Chapter 23

23.33(9)(bg) (bg) Funding for utility terrain vehicles.

23.33(9)(bg)1. 1. A project to improve or maintain all-terrain vehicle trails for use by utility terrain vehicles is eligible for summer funding as a state utility terrain vehicle project from the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (1) (ms) or for aid as a nonstate utility vehicle project from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.370 (5) (ct) and (cu). The maximum amount allowed for aid under this subdivision is $200 per mile for all-terrain vehicle trails that are maintained not less than 3 months per year including the months of June, July, and August. Beginning on July 7, 2023, the maximum amount allowed for aid under this subdivision is $400 per mile for all-terrain vehicle trails that are maintained at least 3 months per year including the months of June, July, and August.

23.33(9)(bg)2. 2. A project to improve or maintain all-terrain vehicle trails for use by utility terrain vehicles is eligible for winter funding as a state utility terrain vehicle project from the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (1) (ms) or for aid as a nonstate utility vehicle project from the appropriation accounts under s. 20.370 (5) (ct) and (cu). The maximum amount allowed for aid under this subdivision is $100 per mile for all-terrain vehicle trails that are maintained not less than 2 months nor more than 6 months per year including the months of January and February.

23.33(9)(bg)3. 3. If the requests for aid for projects under this paragraph exceed the funds available, the department shall distribute available funds to qualified applicants on a proportional basis.

23.33(10) (10) Liability of landowners. Section 895.52 applies to this section.

23.33(11) (11) Local ordinances.

23.33(11)(a) (a) Counties, towns, cities and villages may enact ordinances regulating all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles on all-terrain vehicle trails maintained by or on all-terrain vehicle routes designated by the county, city, town or village.

23.33(11)(am) (am)

23.33(11)(am)1. 1. Any county, town, city, or village may enact an ordinance that is in strict conformity with this section and rules promulgated by the department under this section if the ordinance encompasses all aspects encompassed by this section, except as provided in subds. 2., 3., and 4. and s. 349.11 (11).

23.33(11)(am)2. 2. For a roadway, or for a portion of a roadway, that is located within the territorial boundaries of a city, village, or town, the city, village, or town may enact an ordinance to authorize the operation of all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles with snow removal devices attached on the roadway, or adjacent to the roadway, if the applicable roadway speed limit is greater than 45 miles per hour, and regardless of whether the city, village, or town has jurisdiction over the roadway.

23.33(11)(am)3. 3. A county, city, village, or town may enact an ordinance to authorize the operation of all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles on a highway bridge that is not part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, that is 1,000 feet in length or less, and that is located within the territorial boundaries of the county, city, village, or town regardless of whether the county, city, village, or town has jurisdiction over the highway. Any such ordinance shall require a person crossing a bridge to do all of the following:

23.33(11)(am)3.a. a. Cross the bridge in the most direct manner practicable and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing.

23.33(11)(am)3.b. b. Stay as far to the right of the roadway or shoulder as practicable.

23.33(11)(am)3.c. c. Stop the vehicle prior to the crossing.

23.33(11)(am)3.d. d. Yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, pedestrians, electric scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices using the roadway or shoulder.

23.33(11)(am)3.e. e. Exit the highway as quickly and safely as practicable after crossing the bridge.

23.33(11)(am)4. 4. A city, village, or town may enact an ordinance to authorize the operation of all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles on a highway that is not part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, that has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less, and that is located within the territorial boundaries of the city, village, or town regardless of whether the city, village, or town has jurisdiction over the highway.

23.33(11)(b) (b) If a county, town, city, or village adopts an ordinance regulating all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, or both, its clerk shall immediately send a copy of the ordinance to the department, to the state traffic patrol, and to the office of any law enforcement agency of each county, town, city, or village having jurisdiction over any of the highways to which the ordinance applies.

23.33(11m) (11m) Exceptions. Subsections (3) (em), (6) (cd), (ch), (cp), and (i), and (6r) do not apply to the operator of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle owned or leased by a city, village, town, county, state agency, federal agency, federally recognized American Indian tribe, public safety corporation, or public utility while the operator is engaged in an emergency.

23.33(12) (12) Enforcement.

23.33(12)(a) (a) An officer of the state traffic patrol under s. 110.07 (1), inspector under s. 110.07 (3), conservation warden appointed by the department under s. 23.10, county sheriff or municipal peace officer has authority and jurisdiction to enforce this section and ordinances enacted in accordance with this section.

