Chapter 344

344.578(1) (1) Prohibited deposits; collection of damages. Except as provided in this subsection, in sub. (2), or in s. 345.28 (5w), a rental company may not charge a credit card belonging to a renter as a deposit for damages for which the renter may be held liable under the rental agreement or under s. 344.574 (2) (a) or for any other charges. If a rented private passenger vehicle is damaged or if the renter owes any other charges provided for in the rental agreement, the rental company may charge a credit card belonging to the renter as payment for the damages for which the renter is liable under s. 344.574 (2) (a) or for any other charges provided for in the rental agreement only if the rental company obtains the renter’s authorization to use that credit card for payment and the authorization is obtained after the total amount of the renter’s liability or other charges is determined and before the rental company processes the credit card charge.

344.578(2) (2) Deposit for rental fees. If authorized by the renter, a rental company may charge a credit card belonging to the renter as a deposit for the estimated cost of the rental, as determined under this subsection. The estimated cost of the rental may not exceed an amount equal to the daily rental rate specified in the rental agreement, which may include the daily charge for a damage waiver if purchased by the renter, multiplied by the number of days specified in the agreement for which the private passenger vehicle is being rented.

344.578 History History: 1989 a. 328; 2005 a. 173; 2007 a. 207.

344.579 344.579 Violations.

344.579(1) (1) Penalties. Whoever violates s. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) or (3) (a) or (b), 344.577 or 344.578 may be required to forfeit not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each violation.

344.579(2) (2) Enforcement. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall investigate violations of ss. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) and (3) (a) and (b), 344.577 and 344.578. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may on behalf of the state:

344.579(2)(a) (a) Bring an action for temporary or permanent injunctive or other relief in any court of competent jurisdiction for any violation of s. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) or (3) (a) or (b), 344.577 or 344.578. The court may, upon entry of final judgment, award restitution when appropriate to any person suffering loss because of a violation of s. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) or (3) (a) or (b), 344.577 or 344.578 if proof of such loss is submitted to the satisfaction of the court.

344.579(2)(b) (b) Bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for the recovery of forfeitures authorized under sub. (1).

344.579(3) (3) Defense. Proof by a rental company that the rental company began an action to impose liability upon a renter or authorized driver, even though the renter had purchased a damage waiver sold under s. 344.576, because of a good-faith mistake that an exception under s. 344.576 (2) (a) to (k) applied is a defense to a prosecution for a violation of the terms of the damage waiver under s. 344.576 (2).

344.579 History History: 1989 a. 328; 1995 a. 27; 2005 a. 173.

subch. VI of ch. 344 SUBCHAPTER VI

MANDATORY LIABILITY INSURANCE

344.61 344.61 Definitions. In this subchapter:

344.61(1) (1) Notwithstanding s. 344.01 (2) (b), “motor vehicle” does not include trailers, semitrailers, all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, or limited use off-highway motorcycles, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (o).

344.61(2) (2) Notwithstanding s. 344.33 (1), “motor vehicle liability policy” means a motor vehicle policy of liability insurance to which all of the following apply:

344.61(2)(a) (a) The policy is issued by an insurer authorized to do a motor vehicle liability business in this state or, if the policy covers a vehicle that was not registered in this state at the time of the policy’s effective date, in another state in which the vehicle was registered or the owner or operator of the vehicle resided at that time.

344.61(2)(b) (b) The policy is to or for the benefit of the person named in the policy as the insured.

344.61(2)(c) (c) The policy satisfies, as of the date of motor vehicle operation, all requirements specified in s. 344.33 (2) and (3).

344.61 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 208; 2015 a. 170.

344.62 344.62 Motor vehicle liability insurance required.

344.62(1) (1) Except as provided in s. 344.63, no person may operate a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the owner or operator of the vehicle has in effect a motor vehicle liability policy with respect to the vehicle being operated.

344.62(2) (2) Except as provided in s. 344.63, no person may operate a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person, while operating the vehicle, has in his or her immediate possession proof that he or she is in compliance with sub. (1). The operator of the motor vehicle shall display the proof required under this subsection upon demand from any traffic officer. The proof required under this subsection may be produced in either printed or electronic format, including by display of electronic images on a cellular telephone or other electronic device. If this proof is displayed in electronic format on any cellular telephone or other electronic device, the traffic officer may not view, and producing proof in electronic format is not considered consent for the traffic officer to view, any content on the telephone or other device except the proof required under this subsection.

344.62(3) (3) Nothing in this subchapter prohibits a person who violates this section from also being subject to any provision in subchs. I to IV of this chapter.

344.62 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 31.

344.63 344.63 Exceptions to motor vehicle liability insurance requirement.

344.63(1) (1) A person operating a motor vehicle is not subject to s. 344.62 if any of the following apply:

344.63(1)(a) (a) The owner or operator of the motor vehicle has in effect a bond with respect to the vehicle that meets the requirements under s. 344.36 (1), including the filing of the bond with the secretary, and the vehicle is being operated with the permission of the person who filed the bond.

344.63(1)(b) (b) The motor vehicle is insured as required by s. 121.53, 194.41, or 194.42 and the vehicle is being operated by the owner or with the owner’s permission.

344.63(1)(c) (c) The motor vehicle is owned by a self-insurer holding a valid certificate of self-insurance under s. 344.16, the self-insurer has made an agreement described in s. 344.30 (4), and the vehicle is being operated with the owner’s permission.

