348.17348.17 Special or seasonal weight limitations. 348.17(1)(1) No person, whether operating under a permit or otherwise, shall operate a vehicle in violation of special weight limitations imposed by state or local authorities on particular highways, highway structures or portions of highways when signs have been erected as required by s. 349.16 (2) giving notice of such weight limitations, except when the vehicle is being operated under a permit expressly authorizing such weight limitations to be exceeded or is being operated as authorized under sub. (4). 348.17(2)(2) Whenever the operator of a vehicle is ordered by the officer or agency in charge of maintenance or by a traffic officer to suspend operation of such vehicle because of the damage such vehicle is causing or likely to cause to the highway or the public investment therein, the operator shall forthwith comply with such order. 348.17(3)(3) During an energy emergency, after consultation with the public service commission, the department may waive the divisible load limitation of s. 348.25 (4) and authorize for a period not to exceed 30 days the operation of overweight vehicles having a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more and carrying energy resources or fuel or milk commodities designated by the governor or a designee, regardless of the highways involved, to conserve energy. Such authorization may only allow weights not more than 10 percent greater than the gross axle and axle combination weight limitations, and not more than 15 percent greater than the gross vehicle weight limitations under ss. 348.15 and 348.16. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit the department to waive the requirements of ss. 348.05 to 348.07. This subsection does not apply to vehicles on highways designated as parts of the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for the I 39 corridor and the I 41 corridor. 348.17(4)(4) During an energy emergency, after consultation with the public service commission, the department may authorize motor vehicles that have a gross weight of 26,000 pounds or less and that are transporting propane or heating oil for delivery to residences, businesses, or other end users to exceed any special weight limitation imposed under ss. 348.17 (1) and 349.16 (1) (a) and (2) in connection with the thawing of frozen highways. Any person operating a motor vehicle as authorized under this subsection shall, to the extent practicable, deliver propane or heating oil at times of the day when the highways used are the least vulnerable. 348.17(5)(a)(a) From August 1 to December 31 of each year, no permit shall be required for the transportation of corn, soybeans, potatoes, vegetables, or cranberries from the field to storage on the grower’s owned or leased land, from the field to initial storage at a location not owned or leased by the grower, or from the field to initial processing in a vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds the weight limitations under s. 348.15 by not more than 15 percent and that satisfies all of the following: 348.17(5)(a)1.1. Has a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more. 348.17(5)(a)2.2. Is a motor truck, farm truck, road tractor, truck tractor, or farm truck tractor or such a vehicle combined with a semitrailer, trailer, or farm trailer, when the vehicle or combination is a commercial motor vehicle operated on a highway. 348.17(5)(b)(b) This subsection does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for the I 39 corridor and the I 41 corridor. 348.17(6)(a)(a) From September 1 to December 31 of each year, no permit shall be required for the transportation of manure to or from a farm in a vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds the weight limitations under s. 348.15 by not more than 15 percent and that satisfies any of the following: 348.17(6)(a)1.1. Has a registered gross weight of 50,000 pounds or more. 348.17(6)(a)2.2. Is a motor truck, farm truck, road tractor, truck tractor, or farm truck tractor or such a vehicle combined with a semitrailer, trailer, or farm trailer, when the vehicle or combination is a commercial motor vehicle operated on a highway. 348.17(6)(b)(b) This subsection does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for the I 41 corridor. 348.17 AnnotationUnder the federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982, 49 USC 31114, the traditional power of state and local governments to regulate travel over local roads remains so long as reasonable access is not denied, and nothing in 49 USC 31114 (b) suggests that all local restrictions on access to statutorily protected destinations must be based on safety considerations. The record in this case reflected that a seasonal weight limitation was a normal restriction transport companies would be aware of, that adequate notice of the restriction was provided, and that a permit to travel the road was readily available. Put together, these facts showed reasonable access was provided, and the town’s seasonal weight limitation was not preempted by the Act. Town of Delafield v. Central Transport Kriewaldt, 2020 WI 61, 392 Wis. 2d 427, 944 N.W.2d 819, 17-2525. 