Chapter 349

349.13(3m)(dr)1. 1. A towing service may not remove a vehicle under this subsection if the vehicle has been reported to a law enforcement agency as stolen.

349.13(3m)(dr)2. 2. A towing service may not collect any charges for the removal or storage of an illegally parked vehicle under this subsection, or a vehicle removed under par. (bm), unless the towing service made a good faith effort to comply with par. (d) 2. with respect to the vehicle. A towing service operating in a 1st class city may not collect any charges for the removal or storage of an illegally parked vehicle under this subsection, or a vehicle removed under par. (bm), if the towing service has not complied with par. (d) 2. with respect to the vehicle.

349.13(3m)(e) (e) The department shall promulgate rules establishing all of the following:

349.13(3m)(e)1. 1. Reasonable charges for removal and storage of vehicles under this subsection when no citation has been issued.

349.13(3m)(e)2. 2. The form and manner of display of notice necessary to qualify as “properly posted” under par. (a) 2.

349.13(3m)(e)3. 3. Guidelines for towing services to notify law enforcement under par. (d) upon removal of a vehicle when no citation has been issued.

349.13 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 319, Wis. adm. code.

349.13(4) (4) In counties having a population of 750,000 or more whenever any traffic officer finds a vehicle disabled so as to cause a hazard on any portion of the interstate system, limited access highway or any expressway, even though it may be impossible for the operator to avoid stopping or temporarily leaving the vehicle thereon, the county may remove such vehicle to a position where parking is permitted or to either private or public parking or storage premises. The removal may be performed by such officer or under the officer’s direction or such removal may be contracted for by such counties and any charges shall be regulated by ordinance. The operator or owner of the vehicle removed shall pay a reasonable charge for moving or towing or any storage involved based upon said ordinance.

349.13(5) (5) 

349.13(5)(a) (a) No person who removes or stores a vehicle under subs. (3) to (4) or otherwise at the request of a law enforcement officer, and no person who removes or stores a disabled vehicle, accident debris or other object that obstructs the roadway of a freeway or expressway, as defined in s. 346.57 (1) (ag), may incur any civil liability for the act, except for civil liability for failure to exercise reasonable care in the performance of the act or for conduct that is willful, wanton or malicious.

349.13(5)(b) (b)

349.13(5)(b)1. 1. As used in this paragraph:

349.13(5)(b)1.a. a. “Personal property” means all property within the vehicle which is not mounted, attached or affixed to the vehicle.

349.13(5)(b)1.b. b. “Proper identification” means identification which would be sufficient to establish ownership to release the vehicle.

349.13(5)(b)2. 2. A person who has custody of a vehicle removed or stored under subs. (3) to (4) or otherwise at the request of a law enforcement officer, traffic officer, parking enforcer, property owner or property owner’s agent, or operator, as defined in s. 704.90 (1) (d), shall release the personal property within the vehicle to the owner of the vehicle during regular office hours upon presentation by the owner of proper identification.

349.13(5)(b)3. 3. No charge may be assessed against the owner for the removal or release of the personal property.

349.13(5)(b)4. 4. If the owner removes the personal property from a motor vehicle under this paragraph, the vehicle shall be deemed abandoned unless the person enters into a written agreement to pay the full charges for towing and storage. The owner shall be informed of this subdivision by the person who has custody of the vehicle before the property is released. A vehicle deemed abandoned under this subdivision may be disposed of as are other abandoned vehicles by the local authority.

349.13(5)(b)5. 5. The personal property is subject to forfeiture under ss. 961.55 to 961.56 and 973.075 to 973.077.

349.13(5)(c) (c) A traffic or police officer or parking enforcer who requests removal of a vehicle under subs. (3) to (4) by a towing service shall, within 24 hours of requesting the removal, notify the towing service of the name and last-known address of the registered owner and all lienholders of record of the vehicle if the vehicle is to be removed to any location other than a public highway within one mile from the location from which the vehicle is to be removed and if the officer or parking enforcer is not employed by a municipality or county that has entered into a towing services agreement which requires the municipality or county to provide notice to such owner and lienholders of the towing.

