Chapter 340

340.01(47e)(b) (b) The entire section of roadway within 500 feet of a railroad employee using flags to signal the presence of a railroad train or other railroad vehicle or railroad employees.

340.01(47e)(c) (c) In the case of a moving vehicle engaged in railroad maintenance or construction work, that section of roadway where the normal flow of traffic is first altered by the vehicle until that section of roadway where traffic may return to its normal flow without impeding such work.

340.01(47m) (47m) “Railroad track equipment” means a device that is operated on rails and used primarily for the maintenance of railroads.

340.01(48) (48) “Railroad train” means every device with or without engine or motor and whether or not coupled to other similar devices, operated upon rails for the transporting of persons or property.

340.01(48m) (48m) “Record of conviction” means a report of conviction furnished to the department by a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state or by another jurisdiction or as required by chs. 340 to 349 and 351.

340.01(48r) (48r) “Recreational vehicle” means a vehicle that is designed to be towed upon a highway by a motor vehicle, that is equipped and used, or intended to be used, primarily for temporary or recreational human habitation, and that does not exceed 46 feet in length. “Recreational vehicle” includes a camping trailer, 5th-wheel recreational vehicle, park model recreational vehicle, as defined in s. 218.10 (7m), and travel trailer, as defined in s. 218.10 (8v).

340.01(49) (49) “Reflector” means a device designed to warn an approaching driver by reflected light from the headlamps on the approaching vehicle.

340.01(50) (50) “Residence district” means the territory contiguous to a highway not comprising a business district where the frontage on such highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is mainly occupied by dwellings or by dwellings and buildings in use for business.

340.01(50m) (50m) “Restricted controlled substance” means any of the following:

340.01(50m)(a) (a) A controlled substance included in schedule I under ch. 961 other than a tetrahydrocannabinol.

340.01(50m)(am) (am) The heroin metabolite 6-monoacetylmorphine.

340.01(50m)(b) (b) A controlled substance analog, as defined in s. 961.01 (4m), of a controlled substance described in par. (a).

340.01(50m)(c) (c) Cocaine or any of its metabolites.

340.01(50m)(d) (d) Methamphetamine.

340.01(50m)(e) (e) Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, excluding its precursors or metabolites, at a concentration of one or more nanograms per milliliter of a person’s blood.

340.01(51) (51) “Right-of-way” means the privilege of the immediate use of the roadway.

340.01(52) (52) “Road machinery” means a piece of mobile machinery or equipment not covered by s. 341.26 (1) (d), such as ditch digging apparatus, power shovels, drag lines and earth-moving equipment, or a piece of road construction or maintenance machinery, such as asphalt spreaders, bituminous mixers, bucket loaders, ditchers, leveling graders, finishing machines, motor graders, paving mixers, road rollers, scarifiers, gravel crushers, screening plants, scrapers, tractors, earth movers, front- or rear-end loaders, conveyors, road pavers, or construction shacks. The foregoing enumeration is intended to be illustrative and does not exclude other similar vehicles which are within the general terms of this subsection, whether used for road construction and maintenance or not, which are not designed or used primarily for transportation of persons or property and only incidentally operated or moved upon a highway.

340.01(53) (53) “Road tractor” means a motor vehicle designed and used for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon either independently or any part of the weight of the vehicle or load so drawn.

340.01(54) (54) “Roadway” means that portion of a highway between the regularly established curb lines or that portion which is improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, excluding the berm or shoulder. In a divided highway the term “roadway” refers to each roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.

340.01(55) (55) “Safety zone” means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians, including those about to board or alighting from public conveyances, and which is protected or is so marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times while set apart as a safety zone.

340.01(55g) (55g) “Salvage vehicle” means a vehicle less than 7 years old that is not precluded from subsequent registration and titling and that is damaged by collision or other occurrence to the extent that the estimated or actual cost, whichever is greater, of repairing the vehicle exceeds 70 percent of its fair market value. The term does not include a hail-damaged vehicle unless the vehicle is repaired with any replacement part, as defined in s. 632.38 (1) (e).

340.01(55r) (55r) “Salvage vehicle purchaser” means a person, including an insurer or motor vehicle dealer, who purchases or otherwise obtains possession of a salvage vehicle.

340.01(55u) (55u) “Sanitation worker” means an individual engaged in the collection and transport of solid waste and recyclables.

340.01(56) (56) “School bus”:

340.01(56)(a) (a) Means a motor vehicle which carries 10 or more passengers in addition to the operator or a motor vehicle painted in accordance with s. 347.44 (1) for the purpose of transporting:

340.01(56)(a)1. 1. Pupils to or from a public school as defined in s. 115.01 (1) or a private school as defined in s. 115.001 (3r) or pupils to or from a technical college when required under s. 118.15 (1).