344.63(1)(d) (d) The owner or operator of the motor vehicle has made a deposit of cash or securities meeting the requirements specified in s. 344.37 (1) and the vehicle is being operated by or with the permission of the person who made the deposit.

344.63(1)(e) (e) The motor vehicle is subject to s. 344.51, 344.52, or 344.55.

344.63(1)(f) (f) The motor vehicle is owned by or leased to the United States, this or another state, or any county or municipality of this or another state, and the vehicle is being operated with the owner’s or lessee’s permission.

344.63(2) (2) 

344.63(2)(a) (a) The provisions of ss. 344.34 and 344.36 (2) and (3) shall apply with respect to a bond filed with the secretary under sub. (1) (a).

344.63(2)(b) (b) The provisions of s. 344.37 (2) shall apply with respect to a deposit made with the secretary under sub. (1) (d). Any deposit received by the department under sub. (1) (d) shall be maintained in an interest-bearing trust account. All deposits received by the department under sub. (1) (d) shall be held for the benefit of the depositors and potential claimants against the deposits and shall be applied only to the payment of judgments and assignments relating to motor vehicle accidents, following the procedure described in s. 344.20 (2).

344.63(3) (3) 

344.63(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the secretary shall, upon request, consent to the immediate cancellation of any bond filed under sub. (1) (a) or to the return of any deposit of money or securities made under sub. (1) (d) if any of the following apply:

344.63(3)(a)1. 1. The owner or operator of a motor vehicle provides proof satisfactory to the department that the owner or operator has in effect a motor vehicle liability policy with respect to the vehicle or provides proof that a different exception under sub. (1) applies with respect to the vehicle.

344.63(3)(a)2. 2. The person on whose behalf the bond was filed or deposit made has died, has become permanently incapacitated to operate a motor vehicle, or no longer maintains a valid operator’s license.

344.63(3)(a)3. 3. The person on whose behalf the bond was filed or deposit made no longer owns any motor vehicle registered with the department.

344.63(3)(b) (b) The secretary may not consent to the cancellation of any bond filed under sub. (1) (a) or to the return of any deposit of money or securities made under sub. (1) (d) if any action for damages upon the bond or deposit is then pending or any judgment against the person, for which a claim may be made against the bond or deposit, is then unsatisfied. If a judgment is in excess of the amounts specified in s. 344.33 (2), for purposes of this paragraph the judgment is considered satisfied when payments in the amounts specified in s. 344.33 (2) have been made. An affidavit of the applicant that the applicant satisfies the provisions of this paragraph is sufficient for the department to consent to the cancellation of a bond or to return any deposit, in the absence of evidence in the records of the department contradicting the affidavit.

344.63 History History: 2009 a. 28.

344.64 344.64 Fraudulent, false, or invalid proof of insurance. No person may do any of the following for purposes of creating the appearance of satisfying the requirements under s. 344.62 (2):

344.64(1) (1) Forge, falsify, counterfeit, or fraudulently alter any printed or electronic proof of insurance, policy of insurance, or other insurance document or electronic image, or possess any printed or electronic proof of insurance, policy of insurance, or other insurance document or electronic image that is forged, falsified, fictitious, counterfeit, or fraudulently altered.

344.64(2) (2) Represent that any printed or electronic proof of insurance, policy of insurance, or other insurance document or electronic image is valid and in effect, knowing or having reason to believe that the proof of insurance, policy of insurance, or other insurance document or electronic image is not valid or not in effect.

344.64 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 31.

344.65 344.65 Violations.

344.65(1) (1) 

344.65(1)(a) (a) Any person who violates s. 344.62 (1) may be required to forfeit not more than $500.

344.65(1)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (c), any person who violates s. 344.62 (2) may be required to forfeit $10.

344.65(1)(c) (c) No person charged with violating s. 344.62 (2) may be convicted if the person produces proof that he or she was in compliance with s. 344.62 (1) at the time the person was issued a uniform traffic citation for violating s. 344.62 (2). This proof may be produced either at the time of the person’s appearance in court in response to the citation or in the office of the traffic officer issuing the citation. This proof may be produced in either paper or electronic format, including by display of electronic images on a cellular telephone or other electronic device. If this proof is displayed in electronic format on any cellular telephone or other electronic device, the person to whom the proof is displayed may not view, and producing proof in electronic format is not considered consent for the person to view, any content on the telephone or other device except the proof required under s. 344.62 (2).

344.65(2) (2) Any person who violates s. 344.64 may be required to forfeit not more than $5,000.

344.65(3) (3) A traffic officer may not stop or inspect a vehicle solely to determine compliance with s. 344.62 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith. This subsection does not limit the authority of a traffic officer to issue a citation for a violation of s. 344.62 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith observed in the course of a stop or inspection made for other purposes, except that a traffic officer may not take a person into physical custody solely for a violation of s. 344.62 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith.

344.65 History History: 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 31.

344.66 344.66 Rules. The department shall promulgate rules, and prescribe any necessary forms, to implement and administer this subchapter.

344.66 History History: 2009 a. 28.

344.67 344.67 Notice. The department shall include with each operator’s license issued under ch. 343 notification of the requirements and penalties under this subchapter.

344.67 History History: 2009 a. 28.