349.13(6) (6) Notwithstanding s. 346.54 (1) (e), the governing body of any municipality may, by ordinance, consider mopeds as motorcycles rather than bicycles for the purpose of parking, may establish parking areas for mopeds only marked by appropriate signs, and may regulate the parking of mopeds.

349.13 History History: 1973 c. 248; 1975 c. 299; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1654 (3), (8) (a), 1656 (43); 1977 c. 116, 272, 418; 1979 c. 34, 59, 231, 276, 325; 1981 c. 227; 1981 c. 255 ss. 10, 11, 13; 1983 a. 77 s. 15; 1983 a. 213; 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 87 s. 5; 1989 a. 304; 1991 a. 269, 316; 1993 a. 246; 1995 a. 448; 1997 a. 27, 159, 258; 1999 a. 85; 2003 a. 142; 2005 a. 326; 2009 a. 246; 2011 a. 73; 2013 a. 76, 326, 327, 359; 2015 a. 60, 73, 124, 176, 195; 2017 a. 207 s. 5; 2017 a. 325; 2019 a. 50; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.

349.13 Annotation Legislative Council Note, 1977: The last 2 sentences of sub. (1) are eliminated as unnecessary. These sentences contain explanations of what is meant by a sign which indicates that stopping or standing is prohibited and what is meant by a sign prohibiting parking. Although these explanations attempt to explain the conduct required of motorists by these signs, they do not define the key terms, “park or parking” and “stand or standing”. In place of these explanations, definitions of the terms “park or parking” and “stand or standing” are created in s. 340.01 (42m) and (59m) in this bill. “Stop” is presently defined in s. 340.01 (62). [Bill 465-A]

349.13 Annotation It is not a violation of due process to tow an illegally parked car without first giving the owner notice and the opportunity to be heard regarding the lawfulness of towing the car. Sutton v. City of Milwaukee, 672 F.2d 644 (1982).

349.132 349.132 Authority to require vehicle registration. The governing body of any town, city, village, or county may enact an ordinance requiring that no vehicle that has been impounded or towed may be released unless the motor vehicle is registered under ch. 341 or exempt from registration under s. 341.05.

349.132 History History: 2015 a. 60.

349.135 349.135 Authority to regulate radios or other electric sound amplification devices.

349.135(1) (1) Notwithstanding s. 346.94 (16), the governing body of any town, city, village or county may, by ordinance, provide that, except as provided in s. 347.38 (1), no person may operate or park, stop or leave standing a motor vehicle while using a radio or other electric sound amplification device emitting sound from the vehicle that is clearly audible under normal conditions from a distance of 50 or more feet, unless the electric sound amplification device is being used to request assistance or warn against an unsafe condition. The ordinance may provide that any person violating the ordinance may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $80 for the first violation and not less than $100 nor more than $200 for the 2nd or subsequent violation within a year.

349.135(2) (2) Any ordinance enacted under sub. (1) may not apply to any of the following:

349.135(2)(a) (a) The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm.

349.135(2)(b) (b) The operator of a vehicle of a public utility. In this paragraph, public utility means any corporation, company, individual or association which furnishes products or services to the public, and which is regulated under ch. 195 or 196, including railroads, telecommunications, or telegraph companies and any company furnishing or producing heat, light, power, or water.

349.135(2)(c) (c) The operator of a vehicle that is being used for advertising purposes.

349.135(2)(d) (d) The operator of a vehicle that is being used in a community event or celebration, procession or assemblage.

349.135(2)(e) (e) The activation of a theft alarm signal device.

349.135(2)(f) (f) The operator of a motorcycle being operated outside of a business or residence district.

349.135 History History: 1995 a. 373; 1997 a. 35; 2015 a. 117; 2017 a. 365 s. 111.

349.137 349.137 Authority to regulate use of motor vehicle immobilization devices.

349.137(1) (1) In this section:

349.137(1)(b) (b) “Parking area” means an area used for parking that is not on a highway.

349.137(1)(c) (c) “Parking enforcer” means a person who enforces restrictions against unauthorized parking. The term includes a person who owns or operates a parking area and any employees or agents of an owner or operator.

