Chapter 347

347.245 347.245 Identification emblem on certain slow moving vehicles.

347.245(1) (1) No person may operate on a highway any vehicle or equipment, any implement of husbandry, any animal-drawn vehicle, or any other machinery, including all road machinery, that usually travels at speeds of less than 25 miles per hour or any vehicle operated under a special restricted operator’s license issued under s. 343.135 or any lightweight utility vehicle, as defined in s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2., unless there is displayed on the most practicable visible rear area of the vehicle or combination of vehicles, a slow moving vehicle (SMV) emblem as described in and displayed as provided in sub. (2). Any towed vehicle or machine is exempt from this provision if the towing vehicle is visible from the rear and is in compliance with this section. All road machinery is excluded when it is engaged in actual construction or maintenance work either guarded by a flagman or clearly visible warning signs. The requirement of the emblem shall be in addition to any lighting devices required or permitted by law. Mopeds and motor bicycles are excluded from the provisions of this section unless they are operated under a special restricted operator’s license issued under s. 343.135. Electric scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and personal delivery devices are excluded from the provisions of this section. The SMV emblem need not be displayed on vehicles moving directly across the highway.

347.245(2) (2) Standards and specifications for the design and position of mounting of the SMV emblem shall be established by rule by the secretary. The standards and specifications for SMV emblems shall correlate with and, so far as possible, conform with those approved by the American society of agricultural engineers. The secretary shall submit such standards and specifications, and any subsequent changes therein, to the assembly and senate committees having jurisdiction over transportation matters as determined by the speaker of the assembly and the president of the senate acting jointly for their approval.

347.245(3) (3) No person shall display such emblem on a roadway, except as provided in sub. (1), nor on roadside stationary objects such as mailboxes or signposts and no such emblem shall be used as a clearance marker for wide vehicles. No slow moving vehicle actually engaged in construction or maintenance guarded by a flagman or clearly visible warning signs need remove the slow moving vehicle emblem.

347.245(4) (4) No person shall display such emblem on any vehicle or equipment not specified in sub. (1).

347.245(5) (5) This section does not apply to any vehicle or combination of vehicles to the left rear of which is attached a yellow or amber flashing light at least 4 inches in diameter, except to an implement of husbandry.

347.245 History History: 1977 c. 29, 288; 1979 c. 34; 1981 c. 138; 1987 a. 164; 2001 a. 90; 2009 a. 157; 2013 a. 377; 2015 a. 232; 2017 a. 13; 2019 a. 11.

347.245 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 304, Wis. adm. code.

347.245 Annotation As applied to Amish appellants, requiring slow moving vehicle signs on buggies unconstitutionally infringed on religious liberties. State v. Miller, 202 Wis. 2d 56, 549 N.W.2d 235 (1996), 94-0159.

347.25 347.25 Special warning lamps on vehicles.

347.25(1) (1) Except as provided in subs. (1m) (a), (1n), (1r), and (1s), an authorized emergency vehicle may be equipped with one or more flashing, oscillating, or rotating red lights, except that ambulances, fire department equipment, privately owned motor vehicles under s. 340.01 (3) (d), (dg), or (dm) being used by personnel of a full-time or part-time fire department, by members of a volunteer fire department or rescue squad, or by an organ procurement organization or any person under an agreement with an organ procurement organization, and privately owned motor vehicles under s. 340.01 (3) (dh) being used to transport or pick up medical devices or equipment, may be equipped with red or red and white lights, and shall be so equipped when the operator thereof is exercising the privileges granted by s. 346.03 or 346.215 (2) (a). The lights shall be so designed and mounted as to be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of 500 feet both during normal sunlight and during hours of darkness. No operator of an authorized emergency vehicle may use the warning lights except when responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, when transporting an organ for human transplantation, when transporting medical personnel for the purpose of performing human organ harvesting or transplantation immediately after the transportation, when necessarily parked in a position which is likely to be hazardous to traffic, or as authorized under s. 346.215 (2) (a).

347.25(1m) (1m) 

347.25(1m)(a) (a) A police vehicle under s. 340.01 (3) (a) may be equipped with a blue light and a red light which are flashing, oscillating or rotating.

