Chapter 346

346.70(1m)(b) (b) No person may knowingly assist an operator or occupant of a motor vehicle involved in an accident as described in sub. (1) to flee the scene of the accident unless the accident has, or the person is advised that the accident has, first been reported to a law enforcement agency, except to provide medical assistance.

346.70(2) (2) Written report of accident. Unless a report is made under sub. (4) by a law enforcement agency, within 10 days after an accident of the type described in sub. (1), the operator of a vehicle involved in the accident shall forward a written report of the accident to the department. The department may accept or require a report of the accident to be filed by an occupant or the owner in lieu of a report from the operator. Every accident report required to be made in writing shall be made on the appropriate form approved by the department and shall contain all of the information required therein unless not available. The report shall include information sufficient to enable the department to determine whether the requirements for deposit of security under s. 344.14 are inapplicable by reason of the existence of insurance or other exceptions specified in ch. 344.

346.70(3) (3) Who to report when operator unable. Whenever the operator of a vehicle is physically incapable of giving the notice and making the report required by subs. (1) and (2), the owner of the vehicle involved in the accident shall give the notice and make the report required by subs. (1) and (2). If the owner of the vehicle is physically or mentally incapable of making the report required by sub. (2), and if there was another occupant in the vehicle at the time of the accident capable of making the report, the occupant shall make the report.

346.70(3m) (3m) Duty of department with respect to accident reports.

346.70(3m)(a) (a) The department may require any operator, occupant or owner of a vehicle involved in an accident of which report must be made as provided in this section to file supplemental reports whenever the original report is insufficient in the opinion of the department and may require witnesses of accidents to render reports to the department.

346.70(3m)(b) (b) The department shall tabulate and may analyze all accident reports and shall publish annually or at more frequent intervals statistical information based thereon as to the number and circumstances of traffic accidents.

346.70(3m)(c) (c) The department shall prepare and supply at its own expense to police departments, coroners, sheriffs and other suitable agencies or individuals, forms or an automated format for accident reports required to be made to the department. Any report forms and automated format shall call for sufficiently detailed information to disclose with reference to a traffic accident the cause, conditions then existing, and the persons and vehicles involved.

346.70(4) (4) Police and traffic agencies to report.

346.70(4)(a) (a) Every law enforcement agency investigating or receiving a report of a traffic accident as described in sub. (1) shall forward an original written report of the accident or a report of the accident in an automated format to the department within 10 days after the date of the accident.

346.70(4)(b) (b) The reports shall be made on a uniform traffic accident report form or in an automated format prescribed by the secretary. The uniform traffic accident report form shall be supplied by the secretary in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements of the department and the law enforcement agency.

346.70(4)(f) (f) Notwithstanding s. 346.73, any person may with proper care, during office hours, and subject to such orders or regulations as the custodian thereof prescribes, examine or copy such uniform traffic accident reports, including supplemental or additional reports, statements of witnesses, photographs and diagrams, retained by local authorities, the state traffic patrol or any other investigating law enforcement agency.

346.70(4)(g) (g) The department, upon request of local enforcement agencies, shall make available to them compilations of data obtained from such reports.

346.70(4)(h) (h) Every law enforcement agency investigating or receiving a report of a traffic accident as described in sub. (1) shall forward a copy of the report of the accident to the county traffic safety commission or to the person designated to maintain spot maps under s. 83.013 (1) (a) in the county where the accident occurred when the accident occurred on a county or town road or on a street where the population of the city, village or town is less than 5,000. For traffic accidents occurring within a city or village with a population of 5,000 or more, the law enforcement agency investigating or receiving a report shall forward a copy of the report of the accident to the city or village where the accident occurred.

346.70(4)(i) (i) Whenever a law enforcement officer investigates or receives a report of a traffic accident subject to sub. (1), in which the operator of any vehicle involved in the accident displays a driver’s license issued by the federal department of state or otherwise claims immunities or privileges under 22 USC 254a to 258a with respect to the operator’s violation of any state traffic law or any local traffic law enacted by any local authority in accordance with s. 349.06, the officer shall do all of the following:

346.70(4)(i)1. 1. As soon as practicable, contact the diplomatic security command center of the office of foreign missions, diplomatic motor vehicle office, within the federal department of state, to verify the status and immunity, if any, of the driver claiming diplomatic immunity.

346.70(4)(i)2. 2. Within 10 days after the date of the accident, forward a copy of the report of the accident, at no charge, to the diplomatic security command center of the office of foreign missions, diplomatic motor vehicle office, within the federal department of state.

346.70(5) (5) Falsifying reports. No person shall falsely make and file or transmit any accident report or knowingly make a false statement in any accident report which is filed or transmitted pursuant to this section.

346.70 History History: 1975 c. 240, 381; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1486, 1654 (7) (a), (c); 1977 c. 100; 1979 c. 99; 1981 c. 20, 133, 314; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 211; 1993 a. 246, 437; 1995 a. 113; 2001 a. 27; 2005 a. 253; 2009 a. 276; 2011 a. 256.

346.70 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 100, Wis. adm. code.

346.70 Annotation Items subject to examination under sub. (4) (f) may not be withheld by the prosecution under the common law rule that investigative material may be withheld from a criminal defendant. State ex rel. Young v. Shaw, 165 Wis. 2d 276, 477 N.W.2d 340 (Ct. App. 1991).

346.70 Annotation The police department was allowed to release unredacted copies of accident reports requested by a newspaper pursuant to the “state law” exception to the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, which allows disclosure of personal information from state motor vehicle records for any other use specifically authorized under the law of the state that holds the record, if such use is related to the operation of a motor vehicle or public safety. Sub. (4) (f) specifically mandates that law enforcement agencies provide the public with access to uniform traffic accident reports. That is a use specifically authorized under Wisconsin law and is related to the operation of a motor vehicle or public safety. New Richmond News v. City of New Richmond, 2016 WI App 43, 370 Wis. 2d 75, 881 N.W.2d 339, 14-1938.

346.70 Annotation A county sheriff’s department is not a consumer reporting agency subject to the fair credit reporting act for reports under sub. (4). However, the Federal Trade Commission has taken an opposite position. 63 Atty. Gen. 364.

346.71 346.71 Coroners or medical examiners to report; require blood specimen.

346.71(1) (1) Every coroner or medical examiner shall, on or before the 10th day of each month, report in writing any accident involving a motor vehicle occurring within the coroner’s or medical examiner’s jurisdiction resulting in the death of any person during the preceding calendar month. If the accident involved an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle, the report shall be made to the department of natural resources and shall include the information specified by that department. If the accident involved an off-highway motorcycle, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (q), operated off the highways, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (y), the report shall be made to the department of natural resources and the department of transportation and shall include the information specified by each department. If the accident involved any other motor vehicle, the report shall be made to the department of transportation and shall include the information specified by that department. The coroner or medical examiner of the county where the death occurs, if the accident occurred in another jurisdiction, shall, immediately upon learning of the death, report it to the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the accident occurred, as provided in s. 979.01 (1).

346.71(2) (2) In cases of death involving a motor vehicle in which the decedent was the operator of a motor vehicle, a pedestrian 14 years of age or older or a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device operator 14 years of age or older and who died within 6 hours of the time of the accident, the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the death occurred shall require that a blood specimen of at least 10 cc. be withdrawn from the body of the decedent within 12 hours after his or her death, by the coroner or medical examiner or by a physician so designated by the coroner or medical examiner or by a qualified person at the direction of the physician. All funeral directors shall obtain a release from the coroner or medical examiner of the county where the accident occurred as provided in s. 979.01 (4) prior to proceeding with embalming any body coming under the scope of this section. The blood so drawn shall be forwarded to a laboratory approved by the department of health services for analysis of the alcoholic content of the blood specimen. The coroner or medical examiner causing the blood to be withdrawn shall be notified of the results of each analysis made and shall forward the results of each such analysis to the department of health services. If the death involved a motor vehicle, the department shall keep a record of all such examinations to be used for statistical purposes only and the department shall disseminate and make public the cumulative results of the examinations without identifying the individuals involved. If the death involved an all-terrain vehicle, a utility terrain vehicle, or an off-highway motorcycle, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (q), that was being operated off the highways, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (y), the department of natural resources shall keep a record of all such examinations to be used for statistical purposes only and the department of natural resources shall disseminate and make public the cumulative results of the examinations without identifying the individuals involved.

346.71(3) (3) In a case of death involving a motor vehicle in which the accident and the death occur in different counties, the county where the death occurs may charge the county where the accident occurs a reasonable fee for withdrawing the blood specimen from the body of the decedent as required under sub. (2).

346.71 History History: 1973 c. 272; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 273; 1983 a. 485; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 302; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 2001 a. 90; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2011 a. 208; 2015 a. 170; 2019 a. 11.

346.71 Annotation Coroners’ blood test records under sub. (2) are not confidential. Test results are presumptively accurate. Staples v. Glienke, 142 Wis. 2d 19, 416 N.W.2d 920 (Ct. App. 1987).

346.72 346.72 Garages to keep record of repairs of accident damage. The person in charge of any garage or repair shop to which is brought any motor vehicle which shows evidence of having been involved in an accident shall keep a record of the date such vehicle is brought in and the nature of the repair, the name and address of the owner, and the make, year and registration number of the vehicle. Such record shall be kept in the place of business during business hours and shall be open to inspection by any traffic officer. Shop records normally kept by garages and repair shops are adequate for the purpose of this section if they contain the information specified in this section.

346.73 346.73 Accident reports not to be used in trial. Notwithstanding s. 346.70 (4) (f), accident reports required to be filed with or transmitted to the department or a county or municipal authority shall not be used as evidence in any judicial trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident, except that such reports may be used as evidence in any administrative proceeding conducted by the department. The department shall furnish upon demand of any person who has or claims to have made such a report, or upon demand of any court, a certificate showing that a specified accident report has or has not been made to the department solely to prove a compliance or a failure to comply with the requirement that such a report be made to the department.

346.73 History History: 1971 c. 253; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1993 a. 437.

346.74 346.74 Penalty for violating sections 346.67 to 346.73.

346.74(1) (1) Any person violating s. 346.72 may be required to forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.

346.74(2) (2) Any person violating s. 346.70 (2) or (3), 346.71 or 346.73 may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $200 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.

346.74(2g) (2g) Any operator of a vehicle, and any occupant of a vehicle who is at least 16 years of age, who violates s. 346.70 (1) may be required to forfeit not less than $200 nor more than $500 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $300 nor more than $500 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.

346.74(2r) (2r) Any person violating s. 346.70 (1m) may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $200.

346.74(3) (3) Any person violating s. 346.68 or 346.69 may be required to forfeit not more than $200.

346.74(4) (4) Any person violating s. 346.70 (5) may be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $50.

346.74(5) (5) Any person violating any provision of s. 346.67 (1):

346.74(5)(a) (a) Shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both if the accident did not involve death or injury to a person.

346.74(5)(b) (b) May be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both if the accident involved injury to a person but the person did not suffer great bodily harm.

346.74(5)(c) (c) Is guilty of a Class E felony if the accident involved injury to a person and the person suffered great bodily harm.

346.74(5)(d) (d) Is guilty of a Class D felony if the accident involved death to a person.

346.74(5)(e) (e) Is guilty of a felony if the accident involved death or injury to a person.

346.74(6) (6) 

346.74(6)(a) (a) A vehicle owner or other person found liable under s. 346.675 with respect to a violation of s. 346.67 (1) may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000.

346.74(6)(b) (b) A vehicle owner or other person found liable under s. 346.675 with respect to a violation of s. 346.68 or 346.69 may be required to forfeit not more than $100.

346.74(6)(c) (c) Imposition of liability under s. 346.675 shall not result in suspension or revocation of a person’s operating privilege under s. 343.30 or 343.31, nor shall it result in demerit points being recorded on a person’s driving record under s. 343.32 (2) (a).

346.74 History History: 1971 c. 278; 1973 c. 218; 1981 c. 20, 70; 1997 a. 258, 283; 2001 a. 109; 2003 a. 74; 2005 a. 411; 2011 a. 256.

346.74 Annotation Although sub. (5) (b) establishes a maximum of nine months’ imprisonment for a violation of s. 346.67 (1) when the accident involves injury to a person but not great bodily harm, and offenses punishable by a maximum period of incarceration of less than one year are ordinarily classified as misdemeanors under ss. 939.60 and 973.02, sub. (5) (e) states that a violation of s. 346.67 (1) is “a felony if the accident involved death or injury to a person.” Any inconsistency is resolved by the principle that when two statutes relate to the same subject matter, the more specific language controls, in this case the language providing that the offense is a felony. State v. Brandt, 2009 WI App 115, 321 Wis. 2d 84, 772 N.W.2d 674, 08-0550.

subch. XII of ch. 346 SUBCHAPTER XII

BICYCLES, ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES, PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICES, AND PLAY VEHICLES

346.77 346.77 Responsibility of parent or guardian for violation of bicycle and play vehicle regulations. No parent or guardian of any child shall authorize or knowingly permit such child to violate any of the provisions of ss. 346.78 to 346.804 and 347.489.

