Chapter 98

98.146(1) (1) All persons except licensed cheesemakers and buttermakers taking weights and samples of milk in bulk tanks or measuring milk in bulk tanks to determine weight, on the farm premises where such milk is produced, shall be licensed by the department under this section or by an equivalent regulatory agency in another state, and no person who is not so licensed shall engage in such activities.

98.146(2) (2) 

98.146(2)(a) (a) Each application for a license under this section or license renewal shall be made on forms provided by the department and shall be accompanied by the license fee required under sub. (4), except that an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44 is not required to pay the fee. The license shall expire biennially on September 30 of the 2nd year commencing after the date of issuance or renewal. The applicant shall not have an arrest or conviction record, subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, and shall give proof of ability to engage in such weighing and sampling to the satisfaction of the department by satisfactorily passing a written examination pertaining to such activities.

98.146(2)(b) (b) If the department conducts a reinspection of any measurement by a person authorized to take weights and samples or to measure under sub. (1) due to any violation of any federal or state law which the department determines in a regularly scheduled inspection of that measurement, the department shall charge the person the reinspection fee required under sub. (4) for that reinspection.

98.146(3) (3) No dairy plant shall receive any milk required to be weighed and sampled by a person authorized to take weights and samples under sub. (1) unless it has been so weighed and sampled.

98.146(4) (4) The department may establish by rule the amount of license or reinspection fees required under sub. (2). Unless otherwise established by department rule, a license fee under sub. (2) is $40 and a reinspection fee under sub. (2) is $40.

98.146 History History: 1977 c. 216; 1981 c. 380; 1981 c. 391 s. 211; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 2011 a. 209; 2019 a. 152.

98.15 98.15 False testing.

98.15(1) (1) No person shall manipulate, underread or overread or make any false determination by the Babcock test or any other test used for determining the value of milk or cream. No person shall make any false record or report of the results of any such test.

98.15(2) (2) A district attorney to whom any violation of this section is reported shall cause appropriate actions or proceedings to be instituted for the collection of a forfeiture or fine or for the enforcement of other remedies. In any enforcement action the court may, in addition to any other penalty provided, order restitution to any party injured by violation of this section. If the violator is convicted of a crime, restitution shall be in accordance with s. 973.20.

98.15 History History: 1979 c. 264; 1987 a. 398.

98.15 Annotation Sub. (1) did not preclude prosecution for felony fraud under s. 943.20 (1) (d) when the state alleged that the defendant misrepresented the quality of milk sold. State v. Ploeckelman, 2007 WI App 31, 299 Wis. 2d 251, 729 N.W.2d 784, 06-1180.

98.16 98.16 Vehicle scale operators; scale installation and testing.

98.16(1) (1) Definitions. In this section “vehicle scale” means a commercial scale that is designed to weigh loaded or unloaded highway, farm or industrial vehicles, except that it does not include a scale that is operated exclusively by this state.

98.16(2) (2) License for operator.

98.16(2)(am) (am) Except as provided in par. (dm), no person may operate a vehicle scale without an annual license from the department. A separate license is required for each scale. A license is not transferable between persons or scales. A license expires on March 31 annually.

98.16(2)(bm) (bm) The department shall provide a license application form for persons applying for a license. The form shall require all of the following:

98.16(2)(bm)1. 1. The applicant’s correct legal name and business address and any trade name under which the applicant proposes to operate the vehicle scale.

98.16(2)(bm)2. 2. A description of the nature and location of the vehicle scale.

98.16(2)(bm)3. 3. Other information reasonably required by the department for licensing purposes.

98.16(2)(cm) (cm) A license application shall be accompanied by all of the following fees and surcharges:

98.16(2)(cm)1. 1. A license fee in the amount specified by the department by rule promulgated under sub. (4).

98.16(2)(cm)2. 2. A license fee surcharge, if the department determines that within one year prior to submitting the license application the applicant operated a vehicle scale without a license as required by par. (am). The license fee surcharge is $200, except that the department may establish a different surcharge by rule promulgated under sub. (4). The department may not issue a license under this subsection to an operator if the operator has failed to pay a license fee surcharge assessed against the operator. Payment of the license fee surcharge does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability for the operation of a vehicle scale without a license but shall not constitute evidence of violation of a law.

98.16(2)(dm) (dm) Paragraph (am) does not apply to a person who operates a vehicle scale only as an employee of a person who is required to hold a license to operate the scale under this subsection.

98.16(2m) (2m) Permit for scale installation or construction; variance.

98.16(2m)(a) (a) No person may install or relocate a vehicle scale without a permit from the department. The department shall provide a permit application form for a person applying for a permit under this paragraph. An application for a permit under this paragraph shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable permit application fee in an amount established by the department by rule promulgated under sub. (4).