348.175348.175 Seasonal operation of vehicles hauling peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise or abrasives or salt for highway winter maintenance. The transportation of peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise or of abrasives or salt for highway winter maintenance in excess of gross weight limitations under s. 348.15 shall be permitted during the winter months when the highways are so frozen that no damage may result thereto by reason of such transportation. If at any time any person is so transporting such products or abrasives or salt upon a class “A” highway in such frozen condition then that person may likewise use a class “B” highway without other limitation, except that chains and other traction devices are prohibited on class “A” highways but such chains and devices may be used in cases of necessity. On the first day that conditions warrant their determination of such frozen condition and freedom of damage to such highways by transportation, the officers or agencies in charge of maintenance of highways shall declare particular highways, or highways within areas of the state, as eligible for increased weight limitations, and each declaration shall be effective as of 12:01 a.m. on the 2nd day following the declaration. Such declaration shall include the maximum weight on each axle, combination of axles and the gross weight allowed. Any person transporting any such product over any highway of this state under this section is liable to the maintaining authority for any damage caused to such highway. This section does not apply to the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for the I 39 corridor and the I 41 corridor. 348.175 AnnotationThe phrase “peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise” does not encompass wood chips. The phrase instead invokes images of logs, posts, poles, or similar pieces of timber, with or without bark, and cut to length. State v. T.P. Trucking, 2006 WI App 98, 293 Wis. 2d 273, 715 N.W.2d 736, 05-2496. 348.18348.18 Weight limitations apply to publicly-owned vehicles; exceptions. Sections 348.15 to 348.17 and the penalties for violations thereof also apply to vehicles owned by the state, a county or municipality, except when such vehicles are being used for the removal, treatment or sanding of snow or ice or when such vehicles are authorized emergency vehicles. 348.19348.19 Traffic officers may weigh vehicles and require removal of excess load. 348.19(1)(a)(a) Any traffic officer having reason to believe that the gross weight of a vehicle is unlawful or in excess of the gross weight for which the vehicle is registered may require the operator of such vehicle to stop and submit the vehicle and any load it may be carrying to a weighing by means of either portable or certified stationary scales and may require that such vehicle be driven to the nearest usable portable or certified stationary scale except as provided in par. (b). 348.19(1)(b)(b) Any other provision of the statutes notwithstanding, a vehicle transporting peeled or unpeeled forest products cut crosswise shall not be required to proceed to a scale more than one mile from the point of apprehension if the estimated gross weight of the vehicle does not exceed the lawful limit. The gross weight of the vehicle shall be estimated by multiplying the average length of the load by the average height of the load in feet and then multiplying by the average weight per square foot of load measurement and adding this computed weight to the empty weight of the vehicle. The average weights per square foot of load measurement to be used in computing the estimated load weight are given in the following table: [See Figure 348.19 (1) (b) following] 348.19(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), whenever after a weighing of a vehicle and load as provided in sub. (1) a traffic officer determines that the weight exceeds the limitations imposed by s. 348.15, 348.16, or 348.17 (3), (5), or (6) or any limitations posted as provided in s. 348.17 (1), the operator of such vehicle shall not proceed, except to drive to such place as directed by the traffic officer for the purpose of reloading or unloading, until such portion of the load has been reloaded or unloaded as may be necessary to reduce the weight of the vehicle and load to comply with the limitations imposed by s. 348.15, 348.16, or 348.17 (3), (5), or (6) and any limitations posted as provided in s. 348.17 (1). All material so reloaded or unloaded shall be reloaded or unloaded and cared for by and at the risk of the owner or operator of the vehicle. 348.19(2)(b)(b) If upon weighing a vehicle transporting livestock a traffic officer determines that the gross weight of the vehicle exceeds the limitations imposed by s. 348.15, 348.16 or 348.17 (3) or a limitation posted as provided in s. 348.17 (1), and if the point of apprehension is 15 miles or less from the destination of the vehicle, the traffic officer shall permit the operator of the vehicle to proceed to such destination without requiring the vehicle to be reloaded or unloaded as provided in par. (a). This paragraph does not apply to vehicles transporting livestock on the national system of interstate and defense highways, except for the I 39 corridor and the I 41 corridor. 348.19(3)(3) No operator of a vehicle shall fail or refuse to stop and submit the vehicle and load to a weighing or to drive the vehicle to a scale when directed to do so by a traffic officer except that a dual purpose motor home is not required to stop at weighing stations when it is being used as a motor home. No operator of a vehicle shall fail or refuse after a weighing to reload or unload as provided in this section or to comply with the directions of a traffic officer relative to such reloading or unloading. 348.19(4)(4) Subsection (1) (b) shall not apply to vehicles transporting peeled or unpeeled forest products on the national, interstate or defense highway systems, except for the I 39 corridor and the I 41 corridor. 348.195348.195 Weight records of raw forest products purchasers. 348.195(1)(1) Any purchaser of raw forest products transported by a vehicle or vehicle combination subject to the requirements of this subchapter that generates a weight scale record identifying the gross weight of the vehicle or vehicle combination or the weight of the load transported by the vehicle or vehicle combination shall retain the weight scale record for not less than 30 days from the date that the weight scale record is generated. 348.195(2)(2) Upon demand by any traffic officer in this state within the 30-day period specified in sub. (1), any person required to retain records under sub. (1) shall promptly provide such records to the requesting officer. 348.195(3)(3) For purposes of this section, a true, accurate, and legible copy of any weight scale record may be substituted for, and shall be given the effect of, an original. 348.195(4)(4) Any person required to retain records under sub. (1) or to produce records under sub. (2) who fails to retain or produce such records shall forfeit $1,000. Each violation constitutes a separate offense. 348.195(5)(5) In any prosecution of a person for transporting raw forest products in violation of the requirements of this subchapter, the records required to be retained under sub. (1) and produced under sub. (2) may be relevant evidence under s. 904.01 and admissible under s. 904.06. 348.195 HistoryHistory: 2005 a. 167. 348.20348.20 Policy in prosecuting weight violations. 348.20(1)(1) It is declared to be the public policy of the state that prosecutions for overweight violations shall in every instance where practicable be instituted against the person holding the authority, certificates, licenses or permits evidencing operating privileges from the department which may be the proper object of cancellation or revocation proceedings. In instances where a combination of tractor and trailer or semitrailer is used, the person standing in the relationship of principal or employer to the driver of the tractor portion of the vehicle combination is liable for violation of ss. 348.15 to 348.17 along with the owner holding authority, certificates, licenses or permits from the state. It is a violation of ss. 348.15 to 348.17 for the owner or any other person employing or otherwise directing the operator of the vehicle to require or permit the operation of such vehicle upon a highway contrary to ss. 348.15 to 348.17. This section shall not apply to individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies or corporations whose principal business is leasing, for compensation, vehicles including trailers and semitrailers, but such prosecutions shall be instituted against the lessee of the vehicle. 348.20(2)(2) The operator of a vehicle, as agent of the person holding authority, certificate, license or permit from the state or as agent of the owner of the tractor portion of a vehicle combination of tractor and trailer or semitrailer, shall accept service of a summons on behalf of such person or owner. 348.21348.21 Penalty for violating weight limitations. 348.21(2)(a)(a) Any person who violates s. 348.17 (2) or 348.19 (3) may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100 upon the first conviction and, upon the 2nd or each subsequent conviction within a 12-month period, may be required to forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $200. 348.21(2)(b)(b) If the load on any wheel, axle, or group of axles does not exceed the weight prescribed in s. 348.15 (3) or 348.16 or in a declaration issued under s. 348.175, or prescribed in an overweight permit issued under s. 348.27 (9m) (a) 4. with respect to a vehicle combination being operated under such a permit, by more than 2,000 pounds and if such excess can be reloaded within the normal load carrying areas, on any other wheel, axle, or axles, so that all wheels and axles are then within the statutory limits, the operator may reload as provided in this paragraph. A total of 2,000 pounds per vehicle or combination of vehicles may be reloaded under this paragraph. If reloading is accomplished and all axles or group of axles are within the legal limits, including the limits of the permit for a vehicle combination operated under a permit issued under s. 348.27 (9m) (a) 4., no forfeiture may be imposed. A vehicle or combination of vehicles under this paragraph that is not reloaded may continue to be operated upon the highway, but a forfeiture of $50 shall be imposed for failure to reload. This forfeiture shall be paid upon the basis of the citation issued by the official to the court named in the citation. Failure to pay shall subject the operator to the penalty in par. (a) or sub. (3) (a) or (3g). Violations under this paragraph shall not be considered as violations or prior convictions under par. (a) or sub. (3) to (3r). 348.21(3)(a)(a) If the weight exceeds by 1,000 pounds or less the maximum set forth in s. 348.15 (3) or 348.16 or posted as provided in s. 348.17 (1) or in a declaration issued under s. 348.175 or authorized under s. 348.17 (3), (5), or (6) or in an overweight permit issued under s. 348.26 or 348.27, a forfeiture of not less than $50 nor more than $100 upon the first conviction and, upon the 2nd and each subsequent conviction within a 12-month period, a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $200. 