340.01(56)(a)2. 2. Pupils to or from curricular or extracurricular activities.

340.01(56)(a)3. 3. Pupils to or from religious instruction on days when school is in session.

340.01(56)(a)4. 4. Children with disabilities, as defined under s. 115.76 (5), to or from an educational program approved by the department of public instruction.

340.01(56)(am) (am) Means a motor vehicle which is painted in accordance with s. 347.44 (1) and is used for the purpose of transporting individuals with disabilities as defined in s. 85.22 (2) (bm) or seniors as defined in s. 85.22 (2) (d) in connection with any transportation assistance program for seniors or individuals with disabilities.

340.01(56)(b) (b) Does not include:

340.01(56)(b)1. 1. A motor vehicle owned or operated by a parent or guardian transporting only his or her own children, regardless of whether a school has made a contract with or paid compensation to such parent or guardian for such transportation.

340.01(56)(b)2. 2. A motor vehicle operated as an alternative method of transportation under s. 121.555.

340.01(56)(b)3. 3. A motor bus operated for purposes specified in par. (a) 2.

340.01(56)(b)4. 4. A motor vehicle operated in an urban mass transit system as defined in s. 85.20 (1) (e) and (L).

340.01(56f) (56f) “Secretary” means the secretary of transportation.

340.01(56m) (56m) “Secured party” has the meaning given in s. 409.102 (1) (rs).

340.01(56n) (56n) “Security agreement” has the meaning given in s. 409.102 (1) (s).

340.01(56o) (56o) “Security interest” means a security interest as defined in s. 401.201 (2) (t).

340.01(57) (57) “Semitrailer” means a vehicle of the trailer type so designed and used in conjunction with a motor vehicle that some part of its own weight and that of its own load rests upon or is carried by another vehicle, but does not include a mobile home. A vehicle used with a ready-mix motor truck to spread the load is considered a semitrailer.

340.01(57m) (57m) “Service road” means every highway that runs generally parallel to but is separated from the main roadway by a physical barrier and primarily intended to provide access to the abutting property and not for use of through traffic.

340.01(58) (58) “Sidewalk” means that portion of a highway between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, constructed for use of pedestrians.

340.01(58a) (58a) “Snowmobile” means an engine-driven vehicle that is manufactured solely for snowmobiling, that has an endless belt tread and sled-type runners, or skis, to be used in contact with snow but does not include such a vehicle that is any of the following:

340.01(58a)(a) (a) A vehicle that has inflatable tires.

340.01(58a)(b) (b) A vehicle that is driven by a motor of 4 horsepower or less and that is operated in sanctioned races, derbies, competitions or exhibitions or only on private property.

340.01(59) (59) “Spotlamp” means an auxiliary driving lamp used primarily to supplement the headlamps in providing general illumination ahead of the vehicle, usually mounted and designed so it can be controlled by the operator of the vehicle for the purpose of reading signs and illuminating objects to the side of or beyond the scope of the regular headlamp beams.

340.01(59m) (59m) “Stand or standing” means the temporary halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except for the purpose of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers.

340.01(60) (60) “State trunk highway” means any highway designated pursuant to s. 84.02 or 84.29 as part of the state trunk highway system, exclusive of connecting highways.

340.01(62) (62) “Stop” when required means complete cessation from movement.

340.01(63) (63) “Stop lamp” means a device giving a steady warning light to the rear of a vehicle to indicate the intention of the operator of the vehicle to diminish speed or stop.

340.01(64) (64) “Street” means every highway within the corporate limits of a city or village except alleys.

340.01(66) (66) “Tail lamp” means a device to designate the rear of a vehicle by a warning light.

340.01(67) (67) “Through highway” means every highway or portion thereof which has been declared by the state or local authorities pursuant to s. 349.07 to be a through highway and at the entrances to which vehicular traffic from intersecting highways is required by traffic control signals or stop signs to stop.

340.01(67m) (67m) “Tour trains” means 3 or less trailer type vehicles designed for carrying passengers on educational or recreational excursions, not exceeding a maximum overall length of 50 feet, including the propelling motor vehicle, for being drawn individually or in tandem by a motor vehicle.

340.01(67n) (67n) “Tow truck” means a motor vehicle that is equipped with mechanical or hydraulic lifting devices or winches capable of, and used for, the recovery or transport or both of wrecked, disabled, abandoned, used or replacement vehicles.