347.25(1m)(b) (b) If the vehicle is so equipped, the lights shall be illuminated as required under s. 346.03 or 346.215 (2) (a) when the operator of the police vehicle is exercising the privileges granted under s. 346.03 or 346.215 (2) (a). On a marked police vehicle, the blue light shall be mounted on the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light shall be mounted on the driver side of the vehicle. When in use on an unmarked police vehicle, the blue light shall be displayed on the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light shall be displayed on the driver side of the vehicle. The lights shall be designed and displayed so as to be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of 500 feet during normal sunlight and during hours of darkness. No operator of a police vehicle may use the warning lights except when responding to an emergency call or when in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, when necessarily parked on a highway in a position which is likely to be hazardous to traffic using the highway, or as authorized under s. 346.215 (2) (a).

347.25(1m)(c) (c) If the state or any local authority intends to equip its police vehicles as authorized under par. (a), the state or the local authority shall give notice of its intent as a class 2 notice under ch. 985 at least 90 days before so equipping the first vehicle.

347.25(1n) (1n) A police vehicle under s. 340.01 (3) (a) may be equipped with one or more flashing white lights. The lights shall be designed and displayed so as to be plainly visible and understandable from a distance of 500 feet both during normal sunlight and during hours of darkness. The lights may be used only when the warning lamps authorized under sub. (1) or (1m) are in use.

347.25(1r) (1r) 

347.25(1r)(a) (a)

347.25(1r)(a)1. 1. A police vehicle under s. 340.01 (3) (a) may be equipped so that the high beams of its headlamps pulsate or flash alternately at a rate of 70 to 90 pulses or flashes per minute. The pulsating or flashing headlamps may be used only when the warning lamps authorized under sub. (1) or (1m) are in use.

347.25(1r)(a)2. 2. If the state or any local authority intends to equip its police vehicles as authorized under subd. 1., the state or the local authority shall give notice of its intent as a class 2 notice under ch. 985 at least 90 days before so equipping the first vehicle.

347.25(1r)(b) (b)

347.25(1r)(b)1. 1.

347.25(1r)(b)1.a. a. A vehicle of a fire department under s. 340.01 (3) (c) or an ambulance under s. 340.01 (3) (g) may be equipped so that the high beams of its headlamps pulsate or flash alternately at a rate of 70 to 90 pulses or flashes per minute. The pulsating or flashing headlamps may be used only when the warning lamps authorized under sub. (1) are in use.

347.25(1r)(b)1.b. b. If any local authority intends to equip its vehicles as authorized under subd. 1. a., the local authority shall give notice of its intent as a class 2 notice under ch. 985 at least 90 days before so equipping the first vehicle.

347.25(1r)(b)2. 2.

347.25(1r)(b)2.a. a. A sheriff or others designated by the county board may authorize that an ambulance under s. 340.01 (3) (i) be equipped so that the high beams of its headlamps pulsate or flash alternately at a rate of 70 to 90 pulses or flashes per minute. The pulsating or flashing headlamps may be used only when the warning lamps authorized under sub. (1) are in use.

347.25(1r)(b)2.b. b. If the sheriff or others designated by the county board intend to authorize any ambulance under s. 340.01 (3) (i) to be equipped as authorized under subd. 2. a., the local authority shall give notice of its intent as a class 2 notice under ch. 985 at least 90 days before authorizing the first vehicle to be so equipped.

347.25(1r)(c) (c)

347.25(1r)(c)1. 1.

347.25(1r)(c)1.a. a. The state fire marshal may authorize that a privately owned motor vehicle under s. 340.01 (3) (d) that is being used by a deputy state fire marshal be equipped so that the high beams of its headlamps pulsate or flash alternately at a rate of 70 to 90 pulses or flashes per minute. The pulsating or flashing headlamps may be used only when the warning lamps authorized under sub. (1) are in use.

347.25(1r)(c)1.b. b. If the state fire marshal intends to authorize any privately owned motor vehicle under s. 340.01 (3) (d) that is being used by a deputy state fire marshal to be equipped as authorized under subd. 1. a., the state shall give notice of its intent as a class 2 notice under ch. 985 at least 90 days before authorizing the first vehicle to be so equipped.

347.25(1r)(c)2. 2.

347.25(1r)(c)2.a. a. A fire chief may authorize that a privately owned motor vehicle under s. 340.01 (3) (d) that is being used by an employee of the fire department or, if applicable, a member of the volunteer fire department be equipped so that the high beams of its headlamps pulsate or flash alternately at a rate of 70 to 90 pulses or flashes per minute. The pulsating or flashing headlamps may be used only when the warning lamps authorized under sub. (1) are in use.