348.21(3)(b)1.1. For the first conviction, a forfeiture of not less than $50 nor more than $200 plus an amount equal to whichever of the following applies: 348.21(3)(b)1.a.a. One cent for each pound of total excess load when the total excess is not over 2,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)1.b.b. Three cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 2,000 pounds and not over 3,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)1.c.c. Five cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 3,000 pounds and not over 4,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)1.d.d. Eight cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 4,000 pounds and not over 5,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)1.e.e. Fifteen cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 5,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)2.2. For the 2nd and each subsequent conviction within a 12-month period, a forfeiture of not less than $100 nor more than $300, plus an amount equal to whichever of the following applies: 348.21(3)(b)2.a.a. Two cents for each pound of total excess load when the total excess is not over 2,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)2.b.b. Five cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 2,000 pounds and not over 3,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)2.c.c. Eight cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 3,000 and not over 4,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)2.d.d. Twelve cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 4,000 pounds and not over 5,000 pounds. 348.21(3)(b)2.e.e. Eighteen cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 5,000 pounds. 348.21(3g)(3g) Any person who, while operating a vehicle combination that is transporting raw forest products, violates s. 348.15 or 348.16 or any weight limitation posted as provided in s. 348.17 (1) or in a declaration issued under s. 348.175 or authorized in an overweight permit issued under s. 348.26 or 348.27 may be penalized as follows: 348.21(3g)(a)(a) For a first conviction or a 2nd conviction within a 12-month period, a forfeiture of not less than $150 nor more than $250 plus an amount equal to whichever of the following applies: 348.21(3g)(a)1.1. Six cents for each pound of total excess load when the total excess is less than 2,000 pounds. 348.21(3g)(a)2.2. Eight cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is 2,000 pounds or more and not over 3,000 pounds. 348.21(3g)(a)3.3. Nine cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 3,000 pounds and not over 4,000 pounds. 348.21(3g)(a)4.4. Ten cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 4,000 pounds and not over 5,000 pounds. 348.21(3g)(a)5.5. Eleven cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 5,000 pounds. 348.21(3g)(b)(b) For the 3rd and each subsequent conviction within a 12-month period, a forfeiture of not less than $500 nor more than $550, plus an amount equal to whichever of the following applies: 348.21(3g)(b)1.1. Twenty cents for each pound of total excess load when the total excess is 3,000 pounds or less. 348.21(3g)(b)2.2. Twenty-one cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 3,000 pounds and not over 4,000 pounds. 348.21(3g)(b)3.3. Twenty-two cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 4,000 pounds and not over 5,000 pounds. 348.21(3g)(b)4.4. Twenty-three cents for each pound of total excess load if the excess is over 5,000 pounds. 348.21(3r)(3r) In determining the number of prior convictions for purposes of subs. (3) and (3g), the court shall include convictions under both subsections. 348.21(3t)(b)(b) In the case of a violation of s. 348.15 (3) (b) involving an implement of husbandry or agricultural commercial motor vehicle or a 2-vehicle combination transporting an implement of husbandry or agricultural commercial motor vehicle, the penalty shall be computed on the basis of a permissible weight of 20,000 pounds. 348.21(4)(4) For the purpose of determining a repetitious violator, receipt of a certificate of conviction by the department is prima facie evidence of conviction. In determining whether a 2nd or subsequent conviction has occurred within a given 12-month period, either the original judgment of conviction in a circuit court or a municipal court or the affirmance of the judgment by an appellate court, if the judgment has been affirmed, may be counted. This method of counting is authorized to effectively reach the repetitious violator and to prevent misuse of the right of appeal for the purpose of forestalling imposition of the penalties provided by this section. Forfeiture of deposit or payment of a forfeiture is a conviction within the meaning of this section. 348.21 AnnotationDiscussing penalty provisions for weight and size violations. Town of East Troy v. Town & Country Waste Service, Inc., 159 Wis. 2d 694, 465 N.W.2d 510 (Ct. App. 1990). 348.22348.22 Courts to report weight violation convictions. Whenever any owner or operator is convicted of violating ss. 348.15 to 348.17 or any local ordinance in conformity with ss. 348.15 to 348.17 or any ordinance enacted under s. 349.15 (3), the clerk of the court in which the conviction occurred, or the judge or municipal judge, if the court has no clerk, shall, within 48 hours after the conviction, forward a record of conviction to the department. Forfeiture of bail or appearance money or payment of a fine is a conviction within the meaning of this section. PERMITS
348.25348.25 General provisions relating to permits for vehicles and loads of excessive size and weight. 348.25(1)(1) No person shall operate a vehicle on or transport an article over a highway without first obtaining a permit therefor as provided in s. 348.26 or 348.27 if such vehicle or article exceeds the maximum limitations on size, weight or projection of load imposed by this chapter.
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