346.77 History History: 1983 a. 243 s. 66; 2001 a. 90.

346.78 346.78 Play vehicles not to be used on roadway. No person riding upon any play vehicle may attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway or go upon any roadway except while crossing a roadway at a crosswalk.

346.78 History History: 1983 a. 243.

346.79 346.79 Special rules applicable to bicycles. Whenever a bicycle is operated upon a highway, bicycle lane or bicycle way the following rules apply:

346.79(1) (1) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.

346.79(2) (2) 

346.79(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), no bicycle may be used to carry or transport more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed.

346.79(2)(b) (b) In addition to the operator, a bicycle otherwise designed to carry only the operator may be used to carry or transport a child seated in an auxiliary child’s seat or trailer designed for attachment to a bicycle if the seat or trailer is securely attached to the bicycle according to the directions of the manufacturer of the seat or trailer.

346.79(3) (3) No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.

346.79(4) (4) No person riding a bicycle shall attach himself or herself or his or her bicycle to any vehicle upon a roadway.

346.79(5) (5) No person may ride a moped or motor bicycle with the power unit in operation upon a bicycle way.

346.79 History History: 1973 c. 182; 1977 c. 288; 1983 a. 243; 1985 a. 298; 1991 a. 316.

346.79 Annotation Sub. (2) is violated when two persons ride on a single bicycle designed for one person to which an additional seat, but no footrests or handgrips, has been added. 61 Atty. Gen. 360.

346.80 346.80 Riding bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device on roadway.

346.80(1) (1) In this section, “substandard width lane” means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device and a motor vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

346.80(2) (2) 

346.80(2)(a) (a) Any person operating a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb of the unobstructed traveled roadway, including operators who are riding 2 or more abreast where permitted under sub. (3), except:

346.80(2)(a)1. 1. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

346.80(2)(a)2. 2. When preparing for a left turn or U-turn at an intersection or a left turn into a private road or driveway.

346.80(2)(a)3. 3. When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions, including fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to ride along the right-hand edge or curb.

346.80(2)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a), any person operating a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a one-way highway having 2 or more lanes available for traffic may ride as near the left-hand edge or curb of the roadway as practicable.

346.80(2)(c) (c) Any person operating a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a roadway shall exercise due care when passing a standing or parked vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction and, when passing a standing or parked vehicle that is a school bus that is not displaying flashing red warning lights as provided in s. 346.48 (1) or a motor bus, shall allow a minimum of 3 feet between the bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device and the vehicle.

346.80(3) (3) 

346.80(3)(a) (a) Persons riding bicycles, electric scooters, or electric personal assistive mobility devices upon a roadway may ride 2 abreast if such operation does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. Bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device operators riding 2 abreast on a 2-lane or more roadway shall ride within a single lane.

346.80(3)(b) (b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than 2 abreast except upon any path, trail, lane or other way set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, electric scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices.

346.80(4) (4) No person may operate a bicycle, electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, or moped upon a roadway where a sign is erected indicating that bicycle, electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, or moped riding is prohibited.

346.80(5) (5) Except as provided in ss. 346.23, 346.24, 346.37, and 346.38, every rider of a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device shall, upon entering on a highway, yield, and every personal delivery device operator shall ensure that the personal delivery device, upon entering on a highway, yield the right-of-way to motor vehicles.

346.80 History History: 1973 c. 182; 1977 c. 208, 288; 1979 c. 197; 1985 a. 69; 1995 a. 138; 2001 a. 90; 2009 a. 22, 97; 2017 a. 13; 2019 a. 11.

346.803 346.803 Riding bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device on bicycle way.

346.803(1) (1) Every person operating a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a bicycle way shall:

346.803(1)(a) (a) Exercise due care and give an audible signal when passing a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device rider or a pedestrian proceeding in the same direction.

346.803(1)(b) (b) Obey each traffic signal or sign facing a roadway which runs parallel and adjacent to a bicycle way.

346.803(2) (2) Every person operating a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device upon a bicycle way open to 2-way traffic shall ride on the right side of the bicycle way.

346.803(3) (3) Every operator of a bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device entering a bicycle way shall yield the right-of-way to all bicycles and pedestrians in the bicycle way.

346.803(4) (4) Except as provided in ss. 349.236 (1) (bm) and 349.237, a person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device, or an electric scooter at a speed not to exceed 15 miles per hour, upon any bicycle path.

346.803 History History: 1973 c. 182; 2001 a. 90; 2019 a. 11.