23.33(12)(b) (b) No operator of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle may refuse to stop after being requested or signaled to do so by a law enforcement officer or a commission warden, as defined in s. 939.22 (5).

23.33(13) (13) Penalties.

23.33(13)(a) (a) Generally. Except as provided in pars. (am) to (e), any person who violates this section shall forfeit not more than $250.

23.33(13)(am) (am) Penalty related to interference with signs and standards. Except as provided in par. (cg), a person who violates sub. (8) (f) and who, within the last 2 years prior to the arrest for the current violation, was 2 or more times previously convicted for violating a provision of this chapter shall forfeit not more than $500.

23.33(13)(ar) (ar) Penalty related to nonresident trail passes. Any person who violates sub. (2j) shall forfeit not more than $1,000.

23.33(13)(b) (b) Penalties related to intoxicated operation of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle.

23.33(13)(b)1. 1. Except as provided under subds. 2. and 3., a person who violates sub. (4c) (a) 1., 2., or 2m. or (4p) (e) shall forfeit not less than $150 nor more than $300.

23.33(13)(b)2. 2. Except as provided under subd. 3., a person who violates sub. (4c) (a) 1., 2., or 2m. or (4p) (e) and who, within 5 years prior to the arrest for the current violation, was convicted previously under the intoxicated operation of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle law or the refusal law shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,100 and shall be imprisoned not less than 5 days nor more than 6 months.

23.33(13)(b)3. 3. A person who violates sub. (4c) (a) 1., 2., or 2m. or (4p) (e) and who, within 5 years prior to the arrest for the current violation, was convicted 2 or more times previously under the intoxicated operation of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle law or refusal law shall be fined not less than $600 nor more than $2,000 and shall be imprisoned not less than 30 days nor more than one year in the county jail.

23.33(13)(b)4. 4. A person who violates sub. (4c) (a) 3. or (4p) (e) and who has not attained the age of 21 shall forfeit not more than $50.

23.33(13)(bg) (bg) Penalties related to intoxicated operation of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle; underage passengers. If there is a passenger under 16 years of age on the all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle at the time of a violation that gives rise to a conviction under sub. (4c) (a) 1. or 2. or (4p) (e), the applicable minimum and maximum forfeitures, fines, and terms of imprisonment under pars. (b) 1., 2., and 3. for the conviction are doubled.

23.33(13)(br) (br) Penalties related to intoxicated operation of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle; enhancers.

23.33(13)(br)1. 1. If a person convicted under sub. (4c) (a) 1. or 2. had an alcohol concentration of 0.17 to 0.199 at the time of the offense, the minimum and maximum fines specified under par. (b) 3. for the conviction are doubled.

23.33(13)(br)2. 2. If a person convicted under sub. (4c) (a) 1. or 2. had an alcohol concentration of 0.20 to 0.249 at the time of the offense, the minimum and maximum fines specified under par. (b) 3. for the conviction are tripled.

23.33(13)(br)3. 3. If a person convicted under sub. (4c) (a) 1. or 2. had an alcohol concentration of 0.25 or above at the time of the offense, the minimum and maximum fines under par. (b) 3. for the conviction are quadrupled.

23.33(13)(br)4. 4. The increased fines in this paragraph do not apply if the person convicted under sub. (4c) (a) 1. or 2. is subject to par. (bg).

23.33(13)(c) (c) Penalties related to causing injury; intoxicants. A person who violates sub. (4c) (b) shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $2,000 and may be imprisoned not less than 30 days nor more than one year in the county jail.

23.33(13)(cg) (cg) Penalties related to causing death or injury; interference with signs and standards. A person who violates sub. (8) (f) 1. is guilty of a Class H felony if the violation causes the death or injury, as defined in s. 30.67 (3) (b), of another person.

23.33(13)(cm) (cm) Sentence of detention. The legislature intends that courts use the sentencing option under s. 973.03 (4) whenever appropriate for persons subject to par. (b) 2. or 3. or (c). The use of this option can result in significant cost savings for the state and local governments.

23.33(13)(d) (d) Calculation of previous convictions. In determining the number of previous convictions under par. (b) 2. and 3., convictions arising out of the same incident or occurrence shall be counted as one previous conviction.

23.33(13)(dm) (dm) Reporting convictions to the department. Whenever a person is convicted of a violation of the intoxicated operation of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle law, the clerk of the court in which the conviction occurred, or the justice, judge or magistrate of a court not having a clerk, shall forward to the department the record of such conviction. The record of conviction forwarded to the department shall state whether the offender was involved in an accident at the time of the offense.

23.33(13)(e) (e) Alcohol, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs; assessment. In addition to any other penalty or order, a person who violates sub. (4c) (a) or (b) or (4p) (e) or who violates s. 940.09 or 940.25 if the violation involves the operation of an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle, shall be ordered by the court to submit to and comply with an assessment by an approved public treatment facility for an examination of the person’s use of alcohol, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs. The assessment order shall comply with s. 343.30 (1q) (c) 1. a. to c. Intentional failure to comply with an assessment ordered under this paragraph constitutes contempt of court, punishable under ch. 785.

23.33(13)(f) (f) Restoration or replacement of signs and standards. In addition to any other penalty, the court may order the defendant to restore or replace any uniform all-terrain vehicle route or trail sign or standard, or any uniform sign or standard for the operation of a utility terrain vehicle on an all-terrain vehicle route or trail, that the defendant removed, damaged, defaced, moved or obstructed.

23.33 History History: 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 200, 353, 399, 403; 1989 a. 31, 275, 359; 1991 a. 39, 303, 315; 1993 a. 16, 105, 119, 405; 1995 a. 27 ss. 1350 to 1351, 9126 (19); 1995 a. 436, 448; 1997 a. 27, 248, 283; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 90, 106, 109; 2003 a. 30, 97, 251, 326; 2005 a. 25, 253, 481; 2007 a. 20 ss. 664m to 666m, 9121 (6) (a); 2007 a. 27, 209; 2009 a. 85, 175, 252, 367; 2011 a. 35, 51, 208, 258; 2013 a. 15, 20, 67, 83; 2013 a. 165 s. 114; 2013 a. 173, 224, 316; 2015 a. 55, 89, 170, 210; 2017 a. 59, 87, 161, 193, 365; 2019 a. 11, 68, 98, 183; 2021 a. 58, 70, 103, 164, 176; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 19, 64, 67.

23.33 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 64, Wis. adm. code.

23.33 Annotation The safety certificate requirement under sub. (5) is a creation of the legislature, and the legislature has specified who is required to comply with the requirement. When a person is not required to obtain a safety certificate, that person cannot be negligent for failing to do so. Hardy v. Hoefferle, 2007 WI App 264, 306 Wis. 2d 513, 743 N.W.2d 843, 06-2861.

23.33 Annotation County forest roads open to vehicular traffic are highways that can be designated as routes under sub. (8) (b). 77 Atty. Gen. 52.

23.33 Annotation Even if the primary purpose of designating short county highway segments as ATV routes is to allow a private organization to enhance its system of trails that benefit club members and their invitees, such designations will not violate the public purpose doctrine if no county resources are expended and no county expenditures occur as a result of those designations. OAG 3-11.

23.335 23.335 Off-highway motorcycles.

23.335(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

23.335(1)(a) (a) “Accompanied” has the meaning given in s. 23.33 (1) (a).

23.335(1)(b) (b) “Agricultural purpose” includes a purpose related to the transportation of farm implements, equipment, supplies, or products on a farm or between farms.

23.335(1)(c) (c) “Alcohol beverages” has the meaning specified under s. 125.02 (1).

23.335(1)(d) (d) “Alcohol concentration” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (1v).

23.335(1)(dm) (dm) “All-terrain vehicle” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (2g).

23.335(1)(e) (e) “All-terrain vehicle route” has the meaning given in s. 23.33 (1) (c).

23.335(1)(f) (f) “All-terrain vehicle trail” has the meaning given in s. 23.33 (1) (d).

23.335(1)(g) (g) “Approved public treatment facility” has the meaning specified under s. 51.45 (2) (c).

23.335(1)(gk) (gk) “Controlled substance” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4).

23.335(1)(gm) (gm) “Controlled substance analog” has the meaning given in s. 961.01 (4m).

23.335(1)(h) (h) “Electric personal assistive mobility device” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (15pm).

23.335(1)(hh) (hh) “Electric scooter” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (15ps).

23.335(1)(hm) (hm) “Hazardous inhalant” means a substance that is ingested, inhaled, or otherwise introduced into the human body in a manner that does not comply with any cautionary labeling that is required for the substance under s. 100.37 or under federal law, or in a manner that is not intended by the manufacturer of the substance, and that is intended to induce intoxication or elation, to stupefy the central nervous system, or to change the human audio, visual, or mental processes.

