Chapter 343

GENERAL PROVISIONS

343.01 343.01 Words and phrases defined.

343.01(1) (1) Words and phrases defined in s. 340.01 are used in the same sense in this chapter unless a different definition is specifically provided.

343.01(2) (2) In this chapter and ch. 344 the following words and phrases have the designated meanings:

343.01(2)(cb) (cb) “Motorized construction equipment” means motor-driven construction equipment designed principally for off-road use, including a motorscraper, backhoe, motorgrader, compacter, excavator, tractor, trencher and bulldozer.

343.01(2)(cg) (cg) “Moving violation” means a violation of ch. 110, of ch. 194 or of chs. 341 to 349 and 351, or a local ordinance in conformity therewith or a law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with one or more provisions of ch. 110, of ch. 194 or of chs. 341 to 349 and 351, or the laws of another jurisdiction for which being on duty time with respect to a commercial motor vehicle or driving or operating a motor vehicle is an element of the offense.

343.01(2)(cr) (cr) “Occupational license” means an operator’s license, issued in accordance with s. 343.10, which confers only limited authorization to operate a motor vehicle and imposes specified restrictions.

343.01(2)(d) (d) “Photograph” means an unretouched image recorded by a camera and reproduced on a photosensitive surface, or a digital image.

343.01(2)(f) (f) “Representative vehicle” means a motor vehicle of the same vehicle class and type that an applicant or permittee for an operator’s license operates or intends to operate.

343.01(2)(g) (g) “Resident” means an adult whose one home and customary and principal residence, to which the person has the intention of returning whenever he or she is absent, is in this state. A child under 18 years of age may qualify as a resident if the child lives in this state and at least one of the child’s parents, or the child’s guardian, is a resident of this state or the child meets any of the following requirements:

343.01(2)(g)1. 1. Is attending and residing at a full-time boarding school or similar live-in facility located in this state.

343.01(2)(g)2. 2. Is a foreign-exchange student from outside the United States residing with and in the care of a host family.

343.01(2)(g)3. 3. Is residing with and in the care of a relative or other adult acting in the place of a parent, with the consent of the child’s parents or legal guardian.

343.01(2)(g)4. 4. Is on active duty with the U.S. armed forces.

343.01(2)(i) (i) “Tank vehicle” means any commercial motor vehicle that is designed to transport a liquid or gaseous materials within tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that are either permanently or temporarily attached to the commercial motor vehicle or the chassis. “Tank vehicle” does not include a commercial motor vehicle transporting an empty storage container tank if the tank is not designated for transportation, has a rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, and is temporarily attached to a flatbed trailer. In this paragraph, “liquid” has the meaning given in 49 CFR 171.8.

343.01 History History: 1971 c. 164 s. 83; 1971 c. 278; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 449; 1979 c. 110 s. 60 (6); 1979 c. 333 s. 5; 1981 c. 390 ss. 186, 252; 1983 a. 189, 223, 227, 270, 480, 538; 1989 a. 75, 105; 1991 a. 39; 1995 a. 113, 446; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 123.

343.01 Annotation Summary judgment is inapplicable in hearings under this chapter. State v. Baratka, 2002 WI App 288, 258 Wis. 2d 342, 654 N.W.2d 875, 02-0770.

343.02 343.02 Administration of driver license law.

343.02(1) (1) The department shall administer and enforce this chapter and may promulgate for that purpose such rules as the secretary considers necessary. Rules promulgated under this chapter may not conflict with and shall be at least as stringent as standards set by the federal commercial motor vehicle safety act, 49 USC 31301 to 31317 and the regulations adopted under that act.

343.02(2) (2) The state of Wisconsin assents to the provisions of the federal law and regulations specified in sub. (1). The state of Wisconsin declares its purpose and intent to make provisions to implement and enforce that law and those regulations so as to ensure receipt by this state of any federal highway aids that have been or may be allotted to the state under 23 USC 104 (b) (1), (2), (5) and (6), including all increased and advanced appropriations.

343.02 History History: 1971 c. 164 s. 83; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1989 a. 105; 1995 a. 113.

343.02 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. Trans 102 and 115, Wis. adm. code.

343.025 343.025 Medicare acceptance of assignment; information; report.