340.01(67r) (67r) “Tractor-semitrailer combination” means a combination of 2 vehicles consisting of either a truck tractor and a semitrailer or a road tractor and a semitrailer.

340.01(68) (68) “Traffic” means pedestrians, ridden or herded or driven animals, vehicles and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using any highway for the purpose of travel.

340.01(69) (69) “Traffic control signal” means any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed.

340.01(70) (70) “Traffic officer” means every officer authorized by law to direct or regulate traffic or to make arrests for violation of traffic regulations and also includes, for purposes of enforcing s. 346.505 (2) or any local ordinance in conformity with s. 346.505 (2) or any prohibition established under s. 349.13 (1m), any person who is employed by a municipality or county and is designated by that municipality or county as authorized to enforce violations of s. 346.505 (2) or a local ordinance in conformity with s. 346.505 (2) or any prohibition established under s. 349.13 (1m).

340.01(71) (71) “Trailer” means a vehicle without motive power designed for carrying property or passengers wholly on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, but does not include a mobile home.

340.01(71n) (71n) “Transferee” means any person, including the state and its political subdivisions, to whom ownership of a motor vehicle is transferred by purchase, gift or any means other than by creation of a security interest or who, as agent, signs a mileage disclosure statement required under s. 342.155 for such person.

340.01(71p) (71p) “Transferor” means any person, including the state and its political subdivisions, a dealer, an auction company acting as an agent, a motor vehicle salvage pool, an insurance company or a leasing or rental company with respect to motor vehicle sales, who transfers his or her ownership in a motor vehicle by sale, gift or any means other than by creation of a security interest or who, as agent, signs a mileage disclosure statement required under s. 342.155 for such person.

340.01(72) (72) “Transporter” means any of the following:

340.01(72)(a) (a) A person who is engaged in this state in the business of transporting and delivering motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers or recreational vehicles in tow on their own wheels or under their own power from a distributor, a dealer, the manufacturer, or a branch of the manufacturer to the purchaser, or from any location to a distributor, a dealer, the manufacturer, or a branch of the manufacturer, and who is a 3rd party with no ownership interest in the vehicles.

340.01(72)(b) (b) A person who manufactures or installs on previously assembled truck chassis special bodies or equipment which when installed form an integral part of the motor vehicle and which constitutes a major manufacturing alteration, or who is engaged in modifying or converting previously assembled or manufactured complete motor vehicles, but who is not the owner of the vehicles on which manufacturing operations were performed by that person, if incidental to manufacturing operations the person transports motor vehicles in tow on their own wheels or under their own power between the person’s place of business and manufacturers, dealers and distributors, or delivers them to purchasers.

340.01(72m) (72m) “Transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding” means transporting any material that is classified in 49 CFR 173.2 in a vehicle that is required to be placarded as provided in 49 CFR 172.504.

340.01(73) (73) “Truck tractor” means a motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.

340.01(73m) (73m) “Utility work area” means the entire section of roadway between the first advance warning sign of work on a utility facility, as defined in s. 30.40 (19), or on a high-voltage transmission line, as defined in s. 30.40 (3r), and an “END UTILITY WORK” sign, where the signs are placed according to rules of the department, or, in the case of a moving vehicle engaged in work on such a utility facility or high-voltage transmission line, that section of roadway where traffic may return to its normal flow without impeding such work.

340.01(73r) (73r) “U-turn” means the turning of a vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction.

340.01(74) (74) “Vehicle” means every device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except railroad trains. A snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle, a personal delivery device, an electric scooter, and an electric personal assistive mobility device shall not be considered a vehicle except for purposes made specifically applicable by statute.

340.01(74m) (74m) “Vehicle group” means a class or type of vehicle with certain operating characteristics.

340.01(74p) (74p) “Vulnerable highway user” means any of the following:

340.01(74p)(a) (a) A pedestrian.

340.01(74p)(b) (b) A bicyclist.

340.01(74p)(c) (c) An operator of a moped, electric scooter, electric bicycle, or motor bicycle.

340.01(74p)(d) (d) An operator of, or passenger on, an animal-drawn vehicle, farm tractor, farm truck tractor, farm trailer, or implement of husbandry.

340.01(74p)(e) (e) A person riding upon in-line skates, a horse, or a play vehicle.

340.01(74p)(f) (f) A law enforcement officer, traffic officer, fire fighter, or emergency medical services practitioner, as defined in s. 256.01 (5), while performing his or her official duties.

340.01(74p)(g) (g) A person who is rendering medical or emergency assistance to another person.

340.01(74t) (74t) “Wholesaler” has the meaning given in s. 218.0101 (6).