347.25(1r)(c)2.b. b. If the fire chief intends to authorize any privately owned motor vehicle under s. 340.01 (3) (d) that is being used by an employee of the fire department or, if applicable, a member of the volunteer fire department to be equipped as authorized under subd. 2. a., the local authority shall give notice of its intent as a class 2 notice under ch. 985 at least 90 days before authorizing the first vehicle to be so equipped.

347.25(1s) (1s) A vehicle in use by a fire department as a command post at the site of an emergency call may be equipped with a blue or green light which is flashing, oscillating or rotating.

347.25(2) (2) No person may operate a school bus which is painted as provided in s. 347.44 unless it is equipped with a 360-degree flashing white strobe light having a flashrate of 60 to 120 per minute and either flashing red warning lights or flashing red and amber warning lights. The secretary shall prescribe rules for the type, installation, operation and light output brilliance of the lights required under this subsection. No vehicle may be equipped with the warning and strobe lights required under this subsection unless it also is painted as provided in s. 347.44.

347.25 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 300, Wis. adm. code.

347.25(2g) (2g) No person may operate on a highway any self-propelled implement of husbandry having a total width in excess of 12 feet unless it is equipped with a 360-degree yellow or amber rotating strobe or beacon light, mounted at the highest practicable point, or 2 flashing amber lights visible to the front and rear, and the light or lights are activated.

347.25(2m) (2m) A human service vehicle may be equipped with a 360-degree flashing strobe light with a flashrate of 60 to 120 per minute. Notwithstanding s. 110.05 (1), the secretary shall prescribe rules for the type, color, installation, operation and light output brilliance of the lights permitted under this subsection.

347.25(3) (3) The lead vehicle in a funeral procession may be equipped, or any vehicle in the procession may be equipped if all vehicles in the procession are so equipped, with a flashing amber light that may be used only in the procession.

347.25(4) (4) No vehicle may be equipped with or display any blue colored light or lamp unless the vehicle is used in police work authorized by the state or a political subdivision of the state or is used by a fire department as authorized under sub. (1s).

347.25(5) (5) Notwithstanding s. 347.26 (11), whenever flashing warning lamps on an authorized emergency vehicle are designed and being used to exhibit a directional arrow at the scene of an emergency, the lamps exhibiting the directional arrow may be flashing simultaneously or sequentially. If the use of flashing warning lamps to exhibit a directional arrow would likely direct approaching traffic into a lane of traffic moving in the opposite direction, only the flashing warning lamps that exhibit the horizontal bar of a directional arrow may be used and such lamps shall be flashing simultaneously.

347.25 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (c); 1977 c. 228; 1979 c. 54, 149; 1983 a. 56; 1985 a. 143; 1987 a. 126; 1989 a. 69; 1991 a. 73, 142; 1993 a. 369; 1995 a. 31, 190; 1997 a. 31, 117; 2007 a. 20, 177; 2009 a. 46; 2013 a. 95, 96, 313, 377; 2015 a. 232.

347.25 Annotation The trial court acted erroneously in imposing the burden of proof as to the intensity of the light upon the plaintiff. The statutory exemption of emergency vehicles from adherence to traffic regulations is available as an affirmative defense, and the defendants bear the burden of proving the necessary compliance with the statutory condition. A light showing only to the front would not provide the operator with emergency privileges for stopping, parking, or turning as to vehicles approaching from the rear. Pittman v. Lieffring, 59 Wis. 2d 52, 207 N.W.2d 610 (1973).

347.26 347.26 Restrictions on certain optional lighting equipment.

347.26(1) (1) General restrictions. A vehicle need not be equipped with the lamps specified in this section, but if a vehicle is equipped with any such lamps, no person shall operate such vehicle on a highway during hours of darkness unless such lamps comply with the requirements of this section and no person shall use such lamps in a manner inconsistent with this section.

347.26(2) (2) Spotlamps.

347.26(2)(a) (a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than 2 spotlamps.

347.26(2)(b) (b) No spotlamp shall be used as a substitute for headlamps. No spotlamp shall be used as an auxiliary driving light on any motor vehicle except when such spotlamp is set or adjusted so that the rays of light are projected directly upon the road surface at a distance not exceeding 150 feet directly in front of the vehicle and to the right of the center of the traveled roadway. No spotlamp shall project any glaring light into the eyes of an approaching driver.

347.26(3) (3) Adverse weather lamps.

347.26(3)(a) (a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than 2 adverse weather lamps which shall be mounted on the front of the vehicle below the level of the centers of the headlamps.