343.025(2) (2) Beginning in 1991, the department shall annually submit a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature for distribution to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) concerning the numbers of individuals, by counties in this state, to whom the department distributed explanatory materials under ss. 343.20 (2m) and 343.50 (4).

343.025 History History: 1989 a. 294; 2003 a. 33.

343.027 343.027 Confidentiality of signatures. Any signature collected under this chapter may be maintained by the department and shall be kept confidential, except that the department shall release a signature or a facsimile of a signature to the department of revenue for the purposes of administering state taxes and collecting debt, to the elections commission, in electronic or digital format, for the purposes specified in s. 6.30 (5), to the person to whom the signature relates, to a court, district attorney, county corporation counsel, city, village, or town attorney, to a law enforcement agency, or to the driver licensing agency of another jurisdiction.

343.027 History History: 1995 a. 113; 2005 a. 25, 59; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 261; 2017 a. 365.

343.03 343.03 Classified driver license system.

343.03(1) (1) Compliance with federal standards.

343.03(1)(a) (a) The department shall institute a classified driver license system meeting all federal standards under 49 USC 30304 (e) and 31301 to 31317 and 49 CFR 383 and 384.

343.03(1)(b) (b) The department shall issue operator’s licenses in conformity with the classified driver license system to each licensee upon renewal, initial application, or cancellation under s. 343.26 (1).

343.03(2) (2) Authorizations to drive specific vehicle groups. The department shall clearly indicate on each operator’s license the class of vehicles that the licensee is authorized to operate. Additional authorization for the licensee to operate a vehicle type described in s. 343.04 (2) shall be shown by an endorsement, clearly indicated on the operator’s license. If the authorizations are restricted in any way, the restrictions shall be clearly indicated on the document.

343.03(3) (3) License variants. Except for restricted licenses under s. 343.08 or temporary licenses under s. 343.10, 343.11 (1) or (3), 343.16 (6) (b), or 343.305 (8) (a), each operator’s license issued by the department shall be in one of the following categories with a descriptive legend displayed on the top front side of the license document:

343.03(3)(a) (a) Regular license. The standard license legend is “regular” or a readily recognizable abbreviation thereof. The regular license, without any express endorsements or restrictions as provided in this chapter, authorizes the licensee to operate only “class D” vehicles as described in s. 343.04 (1) (d), except as otherwise provided in this subsection. The license may be endorsed to permit operation of motorcycles or school buses that are not commercial motor vehicles. A regular license may be subject to restrictions.

343.03(3)(b) (b) Commercial driver license. A license authorizing the operation of “Class A”, “Class B” or “Class C” vehicles, including a license issued under s. 343.065, shall be labeled “Commercial Driver License” or “CDL”. A commercial driver license may be endorsed to permit the operation of any other class or type of vehicle described in s. 343.04. A commercial driver license may be subject to restrictions.

343.03(3)(c) (c) Motorcycle only license. Except as provided in par. (f), a license authorizing only the operation of “Class M” vehicles shall be labeled “Motorcycle Only”. A motorcycle only license may not be endorsed to permit the operation of any other class or type of vehicle. The license may be subject to restrictions.

343.03(3)(d) (d) Special restricted license. A license issued under s. 343.135 shall be labeled “Special Restricted License” or a readily recognizable abbreviation thereof. The license may authorize the operation of only “Class D” vehicles and may not be endorsed to permit operation of the vehicle types described in s. 343.04 (2). The license may be subject to restrictions in addition to those provided in s. 343.135.

343.03(3)(e) (e) Occupational license. A license issued under s. 343.10 authorizing only the operation of motor vehicles other than “Class A”, “Class B” or “Class C” vehicles shall be labeled “Occupational License”. An occupational license may authorize the operation of “Class D” or “Class M” vehicles, or both, but may not permit operation of the vehicle types described in s. 343.04 (2). The license may be subject to restrictions in addition to those provided in s. 343.10.

343.03(3)(f) (f) Probationary license. If s. 343.085 applies, the license shall be labeled “Probationary” or a readily recognizable abbreviation thereof instead of as provided in par. (a) or (c). This paragraph does not apply to a license authorizing the operation of commercial motor vehicles.