23.335(1)(i) (i) “Highway” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (22).

23.335(1)(j) (j) “Immediate family” means persons who are related as spouses, who are related as siblings, or who are related as parent and child.

23.335(1)(k) (k) “Intoxicant” means any alcohol beverage, hazardous inhalant, controlled substance, controlled substance analog, or other drug or any combination thereof.

23.335(1)(L) (L) “Intoxicated operation of an off-highway motorcycle law” means sub. (12) (a) or (b) or a local ordinance in conformity therewith or, if the operation of an off-highway motorcycle is involved, s. 940.09 or 940.25.

23.335(1)(m) (m) “Junked” means dismantled for parts or scrapped.

23.335(1)(n) (n) “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning given in s. 23.33 (1) (ig).

23.335(1)(o) (o) “Limited use off-highway motorcycle” means an off-highway motorcycle that is not registered by the department of transportation for use on highways.

23.335(1)(p) (p) “Local governmental unit” means a city, village, town, or county.

23.335(1)(q) (q) “Off-highway motorcycle” means a 2-wheeled motor vehicle that is straddled by the operator, that is equipped with handlebars, and that is designed for use off a highway, regardless of whether it is also designed for use on a highway. “Off-highway motorcycle” does not include an electric bicycle, as defined under s. 340.01 (15ph).

23.335(1)(qm) (qm) “Off-highway motorcycle association” means a club or other association consisting of individuals that promotes the recreational operation of off-highway motorcycles.

23.335(1)(r) (r) “Off-highway motorcycle club” means a club consisting of individuals that promotes use of off-highway motorcycles for recreational purposes off the highways within this state.

23.335(1)(s) (s) “Off-highway motorcycle corridor” means an off-highway motorcycle trail or other established off-highway motorcycle corridor that is open to the public for the operation of off-highway motorcycles for recreational purposes but does not include an off-highway motorcycle route.

23.335(1)(t) (t) “Off-highway motorcycle dealer” means a person who is engaged in this state in the sale of off-highway motorcycles for a profit at retail.

23.335(1)(u) (u) “Off-highway motorcycle route” means a highway or sidewalk designated for recreational use by operators of off-highway motorcycles by the governmental agency having jurisdiction.

23.335(1)(v) (v) “Off-highway motorcycle trail” means a marked corridor on public property or on private lands subject to public easement or lease, designated for recreational use by operators of off-highway motorcycles by the governmental agency having jurisdiction.

23.335(1)(y) (y) “Off the highways” means off-highway motorcycle corridors, off-highway motorcycle routes, and areas where operation is authorized under sub. (10) or (11).

23.335(1)(z) (z) “Operate” means to exercise physical control over the speed or direction of an off-highway motorcycle or to physically manipulate or activate any of the controls of an off-highway motorcycle necessary to put it in motion.

23.335(1)(zb) (zb) “Operation” means the exercise of physical control over the speed or direction of an off-highway motorcycle or the physical manipulation or activation of any of the controls of an off-highway motorcycle necessary to put it in motion.

23.335(1)(zc) (zc) “Operator” means a person who operates an off-highway motorcycle, who is responsible for the operation of an off-highway motorcycle, or who is supervising the operation of an off-highway motorcycle.

23.335(1)(zd) (zd) “Owner” means a person who has lawful possession of an off-highway motorcycle by virtue of legal title or an equitable interest in the off-highway motorcycle which entitles the person to possession of the off-highway motorcycle.

23.335(1)(zdm) (zdm) “Proof,” when used in reference to evidence of a registration document, safety certificate, nonresident trail pass, or temporary trail use receipt, means the original registration document, safety certificate, nonresident trail pass, or temporary trail use receipt issued by the department or an agent appointed under sub. (4) (f) 2. or (6) (e) 1. or any alternative form of proof designated by rule under s. 23.47 (1).

23.335(1)(ze) (ze) “Purpose of authorized analysis” means for the purpose of determining or obtaining evidence of the presence, quantity, or concentration of any intoxicant in a person’s blood, breath, or urine.

23.335(1)(zf) (zf) “Refusal law” means sub. (12) (h) or a local ordinance in conformity therewith.

23.335(1)(zg) (zg) “Registration document” means an off-highway motorcycle registration certificate, a temporary operating receipt, or a registration decal.

23.335(1)(zgm) (zgm) “Restricted controlled substance” means any of the following: