Chapter 346

346.57(4)(i) (i) Fifteen miles per hour on any street or town road, except a state trunk highway or connecting highway, within, contiguous to or adjacent to a public park or recreation area when children are going to or from or are playing within such area, when the local authority has enacted an ordinance regulating such traffic and has properly marked such area with official traffic control devices erected at such points as said authority deems necessary and at those points on the streets or town roads concerned where persons traversing the same would enter such area from an area where a different speed limit is in effect.

346.57(4)(j) (j) Thirty-five miles per hour on any town road where on either side of the highway within any 1,000 feet along such highway the buildings in use for business, industrial or residential purposes fronting thereon average less than 150 feet apart, provided the town board has adopted an ordinance determining such speed limit and has posted signs at such points as the town board deems necessary to give adequate warning to users of the town road.

346.57(4)(k) (k) Forty-five miles per hour on any highway designated as a rustic road under s. 83.42.

346.57(5) (5) Zoned and posted limits. In addition to complying with the speed restrictions imposed by subs. (2) and (3), no person shall drive a vehicle in excess of any speed limit established pursuant to law by state or local authorities and indicated by official signs.

346.57(6) (6) Certain statutory limits to be posted.

346.57(6)(a) (a) On state trunk highways and connecting highways and on county trunk highways or highways marked and signed as county trunks, the speed limits specified in sub. (4) (e) and (f) are not effective unless official signs giving notice thereof have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question. The speed limit specified in sub. (4) (g) and (k) is not effective on any highway unless official signs giving notice thereof have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question. The signs shall be erected at such points as the authority in charge of maintenance deems necessary to give adequate warning to users of the highway in question, but an alleged failure to post a highway as required by this paragraph is not a defense to a prosecution for violation of the speed limits specified in sub. (4) (e), (f), (g) or (k), or in an ordinance enacted in conformity therewith, if official signs giving notice of the speed limit have been erected at those points on the highway in question where a person traversing such highway would enter it from an area where a different speed limit is in effect.

346.57(6)(b) (b) The limit specified under sub. (4) (gm) is not effective unless official signs giving notice of the limit have been erected by the department.

346.57 History History: 1973 c. 157; 1975 c. 192, 210; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (3), (8) (a); 1977 c. 30, 67, 116, 203, 272; 1987 a. 17, 136; 1993 a. 246; 1995 a. 318; 1997 a. 35; 2001 a. 47; 2013 a. 39; 2015 a. 19; 2023 a. 159.

346.57 Annotation While sub. (2) is related to sub. (3), it is not limited by sub. (3). Sub. (3) creates a greater duty in respect to speed than sub. (2) does. Thoreson v. Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Corp., 56 Wis. 2d 231, 201 N.W.2d 745 (1972).

346.57 Annotation Judicial notice may be taken of the reliability of the underlying principles of radar that employs the Doppler effect to determine speed. A prima facie presumption of accuracy of moving radar will be accorded upon competent testimony of the operating officer of required facts. State v. Hanson, 85 Wis. 2d 233, 270 N.W.2d 212 (1978).

346.57 Annotation A prima facie presumption of accuracy applies to stationary radar devices. City of Wauwatosa v. Collett, 99 Wis. 2d 522, 299 N.W.2d 620 (Ct. App. 1980).

346.57 Annotation Discussing the application of the Hanson, 85 Wis. 2d 233 (1978), requirements. State v. Kramer, 99 Wis. 2d 700, 299 N.W.2d 882 (1981).

346.57 Annotation An actor may claim the defense of legal justification if the conduct of a law enforcement officer causes the actor to reasonably believe that violating the law is the only means of preventing bodily harm to the actor or another and causes the actor to violate the law. State v. Brown, 107 Wis. 2d 44, 318 N.W.2d 370 (1982).

346.57 Annotation This section does not impose absolute liability upon drivers to avoid accidents. Millonig v. Bakken, 112 Wis. 2d 445, 334 N.W.2d 80 (1983).

346.57 Annotation Discussing the presumption of the accuracy of moving radar and explaining the elements of the Hanson, 85 Wis. 2d 233 (1978)/Kramer, 99 Wis. 2d 700 (1981), criteria. Washington County v. Luedtke, 135 Wis. 2d 131, 399 N.W.2d 906 (1987).

346.58 346.58 Special speed restrictions for certain vehicles.

346.58(1) (1) In this section:

346.58(1)(a) (a) “Metal tire” means a tire the surface of which in contact with the highway is wholly or partially of metal or other hard, nonresilient material.

346.58(1)(b) (b) “Solid rubber tire” means a tire made of rubber but not inflated with compressed air.

346.58(2) (2) In addition to complying with other speed restrictions imposed by law, no person may drive any vehicle equipped with metal tires or solid rubber tires at a speed in excess of 15 miles per hour. This subsection does not apply to operation of a bicycle.

346.58 History History: 1973 c. 165; 1975 c. 297; 1983 a. 54; 1999 a. 85; 2009 a. 276; 2011 a. 73.

346.59 346.59 Minimum speed regulation.

346.59(1) (1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or is necessary to comply with the law.

346.59(2) (2) The operator of a vehicle moving at a speed so slow as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic shall, if practicable, yield the roadway to an overtaking vehicle and shall move at a reasonably increased speed or yield the roadway to overtaking vehicles when directed to do so by a traffic officer.

346.59 History History: 1977 c. 100; 2013 a. 365.

346.595 346.595 Motorcycles and mopeds. Whenever a motorcycle or a moped is operated the following rules apply:

346.595(1) (1) All motor vehicles including motorcycles and mopeds are entitled to the full use of a traffic lane and no vehicle may be driven or operated in such a manner so as to deprive any other vehicle of the full use of a traffic lane. With the consent of both drivers, motorcycles may be operated not more than 2 abreast in a single lane, but mopeds may be so operated only where the speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less.

346.595(2) (2) No person shall ride any motorcycle or moped while in a side-saddle position.

346.595(3) (3) No passenger may ride a motorcycle who, when properly seated, cannot rest the feet on assigned foot rests or pegs. No passenger may ride on a moped.

346.595(3m) (3m) No more than 2 persons may ride on a motorcycle having 2 wheels in tandem during operation unless a sidecar has been attached to the motorcycle and the additional passengers are provided with adequate seating within the sidecar.

346.595(4) (4) No passenger shall ride in front of the operator on a motorcycle.

346.595(5) (5) The headlamps on motorcycles shall be lighted whenever the motorcycle is in operation. Motorcycles may be operated to the nearest repair facility for headlamp repair in the event of mechanical or electrical headlamp failure except during hours of darkness. Mopeds shall observe the requirements for lighted headlamps and tail lamps under s. 347.06.

346.595(6) (6) On any road for which the speed limit is more than 25 miles per hour, mopeds shall be operated only when riding single-file in the extreme right-hand lane. No person may operate a moped on any restricted access highway.

346.595 History History: 1977 c. 288; 1981 c. 52; 1983 a. 243; 1985 a. 65 ss. 20, 29; 2019 a. 50.

346.595 Annotation The provision requiring headlamps to be lighted is constitutional. City of Kenosha v. Dosemagen, 54 Wis. 2d 269, 195 N.W.2d 462 (1972).

346.60 346.60 Penalty for violating sections 346.57 to 346.595.

346.60(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (5), any person violating s. 346.59 may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.

346.60(2) (2) 

346.60(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (3m) or (5), any person violating s. 346.57 (4) (d) to (g) or (h) or (5) or 346.58 may be required to forfeit not less than $30 nor more than $300.

346.60(2)(b) (b) Except as provided in sub. (3m) or (5), any person violating s. 346.57 (4) (gm) may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $300.

346.60(3) (3) Except as provided in sub. (3m) or (5), any person violating s. 346.57 (2), (3) or (4) (a) to (c) may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $300 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $80 nor more than $600 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.

346.60(3m) (3m) 

346.60(3m)(a) (a)

346.60(3m)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h), or (5) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, railroad maintenance or construction area, utility work area, or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic or where sanitation workers are at risk from traffic and the operator knows or should know that sanitation workers are present, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in sub. (2) or (3) for the violation shall be doubled.

346.60(3m)(a)2. 2. If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h), or (5) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, railroad maintenance or construction area, utility work area, or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic and the violation results in bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (4), to another, the operator may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months, or both. In addition to the penalties specified under this subdivision, a court may also order a person convicted under this subdivision to perform not fewer than 100 nor more than 200 hours of community service work and attend traffic safety school, as provided under s. 345.60.

346.60(3m)(b) (b) If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.57 (2) to (5) when children are present in a zone designated by “school” warning signs as provided in s. 118.08 (1), any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in sub. (2) or (3) for the violation shall be doubled.

346.60(4) (4) Any person violating s. 346.595 may be required to forfeit not less than $30 nor more than $300.

346.60(5) (5) 

346.60(5)(a) (a) Any operator of a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device who violates s. 346.57 may be required to forfeit not more than $20.

346.60(5)(b) (b) Any operator of a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device who violates s. 346.59 may be required to forfeit not more than $10.

346.60 History History: 1971 c. 278; 1973 c. 182, 218; 1973 c. 333 ss. 174p, 202 (12); 1973 c. 336; 1977 c. 30 ss. 6, 7; 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 17; 1993 a. 198; 1995 a. 44; 1997 a. 277, 325; 2001 a. 90; 2013 a. 39; 2019 a. 11; 2021 a. 115; 2023 a. 159.

subch. X of ch. 346 SUBCHAPTER X

RECKLESS AND DRUNKEN DRIVING

346.61 346.61 Applicability of sections relating to reckless and drunken driving. In addition to being applicable upon highways, ss. 346.62 to 346.64 are applicable upon all premises held out to the public for use of their motor vehicles, all premises provided by employers to employees for the use of their motor vehicles and all premises provided to tenants of rental housing in buildings of 4 or more units for the use of their motor vehicles, whether such premises are publicly or privately owned and whether or not a fee is charged for the use thereof. Sections 346.62 to 346.64 do not apply to private parking areas at farms or single-family residences.

346.61 History History: 1995 a. 127.

346.61 Annotation A privately owned parking lot was not included under this section. City of Kenosha v. Phillips, 142 Wis. 2d 549, 419 N.W.2d 236 (1988).

346.61 Annotation A parking lot for patrons of a business is held out for the use of the public under this section. City of La Crosse v. Richling, 178 Wis. 2d 856, 505 N.W.2d 448 (Ct. App. 1993).

346.62 346.62 Reckless driving.

346.62(1) (1) In this section:

346.62(1)(a) (a) “Bodily harm” has the meaning designated in s. 939.22 (4).

346.62(1)(b) (b) “Great bodily harm” has the meaning designated in s. 939.22 (14).

346.62(1)(c) (c) “Negligent” has the meaning designated in s. 939.25 (2).

346.62(1)(d) (d) “Vehicle” has the meaning designated in s. 939.22 (44), except that for purposes of sub. (2m) “vehicle” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (74).

346.62(2) (2) No person may endanger the safety of any person or property by the negligent operation of a vehicle.

346.62(2m) (2m) No person may recklessly endanger the safety of any person by driving a vehicle on or across a railroad crossing in violation of s. 346.44 (1) or through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing in violation of s. 346.44 (2).

346.62(3) (3) No person may cause bodily harm to another by the negligent operation of a vehicle.

346.62(4) (4) No person may cause great bodily harm to another by the negligent operation of a vehicle.

346.62 History History: 1987 a. 399; 1997 a. 135.

346.62 Note Judicial Council Note, 1988: The revisions contained in subs. (2) and (3) are intended as editorial, not substantive, as is the substitution of a cross-reference to s. 939.25 (2) for the prior definition of a high degree of negligence. New sub. (4) carries forward the crime created by 1985 Wisconsin Act 293. [Bill 191-S]

346.62 Annotation That the defendant was an experienced stock car racer was not a defense to a charge of reckless driving. State v. Passarelli, 55 Wis. 2d 78, 197 N.W.2d 740 (1972).

346.62 Annotation Sub. (4) is not unconstitutionally irrational. State v. King, 187 Wis. 2d 548, 523 N.W.2d 159 (Ct. App. 1994).

346.62 Annotation This section may be applied to a corporation. State v. Steenberg Homes, Inc., 223 Wis. 2d 511, 589 N.W.2d 668 (Ct. App. 1998), 98-0104.

346.63 346.63 Operating under influence of intoxicant or other drug.

346.63(1) (1) No person may drive or operate a motor vehicle while:

346.63(1)(a) (a) Under the influence of an intoxicant, a controlled substance, a controlled substance analog or any combination of an intoxicant, a controlled substance and a controlled substance analog, under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving; or

346.63(1)(am) (am) The person has a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his or her blood.

346.63(1)(b) (b) The person has a prohibited alcohol concentration.

346.63(1)(c) (c) A person may be charged with and a prosecutor may proceed upon a complaint based upon a violation of any combination of par. (a), (am), or (b) for acts arising out of the same incident or occurrence. If the person is charged with violating any combination of par. (a), (am), or (b), the offenses shall be joined. If the person is found guilty of any combination of par. (a), (am), or (b) for acts arising out of the same incident or occurrence, there shall be a single conviction for purposes of sentencing and for purposes of counting convictions under ss. 343.30 (1q) and 343.305. Paragraphs (a), (am), and (b) each require proof of a fact for conviction which the others do not require.

346.63(1)(d) (d) In an action under par. (am) that is based on the defendant allegedly having a detectable amount of methamphetamine, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in his or her blood, the defendant has a defense if he or she proves by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the incident or occurrence he or she had a valid prescription for methamphetamine or one of its metabolic precursors, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

346.63(2) (2) 

346.63(2)(a) (a) It is unlawful for any person to cause injury to another person by the operation of a vehicle while:

346.63(2)(a)1. 1. Under the influence of an intoxicant, a controlled substance, a controlled substance analog or any combination of an intoxicant, a controlled substance and a controlled substance analog, under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving; or

346.63(2)(a)2. 2. The person has a prohibited alcohol concentration.

346.63(2)(a)3. 3. The person has a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his or her blood.

346.63(2)(am) (am) A person may be charged with and a prosecutor may proceed upon a complaint based upon a violation of any combination of par. (a) 1., 2., or 3. for acts arising out of the same incident or occurrence. If the person is charged with violating any combination of par. (a) 1., 2., or 3. in the complaint, the crimes shall be joined under s. 971.12. If the person is found guilty of any combination of par. (a) 1., 2., or 3. for acts arising out of the same incident or occurrence, there shall be a single conviction for purposes of sentencing and for purposes of counting convictions under ss. 343.30 (1q) and 343.305. Paragraph (a) 1., 2., and 3. each require proof of a fact for conviction which the others do not require.

346.63(2)(b) (b)

346.63(2)(b)1. 1. In an action under this subsection, the defendant has a defense if he or she proves by a preponderance of the evidence that the injury would have occurred even if he or she had been exercising due care and he or she had not been under the influence of an intoxicant, a controlled substance, a controlled substance analog or a combination thereof, under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, did not have a prohibited alcohol concentration described under par. (a) 2., or did not have a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his or her blood.

346.63(2)(b)2. 2. In an action under par. (a) 3. that is based on the defendant allegedly having a detectable amount of methamphetamine, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in his or her blood, the defendant has a defense if he or she proves by a preponderance of the evidence that at the time of the incident or occurrence he or she had a valid prescription for methamphetamine or one of its metabolic precursors, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

346.63(2m) (2m) If a person has not attained the legal drinking age, as defined in s. 125.02 (8m), the person may not drive or operate a motor vehicle while he or she has an alcohol concentration of more than 0.0 but not more than 0.08. One penalty for violation of this subsection is suspension of a person’s operating privilege under s. 343.30 (1p). The person is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 at any time. If a person arrested for a violation of this subsection refuses to take a test under s. 343.305, the refusal is a separate violation and the person is subject to revocation of the person’s operating privilege under s. 343.305 (10) (em).