349.137(1)(d) (d) “Removal fee” means a fee charged by a parking enforcer to remove an immobilization device, including any amounts imposed for parking in violation of a restriction against unauthorized parking.

349.137(1)(e) (e) “Unauthorized parking” means parking a motor vehicle in a parking area contrary to a sign posted under s. 346.55 (4).

349.137(2) (2) No person may use an immobilization device to immobilize a motor vehicle to enforce restrictions against unauthorized parking except in conformity with a municipal ordinance enacted under this section or a rule adopted under s. 36.11 (8).

349.137(3) (3) The governing body of any municipality may by ordinance or the chancellor of a campus of the University of Wisconsin System may by rule under s. 36.11 (8) provide for the use of immobilization devices to enforce restrictions against unauthorized parking. Any ordinance under this subsection or rule under s. 36.11 (8) shall do all of the following:

349.137(3)(a) (a) Require the owner or operator of a parking area in which immobilization devices may be used to post and maintain in a manner that is clearly visible to operators entering the parking area a sign at each vehicular entrance to the parking area. At least one additional sign shall be posted for every 10 parking spaces in the parking area. The ordinance or rule shall require all such signs to be at least 12 inches by 18 inches in size and to clearly indicate all of the following:

349.137(3)(a)1. 1. That unauthorized parking is prohibited in the parking area.

349.137(3)(a)2. 2. That an immobilization device may be used in the parking area to enforce restrictions against unauthorized parking.

349.137(3)(a)3. 3. Whether a removal fee will be charged to remove an immobilization device and, if so, the amount of the fee.

349.137(3)(ag) (ag) Prohibit a parking enforcer from using an immobilization device to immobilize a motor vehicle to enforce parking restrictions against unauthorized parking unless the parking enforcer possesses a valid license authorizing that activity issued by the municipality.

349.137(3)(am) (am) Establish a process by which the owner, lessee or operator of a motor vehicle may contest the propriety of the use of an immobilization device or the amount of a removal fee.

349.137(3)(b) (b) Require the parking enforcer, before using an immobilization device, to do all of the following:

349.137(3)(b)2. 2. Maintain in effect a policy of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance for injury or damage arising from the use of an immobilization device in an amount of at least $1,000,000 per use of an immobilization device.

349.137(3)(b)3. 3. Notwithstanding s. 346.94 (4), at the time of immobilization of a motor vehicle, place a written notice in a reasonably secure manner on the motor vehicle that clearly states all of the following:

349.137(3)(b)3.a. a. The name of the parking enforcer and a telephone number that a person may call to request the removal of the immobilization device.

349.137(3)(b)3.b. b. The amount of the removal fee, if any.

349.137(3)(b)3.c. c. The terms of the deferral agreement described in par. (d) 2.

349.137(3)(b)4. 4. Have a person available 24 hours a day either at the parking area or at the telephone number shown on the notice described in subd. 3. to take requests for removal and to remove the immobilization device.

349.137(3)(c) (c) Require the parking enforcer, before removing an immobilization device, to do all of the following:

349.137(3)(c)1. 1. Display prominently an identification card that identifies that person as a parking enforcer and that contains a photograph of that person.

349.137(3)(c)2. 2. Inform the owner, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle, orally and in writing, before removing an immobilization device, of all of the following:

349.137(3)(c)2.a. a. If a removal fee is charged, that the owner, lessee or operator is required either to pay the removal fee or to sign a deferral agreement described in par. (d) 2.

349.137(3)(c)2.b. b. That a parking enforcer may commence legal action to collect any removal fee that has not been paid within 14 days after the removal of an immobilization device.

349.137(3)(c)2.c. c. That the owner, lessee or operator of an immobilized motor vehicle may contest the propriety of the use of an immobilization device on his or her motor vehicle or the validity of a removal fee using the process described in par. (am), and may contest any legal action commenced to collect a removal fee.

349.137(3)(c)2.d. d. That, except for the payment of the removal fee or the signing of a deferral agreement, no person may be required to do anything to have an immobilization device removed.

349.137(3)(c)2.e. e. That, if a parking enforcer uses an immobilization device on a motor vehicle that is not parked in violation of a restriction against unauthorized parking, the owner, lessee or operator shall not be required to pay a removal fee and the parking enforcer shall be liable to the owner, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle for an amount equal to the removal fee.