98.16(2m)(b) (b) A person who installs or relocates a vehicle scale shall comply with construction, operation, and maintenance standards and procedures established by the department by rule under sub. (4), except that the department may grant a variance from a construction standard if the department determines that the variance is justified by special circumstances. The department may impose conditions on the variance, including alternative construction standards, if the department determines the conditions are necessary. The department shall provide a variance application form for a person applying for a variance under this paragraph. An application for a variance under this paragraph shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable variance application fee in an amount established by the department by rule promulgated under sub. (4).

98.16(3m) (3m) Annual testing.

98.16(3m)(a) (a) The owner or operator of a scale with a weighing capacity of 5,000 pounds or more used for the commercial weighing of commodities shall cause the scales to be tested and inspected at least annually for accuracy by a person licensed under s. 98.18 (1).

98.16(3m)(b) (b) A person conducting a test under par. (a) shall do all of the following:

98.16(3m)(b)1. 1. Conduct the test and prepare a test report, according to rules promulgated by the department under sub. (4).

98.16(3m)(b)2. 2. Provide a copy of the test report to the operator of the vehicle scale and, if required by rules promulgated by the department under sub. (4), to other persons.

98.16(3m)(c) (c) An operator of a vehicle scale shall file with the department a copy of each test report prepared regarding the vehicle scale not more than 15 days after the operator receives the test report. If an operator fails to file a report as required in this paragraph, the department may assess a testing surcharge against the operator. The department may not issue a license under sub. (2) to an operator if the operator has failed to pay a testing surcharge assessed against the operator. If an operator fails to pay a testing surcharge assessed against the operator within 120 days after the department assessed the surcharge, the department may revoke the operator’s license to operate the vehicle scale for which the operator has been assessed the surcharge.

98.16(3m)(d) (d) If a test under this subsection shows that a vehicle scale is inaccurate, the scale may not be used until the inaccuracy is corrected and the scale is determined to be accurate by a subsequent test under this subsection.

98.16(3m)(e) (e) No person may falsify a test, test result, or test report under this subsection.

98.16(3m)(f) (f) This section does not apply to a railway scale used exclusively for the weighing of commodities on railroad track vehicles.

98.16(4) (4) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to regulate the construction, operation, testing, and maintenance of vehicle scales, including a rule specifying the amount of the fee under sub. (2) (cm) 1. The department may promulgate rules to adjust fees and surcharges under subs. (2) (cm) 2. and (2m) (a) and (b) and to impose a testing surcharge upon a vehicle scale operator if the operator fails to file a vehicle scale test report as required by a rule promulgated by the department under this subsection.

98.16 History History: 1993 a. 16; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 28 ss. 2038 to 2054, 2063 to 2067; 2011 a. 263.

98.16 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ATCP 92, Wis. adm. code.

98.18 98.18 Installing and servicing weights and measures.

98.18(1) (1) License required.

98.18(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (bm), no person may engage in the business of installing, servicing, testing or calibrating weights and measures without a license from the department. A license expires on December 31 annually.

98.18(1)(bm) (bm) Paragraph (a) does not apply to any of the following:

98.18(1)(bm)1. 1. A person who installs, services, tests or calibrates weights and measures only as an employee of a person who is required under par. (a) to hold a license to perform those services.

98.18(1)(bm)2. 2. An inspector or metrologist employed by this state, a county or a municipality to test or calibrate weights and measures.

98.18(1d) (1d) License application. An applicant for a license issued under sub. (1) (a) shall apply on a form provided by the department. The applicant shall provide on the form information that is reasonably required by the department for issuing licenses under this section. The license application shall be accompanied by the applicable fees under subs. (1h) and (1p).

98.18(1h) (1h) License fees. Unless the department establishes different fees by rule, the following annual license fees shall apply:

98.18(1h)(a) (a) If the applicant solely engages in installing, servicing, testing or calibrating weights and measures that the applicant owns, the applicant for a license under sub. (1) (a) shall pay a license fee in the amount of $100.

98.18(1h)(b) (b) If the applicant installs, services, tests or calibrates weights or measures for others, the applicant for a license under sub. (1) (a) shall pay all of the following:

98.18(1h)(b)1. 1. A basic license fee of $200.

98.18(1h)(b)2. 2. A supplementary license fee of $50 for each additional business location if the applicant operates from more than one business location.

98.18(1m) (1m) Fee exemption. Notwithstanding sub. (1h), the department may not require an individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44 to pay a license fee.

98.18(1p) (1p) Surcharge for operating without a license. An applicant for a license under sub. (1) (a) shall pay a license fee surcharge of $200 in addition to the license fee if the department determines that within one year before making the application the applicant violated sub. (1) (a). Payment of this surcharge does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability that the applicant may incur because of the violation of sub. (1) (a), but does not constitute evidence of violation of a law.

98.18(1t) (1t) License contingent on fee payment. The department may not issue or renew a license under sub. (1) (a) unless the applicant pays all fees required under subs. (1h) and (1p) as set forth in a statement issued by the department. The department shall refund a fee paid under protest if the department determines that the fee was not required to be paid under this section.