343.03(3m) (3m) Noncitizen limited-term license. If the issuance of any license described under sub. (3) requires the license applicant to present any documentary proof specified in s. 343.14 (2) (es) 2. to 7. or (im) 2m. b., the license shall display on the front side of the license, in addition to any legend or label described in sub. (3), a legend identifying the license as limited term or, if the license authorizes the operation of a commercial motor vehicle, as a nondomiciled license. This noncitizen limited-term license may not be renewed except as provided in s. 343.165 (4) (c). A nondomiciled license may not be issued to a resident of Canada or Mexico.

343.03(3r) (3r) Real ID Noncompliant license. If any license described under sub. (3) is issued based upon the exception specified in s. 343.165 (7), the license shall, in addition to any legend or label described in sub. (3), be marked in a manner consistent with requirements under applicable federal law and regulations to indicate that the license is issued in accordance with P.L. 109-13, section 202 (d) (11), and is not intended to be accepted by any federal agency for federal identification or any other official purpose.

343.03(4) (4) Elimination of multiple licenses. The department shall not knowingly issue more than one license to a person.

343.03(5) (5) Inquiries before issuance.

343.03(5)(a) (a) Before issuing or renewing any license under this chapter, the department shall obtain driver record information from the national driver registry and commercial driver license information system to determine whether the applicant holds a commercial driver license, or a license that is revoked, suspended or canceled, or is otherwise disqualified. If the applicant is currently licensed in another state, the department shall obtain information on the applicant’s license status with the state of licensure before issuing a license.

343.03(5)(b) (b)

343.03(5)(b)1. 1. Before issuing or renewing a commercial driver license, the department shall, within the time period specified in 49 CFR 384.232, request from any other jurisdiction that has issued an operator’s license or commercial driver license to the person within the previous 10 years the driving record of the person as required under 49 CFR 384.206 (a) (2) (ii).

343.03(5)(b)2. 2. Subdivision 1. does not apply to a renewal of a person’s commercial driver license if the department has previously issued or renewed a commercial driver license after September 30, 2005, and, in connection with the previous issuance or renewal, the department recorded on the person’s driving record under s. 343.23 (2) (a) the date on which the operator’s record check under subd. 1. was performed.

343.03(6) (6) Release of records.

343.03(6)(a) (a) Notwithstanding ss. 343.027, 343.14 (2j), and 343.237 (2), the department shall, upon request, provide to the commercial driver license information system and the driver licensing agencies of other jurisdictions any applicant or driver record information maintained by the department of transportation, including providing electronic access to any record or file under s. 343.23 (1) or (2).

343.03(6)(b) (b) The department shall, upon request and within 30 days of the request, provide to the driver licensing agencies of other jurisdictions the driving record of any person currently or previously licensed by the department, as required under 49 CFR 384.206 (a) (2) (iii).

343.03(6)(c) (c) The department shall, upon request and within the time period specified in s. 343.23 (2) (am) 1. b. and c., provide the operating record file information specified in s. 343.23 (2) (am) 1. b. and c. to any of the following requesters:

343.03(6)(c)1. 1. The person holding the commercial driver license.

343.03(6)(c)2. 2. The U.S. secretary of transportation.

343.03(6)(c)3. 3. Any employer or prospective employer of the person holding the commercial driver license, after notice to such person.

343.03(6)(c)4. 4. Any driver licensing agency of another jurisdiction or law enforcement agency.

343.03(6)(c)5. 5. Any governmental entity having access to the commercial driver license information system.

343.03(6)(c)6. 6. Any authorized agent of a requester specified in subds. 1. to 5.

343.03(7) (7) Notification of commercial driver license issuance and certain violations.

343.03(7)(a) (a) The department shall notify the commercial driver license information system within 10 days of an issuance, renewal or reinstatement of a commercial driver license, a commercial driver license upgrade authorizing the operation of a vehicle group not authorized on the prior commercial driver license, and of the surrender of a commercial driver license issued by another state.

343.03(7)(b) (b) Within 10 days after the disqualification of the holder of a commercial driver license from operating a commercial motor vehicle for at least 60 days, or after the revocation, suspension, or cancellation of a commercial driver license for at least 60 days, the department shall notify the commercial driver license information system and, if the license was not issued by the department, the jurisdiction that issued the license of the disqualification, revocation, suspension, or cancellation and the violation that resulted in the disqualification, revocation, suspension, or cancellation.