349.137(3)(d) (d) Require the owner, lessee or operator of a motor vehicle to do any of the following before an immobilization device may be removed:

349.137(3)(d)1. 1. Pay the removal fee.

349.137(3)(d)2. 2. Sign a deferral agreement under which the person signing the agreement agrees to pay the removal fee to the parking enforcer or contest the removal fee, or the propriety of the use of an immobilization device on his or her motor vehicle, using the process described in par. (am) within 14 days after the immobilization device is removed.

349.137(3)(e) (e) Require the parking enforcer to remove the immobilization device without undue delay after receiving a request to remove the device, not to exceed 60 minutes whenever a request for removal is made by telephone.

349.137(3)(f) (f) Require that, whenever a deferral agreement is signed, the parking enforcer provide the owner, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle a copy of the signed deferral agreement.

349.137(3)(g) (g) Require a person who signs a deferral agreement and does not do any of the activities described in par. (d) 2. within 14 days after the removal of the immobilization device to pay an amount not to exceed 3 times the removal fee plus the reasonable costs incurred to collect the removal fee to the parking enforcer within 30 days after the removal of the immobilization device.

349.137(3)(h) (h) Require a parking enforcer who uses an immobilization device on a motor vehicle that is not parked in violation of a restriction against unauthorized parking to pay an amount equal to the removal fee to the owner, lessee or operator of the motor vehicle within 14 days after the determination that the immobilization device was used improperly.

349.137(3)(i) (i) Prohibit a parking enforcer from requiring a person to transfer any goods, perform any services, or waive any available legal rights or remedies, as a condition for removing an immobilization device, except as specified in par. (d).

349.137(3)(j) (j) Specify the maximum removal fee that may be charged.

349.137(4) (4) 

349.137(4)(a) (a) A municipality may enact or enforce any regulation of the use of immobilization devices to enforce parking restrictions that is not contrary to or inconsistent with this section.

349.137(4)(b) (b) A chancellor of a campus of the University of Wisconsin System may adopt or enforce any rule under s. 36.11 (8) regulating the use of immobilization devices to enforce parking restrictions that is not contrary to or inconsistent with this section.

349.137 History History: 1995 a. 434; 1997 a. 27; 1997 a. 35 s. 437.

349.139 349.139 Authority to immobilize, remove, impound, and dispose of motor vehicles for nonmoving traffic violations.

349.139(1) (1) In this section:

349.139(1)(a) (a) “Habitual parking violator” means a person who has received, more than 60 days previously, 5 or more citations for nonmoving traffic violations that remain unpaid and for which the person has not scheduled an appearance in court in response to the citations.

349.139(1)(b) (b) “Immobilization device” has the meaning given in s. 341.65 (1) (a).

349.139(1)(c) (c) “Nonmoving traffic violation” has the meaning given in s. 345.28 (1) (c).

349.139(1)(d) (d) “Owner” has the meaning given in s. 341.65 (1) (am).

349.139(1)(e) (e) “Parking enforcer” means a traffic officer or any other person who enforces nonmoving traffic violations and who is employed by a municipality or county.

349.139(2) (2) The governing body of any municipality or county may by ordinance provide for the immobilization or removal, impoundment, and disposal of vehicles owned by habitual parking violators as provided in this section. Any ordinance under this section shall do all of the following:

349.139(2)(a) (a) Limit application of the ordinance to those motor vehicles for which all of the following apply:

349.139(2)(a)1. 1. The municipality or county has cited the owner of the motor vehicle for 5 or more nonmoving traffic violations that, at the time of the vehicle’s immobilization or removal, occurred more than 60 days previously and for which the owner has neither paid the forfeiture for each of these violations nor scheduled an appearance in court in response to each of these citations.

349.139(2)(a)2. 2.

349.139(2)(a)2.a. a. The municipality or county has mailed to the last-known address of the owner at least one notice that specifies, for each citation counted under subd. 1., the date on which the citation was issued, the license number or vehicle identification number of the vehicle involved, the place where the citation may be paid, the amount of the forfeiture, and the means by which the citation may be contested.