340.01(75) (75) “Yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian” means the operator of a vehicle is required to reduce speed, or stop if necessary, to avoid endangering, colliding with or interfering in any way with pedestrian travel.

340.01 History History: 1971 c. 100 s. 23; 1971 c. 201, 211, 233, 277, 307; 1973 c. 86, 157, 182, 185, 272, 333, 335; 1973 c. 336 s. 79; 1975 c. 25, 120, 121, 136, 192, 199, 320, 326; 1975 c. 429 ss. 2m, 2r, 3, 4, 8, 9; 1977 c. 5; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1405 to 1410, 1654 (3); 1977 c. 30 s. 5; 1977 c. 43, 55, 57, 116, 193, 272, 288, 418; 1979 c. 36, 221; 1979 c. 333 s. 5; 1979 c. 345; 1981 c. 20, 159, 329; 1983 a. 27, 78, 124, 130, 175; 1983 a. 189 ss. 249, 329 (17m), (24); 1983 a. 223, 227, 243, 270, 457, 459; 1983 a. 512 s. 8; 1983 a. 538; 1985 a. 29, 65; 1985 a. 146 s. 8; 1985 a. 165, 187, 287; 1987 a. 259, 270, 349, 399; 1989 a. 31; 1989 a. 75 s. 1; 1989 a. 102; 1989 a. 105 ss. 13 to 30, 37, 41, 42; 1989 a. 134, 170; 1991 a. 39, 239, 269, 277, 316; 1993 a. 15, 16, 63, 159, 198, 213, 246, 260, 399, 436, 490; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 36, 77, 113, 138, 225, 436, 448; 1997 a. 27, 164, 252, 277; 1999 a. 9, 31, 80, 85, 109, 140; 2001 a. 10, 16, 90, 102, 105, 109; 2003 a. 30, 33, 97, 192, 320, 321; 2005 a. 455; 2007 a. 11; 2007 a. 20 ss. 3190m, 3190p, 3220c; 2007 a. 27; 2007 a. 33 s. 8; 2007 a. 130, 175; 2009 a. 85, 97, 100, 122, 177, 311, 320; 2011 a. 32, 73, 101, 208, 265; 2013 a. 39, 67, 83, 103, 106, 165, 253, 325, 377; 2015 a. 15, 16, 55, 73, 104, 124, 165, 196, 232, 332; 2017 a. 12, 13, 364; 2017 a. 365 s. 110; 2019 a. 11, 34, 50, 68, 183; 2021 a. 115; 2021 a. 238 s. 45; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2021 a. 258; 2023 a. 159, 164.

340.01 Annotation Legislative Council Note, 1977: The definitions of “park and parking” in sub. (42m) and “stand or standing” in (59m) are derived from ss. 1-141 and 1-168, respectively, of the Uniform Vehicle Code (1968 revised edition; suppl. I, 1972). The principal difference between “parking” and “standing”, as defined, is that “standing” infers a temporary cessation of movement other than for purposes of and while actually engaged in receiving or discharging passengers while “parking” infers a protracted cessation of movement for purposes other than temporarily halting to load or unload property or passengers. See the note to s. 349.13 (1) for further explanation. [Bill 465-A]

340.01 Annotation Dry and liquid fertilizer applicators were implements of husbandry under sub. (24). Wisconsin Fertilizer Ass’n v. Karns, 52 Wis. 2d 309, 190 N.W.2d 513 (1971).

340.01 Annotation Petroleum bulk storage tanks are “buildings in use for business” under sub. (6). Billingsley v. Zickert, 72 Wis. 2d 156, 240 N.W.2d 375 (1976).

340.01 Annotation Where frontage roads were immediately adjacent and parallel to a paved highway, a single intersection with outside boundaries being the two outer boundaries of the frontage roads existed for sign placement purposes under subs. (22), (25), and (54). Weiss v. City of Milwaukee, 79 Wis. 2d 213, 255 N.W.2d 496 (1977).

340.01 Annotation Roads on the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus are not highways under sub. (22); they are “private roads or driveways” under sub. (46). The motor vehicle code does not apply to them. Henkel v. Phillips, 82 Wis. 2d 27, 260 N.W.2d 653 (1978).

340.01 Annotation “Highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of a public road, the entire right-of-way. E.J.H. v. State, 112 Wis. 2d 439, 334 N.W.2d 77 (1983).

340.01 Annotation A segment of a “state trunk highway” under sub. (60) upgraded to freeway or expressway status remains a part of the state trunk highway system. Seefeldt v. DOT, 113 Wis. 2d 212, 336 N.W.2d 182 (Ct. App. 1983).