343.03(7)(c) (c) Within 10 days after a conviction of the holder of a commercial driver license issued by another jurisdiction for violating any state law or local ordinance of this state or any law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with any state law relating to motor vehicle traffic control, other than parking violations, or after a conviction of the holder of an operator’s license issued by another jurisdiction, other than a commercial driver license, for any such violation while operating a commercial motor vehicle, the department shall notify the driver licensing agency of the jurisdiction that issued the license of the conviction.

343.03 History History: 1989 a. 105; 1991 a. 12, 32, 39; 1995 a. 113; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 103; 2011 a. 23, 32; 2015 a. 77, 123; 2019 a. 50.

343.04 343.04 Vehicle classifications.

343.04(1) (1) Vehicle classes. For purposes of this chapter, motor vehicles are divided into the following classes:

343.04(1)(a) (a) Class A. A “Class A” motor vehicle is any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight or registered weight of over 26,000 pounds, if the aggregate total gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight or registered weight of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

343.04(1)(b) (b) Class B. A “Class B” motor vehicle is any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight or registered weight of over 26,000 pounds, and any such vehicle towing a vehicle or vehicles with an aggregate total gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight or registered weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

343.04(1)(c) (c) Class C. A “Class C” motor vehicle is any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight and registered weight of 26,000 pounds or less, including any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight and registered weight of less than 10,000 pounds, if any of the following applies:

343.04(1)(c)1. 1. The vehicle is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

343.04(1)(c)2. 2. The vehicle is transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73.

343.04(1)(d) (d) Class D. A “Class D” vehicle is any motor vehicle not included in par. (a), (b), (c) or (e).

343.04(1)(e) (e) Class M. A “Class M” vehicle is any motorcycle.

343.04(2) (2) Vehicle types. For purposes of this chapter, certain vehicles intended to carry school children or other passengers, or having special operating characteristics, are divided into the following vehicle types specified in pars. (a) to (f):

343.04(2)(a) (a) Hazardous materials transporter. Hazardous materials transporter vehicles are vehicles transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73.

343.04(2)(b) (b) Full air brakes equipped. Full air brakes equipped vehicles are commercial motor vehicles equipped with a braking system operating fully on the air brake principle.

343.04(2)(bm) (bm) Partial air brakes equipped. Partial air brakes equipped vehicles are commercial motor vehicles equipped with a braking system operating partially on the air brake principle and partially on the air over hydraulic brake principle.

343.04(2)(c) (c) Tanks. Tanks are commercial motor vehicles which are tank vehicles.

343.04(2)(d) (d) Passenger carrying. Passenger-carrying vehicles are motor vehicles designed to carry, or actually carrying, 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

343.04(2)(e) (e) School buses. All school buses, including those which are commercial motor vehicles.

343.04(2)(f) (f) Vehicles towing double or triple trailers. Vehicles towing double or triple trailers are commercial motor vehicles with double or triple trailers.

343.04 History History: 1989 a. 105; 1999 a. 140; 2003 a. 33; 2015 a. 123; 2019 a. 50.

subch. II of ch. 343 SUBCHAPTER II

ISSUANCE, EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF LICENSES

343.05 343.05 Operators to be licensed; exceptions.

343.05(1) (1) General provisions.

343.05(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, no person may at any time have more than one operator’s license. This prohibition includes, without limitation, having licenses from more than one state, having licenses under more than one name or birthdate, and having more than one license issued for the operation of different types or classes of vehicles. This paragraph does not apply to any person who has only operator’s licenses issued by this state and by a country, province, or subdivision that is a party to an agreement under s. 343.16 (1) (d).

343.05(1)(c) (c) A person may have both an operator’s license and a duly issued instruction permit allowing restricted operation of a vehicle group not authorized by the license.

343.05(2) (2) Commercial motor vehicles.

343.05(2)(a) (a) No person may operate a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person is one of the following:

343.05(2)(a)1. 1. A resident who is at least 18 years of age, who is not disqualified under s. 343.315, who has a valid commercial driver license which is not revoked, suspended, canceled or expired and, for the operation of any vehicle type under s. 343.04 (2), has an endorsement authorizing operation of the vehicle type.