98.18(2) (2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to establish license fees under sub. (1h) and to regulate the installation, servicing, testing and certification of weights and measures. The rules may include record-keeping and reporting requirements.

98.18(3) (3) Prohibited practices. A person who installs, services, tests or calibrates weights and measures may not do any of the following:

98.18(3)(a) (a) Install or adjust a weight or measure to make the weight or measure incorrect or to cause the weight or measure to violate this chapter or rules promulgated under this chapter.

98.18(3)(b) (b) Misrepresent that a weight or measure is correct.

98.18(3)(c) (c) Use any test weight or measure that has not been inspected, tested and approved by the department or by a laboratory certified by the national institute of standards and technology.

98.18 History History: 1993 a. 16; 1997 a. 27; 2011 a. 209.

98.21 98.21 Sale of bread.

98.21(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), no person may manufacture for sale in this state, offer to sell or sell bread unless the bread is sold by weight.

98.21(2) (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to stale bread if the bread is conspicuously marked “stale bread” or is placed in a container conspicuously marked “stale bread” and sold as and for stale bread.

98.21 History History: 1971 c. 113; 1983 a. 14, 329; 1993 a. 492; 1999 a. 9.

98.22 98.22 Bulk deliveries sold in terms of weight and delivered by vehicle.

98.22(1) (1) When a commodity in bulk is delivered by vehicle to an individual purchaser and the commodity is sold in terms of weight units, the delivery shall be accompanied by a duplicate delivery ticket with the following information clearly stated in ink or by means of other indelible marking equipment:

98.22(1)(a) (a) The name and address of the vendor.

98.22(1)(b) (b) The name and address of the purchaser.

98.22(1)(c) (c) The net weight of the delivery expressed in pounds.

98.22(1)(d) (d) The gross and tare weights of the delivery if the net weight of the delivery is derived from determination of gross and tare weights.

98.22(2) (2) Where milk is picked up at farms, only the identity of the vendor and the net weight need be stated.

98.22(3) (3) One of the duplicate delivery tickets required under sub. (1) shall be retained by the vendor, and the other shall be delivered to the purchaser at the time of delivery of the commodity, or shall be surrendered, on demand to the inspector or sealer, who may retain it as evidence and issue a weight slip in lieu thereof for delivery to the purchaser. If the purchaser carries away the purchase, the vendor shall be required only to give to the purchaser at the time of sale a delivery ticket stating the number of pounds of commodity delivered to the purchaser. If the commodity is to be weighed by the purchaser, the purchaser shall furnish the vendor the duplicate delivery ticket provided for in this section.

98.22 History History: 1993 a. 492; 1995 a. 225.

98.224 98.224 Vehicle tank meters.

98.224(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “vehicle tank meter” means a commercial meter used to measure liquid fuel, as defined in s. 98.225 (1).

98.224(2) (2) Operator licensed.

98.224(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (e), no person may operate a vehicle tank meter without an annual license from the department. An annual license expires on October 31. A separate license is required for each vehicle tank meter. A license is not transferable between persons or vehicle tank meters.

98.224(2)(b) (b) To obtain a license under par. (a), a person shall submit an application on a form provided by the department. The application shall include all of the following:

98.224(2)(b)1. 1. The applicant’s correct legal name and business address, and any trade name under which the applicant proposes to operate the vehicle tank meter.

98.224(2)(b)2. 2. A description of the vehicle tank meter, including the serial number or other identifying marks that appear on the meter and the vehicle on which the meter is mounted.

98.224(2)(b)3. 3. The fees and surcharges required under par. (c).

98.224(2)(b)4. 4. Other relevant information reasonably required by the department for licensing purposes.

98.224(2)(c) (c) An application under par. (b) shall include all of the following fees and surcharges:

98.224(2)(c)1. 1. A license fee established by the department by rule.

98.224(2)(c)2. 2. A surcharge established by the department by rule, if the department determines that within one year prior to submitting the application, the applicant operated the vehicle tank meter without a license required under par. (a). The department may not issue a license under this subsection to an operator if the operator has failed to pay a surcharge under this subdivision assessed against the operator.

98.224(2)(c)3. 3. A surcharge established by department rule if the department determines that, within one year prior to submitting the application, the applicant failed to comply with the reporting requirement under sub. (3). The department may not issue a license under this subsection to an operator if the operator has failed to pay a surcharge under this subdivision assessed against the operator.

98.224(2)(c)4. 4. Reinspection fees, if any, required under s. 98.255.

98.224(2)(d) (d) Payment of a surcharge under par. (c) 2. or 3. does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability for a law violation, but is not evidence of a violation of this section.

98.224(2)(e) (e) Paragraph (a) does not apply to an individual who operates a vehicle tank meter only as an employee of a person who is required to hold a license under par. (a) to operate that vehicle tank meter.