347.26(3)(b) (b) Adverse weather lamps shall not be used in lieu of headlamps unless absolutely necessary in case of rain, snow, dust or fog and then only when a vehicle is equipped with 2 adverse weather lamps mounted on opposite sides of the front of the vehicle and when both such adverse weather lamps are lighted. Whenever any vehicle is equipped with only one adverse weather lamp, both headlamps of such vehicle shall be lighted at all times when such adverse weather lamp is lighted.

347.26(4) (4) Back-up lamps.

347.26(4)(a) (a) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than 2 back-up lamps which shall be so directed as to project a white or amber light illuminating the roadway to the rear of such vehicle for a distance not to exceed 75 feet.

347.26(4)(b) (b) No lighted back-up lamp shall be displayed on any vehicle upon a highway except when such vehicle is about to be or is being driven backward. Whenever a back-up lamp is lighted during hours of darkness, the tail lamp or tail lamps on the vehicle displaying such lighted back-up lamp also shall be lighted.

347.26(5) (5) Identification lamps on taxicabs and buses. No person shall operate a motor vehicle regularly used for transporting passengers for hire displaying any lighting device for identification purposes other than a single illuminated sign or lighted lamp mounted above the top line of the windshield, colored white, amber or green. Such illuminated sign or lamp shall be so constructed as to emit a steady or flashing nonglaring light.

347.26(6) (6) Warning lamps on tow trucks and service vehicles.

347.26(6)(a) (a) Any vehicle which by reason of its use upon a highway creates a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing shall be equipped with a flashing or rotating amber lamp of the dome type at the highest practicable point, visible from a distance of 500 feet, or 2 flashing amber lamps, one showing to the front and one showing to the rear, visible from a distance of 500 feet and mounted approximately midway between the extremities of the width of the vehicle and at the highest practicable point. Such amber lamp or lamps shall be lighted when such vehicle is moving a disabled vehicle along or upon a public highway at a speed below the average speed of motor vehicle traffic on such street or highway and may not be lit at other times.

347.26(6)(b) (b) Operators of tow trucks or towing vehicles shall equip each tow truck or towing vehicle with a flashing or rotating red lamp, in addition to flashing type amber lamps. Such lamp shall be placed on the dome of the vehicle at the highest practicable point visible from a distance of 500 feet. This flashing red lamp shall be used only when such vehicle is standing on or near the traveled portion of a highway preparatory to towing or servicing the disabled vehicle.

347.26(7) (7) Warning lamps on certain highway vehicles. Any vehicle of the department or a county or municipal highway department that by reason of its use upon a highway creates a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing may be equipped with any of the following configurations of flashing red, amber, or green lamps:

347.26(7)(a) (a) A lamp of the dome-light type.

347.26(7)(b) (b) Two lamps, one showing to the front and one showing to the rear. The lamps shall be mounted approximately midway between the extremities of the width of the vehicle and at the highest practicable point and shall be used only for the purpose of warning operators of other vehicles of the presence of the traffic hazard.

347.26(7)(c) (c) Four lamps, 2 showing to the front and 2 showing to the rear. The lamps showing to the front shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. The lamps showing to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.

347.26(8) (8) Warning lamps for mail delivery vehicles. Any vehicle used for mail delivery may be equipped with a flashing amber lamp or strobe light mounted at the highest practicable point and showing to the front and rear that may be used only to warn other motorists of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing when the vehicle is being used to deliver mail.

347.26(9) (9) Warning lamps on public utility and cooperative vehicles.

347.26(9)(a) (a) Subject to par. (b), any vehicle of a public utility, as defined in s. 196.01 (5), telecommunications carrier, as defined in s. 196.01 (8m), or cooperative association organized under ch. 185 for the purpose of producing or furnishing heat, light, power, or water to its members that by reason of its use upon a highway creates a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing may be equipped with any of the following configurations of flashing amber or green lamps:

347.26(9)(a)1. 1. A lamp of the dome-light type.

347.26(9)(a)2. 2. Two lamps, one showing to the front and one showing to the rear. The lamps shall be mounted approximately midway between the extremities of the width of the vehicle and at the highest practicable point and shall be used only for the purpose of warning operators of other vehicles of the presence of the traffic hazard. If the mounting of lamps midway between the extremities of the width of the vehicle is impracticable because of the vehicle’s design, then the mountings shall be made at or near the upper left front and rear corners of the vehicle.

