearm.

167.31(1)(h) (h) “Vehicle” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (74), but includes a snowmobile, as defined in s. 340.01 (58a), an all-terrain vehicle, as defined in s. 340.01 (2g), an electric scooter, as defined in s. 340.01 (15ps), and an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined in s. 340.01 (15pm), except that for purposes of subs. (4) (c) and (cg) and (4m) “vehicle” has the meaning given for “motor vehicle” in s. 29.001 (57).

167.31(2) (2) Prohibitions; motorboats and vehicles; highways and roadways.

167.31(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (4), no person may place, possess, or transport a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a motorboat with the motor running, unless one of the following applies:

167.31(2)(a)1. 1. The firearm is unloaded or is a handgun.

167.31(2)(a)2. 2. The bow does not have an arrow nocked.

167.31(2)(a)3. 3. The crossbow is not cocked or is unloaded.

167.31(2)(b) (b) Except as provided in sub. (4), no person may place, possess, or transport a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a vehicle, unless one of the following applies:

167.31(2)(b)1. 1. The firearm is unloaded or is a handgun.

167.31(2)(b)2. 2. The bow does not have an arrow nocked.

167.31(2)(b)3. 3. The crossbow is not cocked or is unloaded.

167.31(2)(c) (c) Except as provided in sub. (4), no person may load a firearm, other than a handgun, in a vehicle or discharge a firearm or airgun or shoot a bolt or an arrow from a bow or crossbow in or from a vehicle.

167.31(2)(d) (d) Except as provided in sub. (4) (a), (bg), (cg), (e), (fm), (g), and (k), no person may discharge a firearm or airgun or shoot a bolt or an arrow from a bow or crossbow from or across a highway or within 50 feet of the center of a roadway.

167.31(2)(e) (e) A person who violates pars. (a) to (d) is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $100.

167.31(3) (3) Prohibitions; aircraft.

167.31(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (4), no person may do any of the following:

167.31(3)(a)1. 1. Place, possess, or transport a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a commercial aircraft, unless the firearm is unloaded and encased or unless the bow or crossbow is unstrung or is enclosed in a carrying case.

167.31(3)(a)2. 2. Place, possess, or transport a firearm, bow, or crossbow in or on a noncommercial aircraft, unless the firearm is unloaded and encased or the firearm is a handgun or unless the bow or crossbow is unstrung or is enclosed in a carrying case.

167.31(3)(b) (b) Except as provided in sub. (4), no person may load or discharge a firearm or airgun or shoot a bolt or an arrow from a bow or crossbow in or from an aircraft.

167.31(3)(c) (c) A person who violates par. (a) or (b) shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 90 days or both.

167.31(3m) (3m) Prohibitions; transmission facilities.

167.31(3m)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (4) (b) and (h), no person may intentionally discharge a firearm or airgun in the direction of a transmission facility.

167.31(3m)(b) (b) A person who violates par. (a) and causes damage to a transmission facility is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $100.

167.31(3m)(c) (c) In addition to any forfeiture imposed under par. (b), the court shall revoke any hunting license under ch. 29 that is issued to the person found in violation for a period of one year.

167.31(3m)(d) (d) In addition to any forfeiture imposed under par. (b) and the revocation required under par. (c), the court shall enter a restitution order that requires the defendant to pay to the owner of the transmission facility the reasonable cost of the repair or replacement of the transmission facility.

167.31(4) (4) Exceptions.

167.31(4)(a) (a) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to any of the following who, in the line of duty, place, possess, transport, load or discharge a firearm or airgun in, on or from a vehicle, motorboat or aircraft or discharge a firearm or airgun from or across a highway or within 50 feet of the center of a roadway:

167.31(4)(a)2. 2. A member of the U.S. armed forces.

167.31(4)(a)3. 3. A member of the national guard.

167.31(4)(a)4. 4. A private security person who meets all of the following requirements:

167.31(4)(a)4.a. a. He or she holds either a private detective license issued under s. 440.26 (2) (a) 2. or a private security permit issued under s. 440.26 (5).

167.31(4)(a)4.b. b. He or she holds a certificate of proficiency to carry a firearm issued by the department of safety and professional services.

167.31(4)(a)4.c. c. He or she is performing his or her assigned duties or responsibilities.

167.31(4)(a)4.d. d. He or she is wearing a uniform that clearly identifies him or her as a private security person.

167.31(4)(a)4.e. e. His or her firearm is in plain view, as defined by rule by the department of safety and professional services.