347.26(9)(a)3. 3. Four lamps, 2 showing to the front and 2 showing to the rear. The lamps showing to the front shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. The lamps showing to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.

347.26(9)(b) (b) In this paragraph, “maintenance and restoration of utility service” means the immediate restoration of a utility service that is outside the normal parameters of general maintenance or construction when damage or interruption of service has been caused to utility infrastructure by adverse weather or other events and that requires utility crews to park utility vehicles in the roadway or on the shoulder of the roadway. No person may use flashing green lamps under par. (a) unless the vehicle upon which the lamps are mounted is operated for the purpose of maintenance and restoration of utility service.

347.26(10) (10) Flashing amber light on oversize vehicle. Any vehicle moving on the highway pursuant to an oversize permit issued under s. 348.25, 348.26 or 348.27 may be equipped with a flashing amber dome light upon the cab of such vehicle or with double faced flashing amber light mounted along the sides of such vehicle mounted and used when the movement is oversize.

347.26(11) (11) Flashing warning lamps.

347.26(11)(a) (a) Any vehicle may be equipped with lamps which may be used for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing, and when so equipped may display such warning in addition to any other warning signals required by this section. The lamps used to display such warning to the front shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall display simultaneously flashing white or amber lights, or any shade of color between white and amber. The lamps used to display such warning to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights, or any shade of color between amber and red. These warning lights shall be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet under normal atmospheric conditions at night. Directional signals meeting the requirements of this chapter shall be used or lamps meeting these requirements, mounted so as to comply with turn signal installation.

347.26(11)(am) (am) In addition to any other lamps authorized under this subsection, a motor truck having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds may be equipped with a 360-degree flashing or rotating amber light mounted at the highest practicable point. The flashing or rotating amber lamp may be lighted only when the motor truck is upon a highway having a maximum speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour and the motor truck is traveling 10 or more miles per hour below the maximum speed limit, is stopped, or is backing on such highway. The flashing or rotating amber lamp may not be lit at other times.

347.26(11)(b) (b) Whenever any vehicle other than an automobile, which is equipped as permitted in par. (a), is stopped for more than 10 minutes on the traveled portion of any highway, or shoulder thereof, during hours of darkness, the driver of such vehicle shall display warning signals as required by s. 347.29.

347.26 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (a); 1983 a. 53 s. 114; 1985 a. 204; 1989 a. 134, 336; 1993 a. 496; 2005 a. 38; 2021 a. 255; 2023 a. 155.

347.26 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. Trans 305.075, 305.08, 305.10, and 305.11, Wis. adm. code.

347.27 347.27 When lighted lamps required on parked vehicles.

347.27(1) (1) No person shall park or leave a vehicle standing, whether attended or unattended, upon a roadway or the shoulder immediately adjacent thereto during hours of darkness unless:

347.27(1)(a) (a) Such vehicle is parked or standing where there is sufficient artificial light to render it visible from a distance of 500 feet or is lawfully parked within the corporate limits of a city or village and in either case is equipped with at least one red reflector mounted on the rear thereof as near as practicable to the side of the vehicle which is closest to passing traffic and otherwise meeting the mounting and visibility requirements specified in ss. 347.18 and 347.19; or

347.27(1)(b) (b) Such vehicle displays one or more lighted lamps meeting the following requirements:

347.27(1)(b)1. 1. At least one lamp shall display a white or amber light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front of the vehicle, and the same lamp or at least one other lamp shall display a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

347.27(1)(b)2. 2. The location of such lamp or lamps shall always be such that at least one lamp or combination of lamps meeting the requirements of this section is installed as near as practicable to the side of the vehicle which is closest to passing traffic.

347.27(1)(b)3. 3. If the vehicle is equipped with 2 parking lamps and 2 tail lamps, both parking lamps and both tail lamps shall be lighted.

347.27(2) (2) Any lighted headlamps on a vehicle parked on a highway shall be depressed or dimmed.

347.27(3) (3) In this section, “vehicle” includes farm tractors, implements of husbandry, animal-drawn vehicles, lightweight utility vehicles as defined in s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2., and road machinery.

347.27 History History: 2009 a. 157; 2015 a. 232.

347.28 347.28 Certain vehicles to carry flares or other warning devices.

347.28(1) (1) No person shall operate a motor truck or motor bus more than 80 inches in width or a truck tractor or road tractor on any highway outside the corporate limits of a city or village during hours of darkness unless such vehicle carries in a place readily accessible to the driver the following warning devices: