Chapter Trans 128

Trans 128.05 Note Note: The requirements of sub. (1) are administrative. The department may, at its discretion, process a TVRP case based on an order or notice that is defective in some manner but that provides sufficient information for the department to comply with the intent of the notice or order.

Trans 128.05(4) (4) Incomplete or improper notice.

Trans 128.05(4)(a) (a) Upon receipt of a request to suspend registration of a vehicle that identifies a vehicle plate number that does not exist, or that contains a plate number that is not associated with the identified debtor, the department may not suspend registration for that plate, but shall refuse registration for the debtor identified in the notice.

Trans 128.05(4)(b) (b) Upon receipt of a notice to suspend registration of a particular plate number, where the department has issued new registration plates to the identified debtor to replace the plates identified on the notice, the department shall suspend the new registration plates.

Trans 128.05(5) (5) Suspension or refusal limited.

Trans 128.05(5)(a) (a) Out-of-state registration. The department may not suspend registration issued by another state.

Trans 128.05(5)(b) (b) Rental and lease vehicles. Notwithstanding subs. (1) to (4), where a rental or leased motor vehicle is involved in a parking violation or accrues towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation while possessed by a vehicle renter or lessee, the department may suspend or refuse registration of that vehicle if the vehicle owner does not pay 50% of the forfeiture or towing and storage charges as required by s. 345.28 (5m) (c) or (5r) (c), Stats.

Trans 128.05(6) (6) Multiple judgment reporting prohibited. A court may not provide notice of multiple judgments under one TVRP suspension case.

Trans 128.05(7) (7) Multiple citation or charge reporting prohibited. Except in the case of electronic notices filed with the department under s. Trans 128.14, an authority may not provide notice of multiple unpaid citations or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation under one TVRP suspension case. Each unpaid citation or towing and storage charge associated with a parking citation shall be filed by a separate notice meeting the requirements of this chapter.

Trans 128.05(8) (8) No amendments. A notice may not be amended, but additional notices may be filed under different TVRP suspension numbers by a suspending authority if the suspending authority desires to have registration suspended or refused for additional or different judgments, citations, or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation.

Trans 128.05(9) (9) Prompt satisfaction. A suspending authority shall mail or deliver a notice of satisfaction on the form prescribed in s. Trans 128.04 (5) to the department not later than 3 working days after the suspending authority receives payment of the judgment, citation or unpaid towing or storage charge associated with a parking citation, otherwise determines that the unpaid citation, judgment or unpaid storage charge associated with a parking citation has been satisfied or, in the case of an unpaid citation or a towing and storage charge associated with a parking citation, the person appears in court to contest the citation.

Trans 128.05(10) (10) Accuracy. The suspending authority shall assure that a notice sent to the department under this chapter is a correct and appropriate submission and that it is not submitted in violation of any injunction or a bankruptcy stay.

Trans 128.05(11) (11) Record disposal. A TVRP case may be deleted from the department’s records in any of the following circumstances:

Trans 128.05(11)(a) (a) Six years after the date of filing.

Trans 128.05(11)(b) (b) Upon receipt of notice that collection of debts against the vehicle owner is stayed under 11 USC 362.

Trans 128.05 Note Note: The department disposes of records of cases more than 6 years old on a semi–annual basis. Cases released under par. (b) may be refiled under sub. (12) once the bankruptcy stay is lifted.

Trans 128.05(12) (12) Refiling. Nothing herein prohibits a suspending authority from re-filing notice of nonpayment if a judgment remains unpaid and has been removed from the department’s records under sub. (11).

Trans 128.05(13) (13) Per case fee assessment. The department shall assess the fee determined under s. Trans 128.13 (3) for each TVRP case processed under the procedure described in this section. Multiple citations or towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation reported electronically as one case under s. Trans 128.14 shall be treated as one TVRP case for purposes of this subsection.

Trans 128.05 History History: CR 07-065: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08.

Trans 128.06 Trans 128.06 Actions associated with unpaid judgment cases. Pursuant to s. 341.10 (7), Stats., upon notification by a court under s. 345.47 (1) (d), Stats., that a person has an unpaid judgment, the department shall send an initial notification letter to the person named by the court to the address supplied by the court or to any more recent address for the person known to the department. The letter shall notify the person that the department will refuse registration of vehicles titled or registered to the person in the manner required by s. Trans 128.04 (1). Failure of the department to send the notice, or of the debtor to receive it, is not a defense to refusal of registration.

Trans 128.06 History History: CR 07-065: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08.

Trans 128.07 Trans 128.07 Record of action. When a department issued suspension or refusal order is computer-created, the computer shall also create a computer image file or microfiche of the text of the letter as the record of action, or shall store the information included on the suspension order so that a copy of the text of the suspension order may be recreated. Records stored under this subsection may be destroyed at the same time or after any record of the suspension is removed from the department’s database of vehicle records.

Trans 128.07 History History: CR 07-065: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08.

Trans 128.08 Trans 128.08 Refusal of registration.

Trans 128.08(1) (1) Scope. If the department refuses registration, it may not permit the person to do any of the following:

Trans 128.08(1)(a) (a) Register a vehicle.

Trans 128.08(1)(b) (b) Re–register a vehicle.

Trans 128.08(1)(c) (c) Renew the registration of a vehicle.

Trans 128.08(1)(d) (d) Change the gross weight at which a vehicle is registered.

Trans 128.08(1)(e) (e) Change the operating status of a vehicle.

Trans 128.08(1)(f) (f) Transfer registration to another vehicle.

Trans 128.08(1)(g) (g) Acquire registration as part of the transfer of ownership of a vehicle.

Trans 128.08(1)(h) (h) Continue a nonexpiring registration.

Trans 128.08(1)(i) (i) Obtain replacement license plates for any vehicle.

Trans 128.08(2) (2) Withdrawal of registration by cancellation. The department shall cancel any registration issued in violation of the provisions of this chapter.

Trans 128.08 Note Note: Section 342.255 (3) requires the department to cancel any registration issued in violation of any law.

Trans 128.08(3) (3) Applications for certificate of title and registration by debtor registrant.

Trans 128.08(3)(a) (a) Titling of vehicles is generally governed by ch. 342, Stats., and not by this chapter, except as provided in s. Trans 128.09. The department may issue a title to a vehicle transferred to a person to whom registration must be refused under this chapter.

Trans 128.08 Note Note: Refusal of registration is different than suspension, revocation or cancellation of registration.

Trans 128.08(3)(b) (b) If an application for certificate of title identifies a vehicle or vehicle owner that is subject to refusal of registration and indicates that the vehicle has been operated upon public highways, any required registration fee shall be collected and retained at the time of issuing title, but the department may not issue registration for that vehicle. The department shall assign registration to the vehicle according to the provisions of ch. 341, Stats., but shall withhold sending the proof of registration to the vehicle owner until the department receives evidence that all judgments, citations and towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation are paid. The certificate of title shall be sent to the vehicle owner with a notice that registration is being withheld because of unpaid judgments, unpaid citations, or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with parking citations, and indicating that the registration shall be withheld until the department receives evidence that each identified debt is paid.

Trans 128.08(4) (4) Criteria for identifying a person subject to refusal of registration. The department may rely on information supplied by a court or an authority to identify persons whose registration may be refused and may supplement that information with department records. The department shall refuse the renewal, transfer or issuance of registration when any of the following occur:

Trans 128.08(4)(a) (a) The applicant’s or registrant’s name and address are both the same as the name and address supplied on a notice of unpaid judgment or unpaid citation or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation.

Trans 128.08(4)(b) (b) The name shown on the department’s record for the license plate number supplied on the notice of unpaid judgment or notice of unpaid citation or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation is similar or a reasonably logical variation of the name supplied on the notice of unpaid judgment or notice of unpaid citation or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation regardless of whether the address information is the same.

Trans 128.08(4)(c) (c) The applicant’s or registrant’s name is exactly the same or a reasonably logical variation of a name as stated in pars. (a) and (b), and the address is the same as one of the following:

Trans 128.08(4)(c)1. 1. The address supplied on the notice of unpaid judgment or notice of unpaid citation or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation.

Trans 128.08(4)(c)2. 2. The address obtained from the department’s record for the license plate number supplied on the notice of unpaid judgment or notice of unpaid citation or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation.

Trans 128.08(4)(c)3. 3. The address obtained from department’s driver license records using information supplied by the notice of unpaid judgment.

Trans 128.08(4)(d) (d) The applicant or registrant has the same customer identification number, driver license number or social security number on the department’s records as the person identified on the notice of unpaid judgment or unpaid citation or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation.

Trans 128.08 History History: CR 07-065: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08.

Trans 128.09 Trans 128.09 Transfer of vehicle ownership while registration suspended.

Trans 128.09(1) (1) Transfer prohibited. No person may transfer ownership of any vehicle that is subject to a suspending authority’s registration refusal or suspension under s. 341.63 (1) (c), Stats., for nonpayment of citations or towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation until the registration is reinstated under s. 341.63 (2), Stats., or until the department is satisfied that the transfer is proposed in good faith and not for the purpose or with the effect of defeating the purpose of a TVRP case. Except as provided in sub. (3), the department may decline to issue a vehicle title to any person other than the debtor registrant.

Trans 128.09(2) (2) Sham transactions ineffective. An attempt to transfer ownership of a vehicle that is subject to a registration suspension or refusal for nonpayment of a citation under s. 341.63 (1) (c), Stats., shall be considered to be an effort to defeat the purpose of that TVRP case in any of the following circumstances:

Trans 128.09(2)(a) (a) Any situation in which the debtor registrant would continue to have possession, use of, or receive any benefit from the operation of the vehicle.

Trans 128.09(2)(b) (b) Any situation in which the vehicle is transferred to a person residing at the same address as the debtor registrant.

Trans 128.09 Note Note: The prohibition on transfer of ownership is set forth in s. 341.64, Stats., and does not prohibit transfer of ownership of vehicles subject to registration refusal because of unpaid judgments or unpaid towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation.

Trans 128.09(3) (3) Exceptions to refusing a transfer of ownership. Notwithstanding sub. (1), the department may transfer title to a vehicle and issue a title to a person other than the debtor registrant if any of the following apply:

Trans 128.09(3)(a) (a) The transfer is from the debtor registrant to a person who meets the definition of motor vehicle dealer in s. 218.0101 (23), Stats.

Trans 128.09(3)(b) (b) The purchaser does not reside at the same address as the debtor registrant and provides the department with a signed statement that the seller of the vehicle will not have possession, use of, or receive any benefit from the operation of the vehicle after the requested transfer of title is completed by the department.

Trans 128.09(3)(c) (c) The transfer constitutes an involuntary transfer of ownership under any of the following circumstances:

Trans 128.09(3)(c)1. 1. The vehicle is repossessed by a secured party and title and registration are applied for pursuant to s. 342.17 (2), Stats.

Trans 128.09(3)(c)2. 2. Application for title to a vehicle owned by a decedent, ward or bankrupt is made under s. 342.17 (4), Stats.

Trans 128.09(3)(c)3. 3. Transfer is required under a divorce settlement or order and the transferring party does not execute and deliver the title to the vehicle to the transferee.

Trans 128.09(3)(c)4. 4. A bankruptcy trustee seeks title to a vehicle titled in the name of a debtor or transfers ownership to a third person.

Trans 128.09 Note Note: See s. 342.17 (4), Stats.

Trans 128.09(3)(c)5. 5. The vehicle is an abandoned vehicle that was or is being disposed of by a duly authorized municipal or county representative under s. 342.40 (2), Stats.

Trans 128.09(3)(c)6. 6. The vehicle is sold under s. 779.48 (2), Stats., to enforce a towing or storage lien under s. 779.415, Stats., a garage or livery lien granted by s. 779.43 (3), Stats., or a mechanics lien granted by s. 779.41, Stats.

Trans 128.09(3)(c)7. 7. The vehicle is sold to enforce a landlord storage lien under s. 704.05 (5), Stats.

Trans 128.09(3)(c)8. 8. Transfer of title to the vehicle is ordered by a court, or a court declares a person to be the vehicle owner.

Trans 128.09(3)(c)9. 9. Any other situation in which the interest of an owner in a vehicle passes to a different person other than by voluntary transfer.

Trans 128.09 Note Note: A person attempting to register a vehicle that is subject to suspension for an unpaid citation may be subject to the forfeiture in s. 341.04 (2), Stats. Making a knowingly false statement on an application for title is a Class H felony. s. 342.06 (2), Stats. Making a false statement on an application for a duplicate title or license or to induce any other action by the department subjects a person to a forfeiture of up to $500. s. 345.17 (2), Stats.

Trans 128.09(4) (4) Requests for additional information. The department may request information sufficient to make a determination as to the applicability of the exceptions specified in sub. (3) from a purchaser and may withhold issuance of title and registration pending receipt of that information.

Trans 128.09 Note Note: Section 342.12 (2), Stats., permits withholding of title where ownership is unclear.

Trans 128.09(5) (5) Application disposition when transfer of ownership refused.

Trans 128.09(5)(a) (a) When the department refuses to allow a transfer of ownership under s. 341.63 (1) (c), Stats., because of unpaid citations, and a transfer of ownership is determined not to have been made in good faith or in order to defeat the purpose of the TVRP case under sub. (2), the department may do any of the following:

Trans 128.09(5)(a)1. 1. Create a new title, without charge, in the name of the seller and send it to the seller with a letter explaining why the transfer of ownership was refused.

Trans 128.09(5)(a)2. 2. Return to the purchaser all fees submitted by the purchaser with an explanation why the transfer of ownership was refused. If proof of registration was issued in error, the fees may be returned only after the purchaser complies with a department request for return of that proof of registration.

Trans 128.09(5)(a)3. 3. Notify by letter any secured party shown on the purchaser’s application for transfer of ownership that transfer of ownership was refused.

Trans 128.09(5)(b) (b) The decision to refuse registration under this section is reviewable. All decisions shall include the reason transfer of title was denied and include the following notice or a similar writing providing notice of the person’s right to a hearing:

  RIGHT TO A HEARING: s. 342.26, Stats., provides you a right to a hearing on this order to decline to issue a title before the Division of Hearings and Appeals as a Ch. 227 Contested Case.
  You may request a hearing by filing a written appeal within 30 days of the date of this order with the Division of Hearings and Appeals, 5005 University Avenue, Room 201, Madison, WI 53705.
  All appeals must include the name and address of the appellant, a description of the action that is being contested, the effective date of the action, a copy of this order if possible, a concise statement of the reasons for objecting to the action, the type of relief the appellant is seeking, the name and address of any person who may be expected to appear on behalf of the appellant, and the request for a hearing. s. HA 1.04 (2).

Trans 128.09 Note Note: s. HA 1.04 (1) imposes the 30-day time limit for appeals.

Trans 128.09 History History: CR 07-065: cr. Register December 2007 No. 624, eff. 1-1-08.

Trans 128.10 Trans 128.10 Effect of bankruptcy on vehicle registration.

Trans 128.10(1) (1) Bankruptcy that precedes TVRP suspension. In any case in which the department is notified of a pending bankruptcy proceeding and applicability of a stay under 11 USC 362, the department shall release any registration suspension imposed under this chapter affecting the vehicle registration of the debtor. The authority may not refile its notice of unpaid judgment, citation or towing and storage charges associated with a parking citation until the stay is no longer in effect.

Trans 128.10 Note Note: The co-debtor stay under 11 USC 1301 applies only to consumer debt. Fines, forfeitures, and towing and storage charges associated with parking citations are not consumer debt. Therefore the co-debtor stay of 11 USC 1301 does not impact TVRP cases involving a non-bankrupt person who is liable with a bankruptcy person.

Trans 128.10(2) (2) Effect on vehicle registration.

Trans 128.10(2)(a) (a) Reinstatement. A vehicle owner whose vehicle registration is suspended or subject to refusal under this chapter who files a petition in bankruptcy, and from whom collection of a pre-bankruptcy debt arising prior to the filing of the petition is stayed under 11 USC 362, may reinstate his or her vehicle registration. The person shall be subject to all the same reinstatement, filing and fee requirements as any other person seeking registration reinstatement following a registration refusal or suspension.

Trans 128.10 Note Note: Liability for forfeitures is not “consumer debt” under 11 USC 101 (8). Therefore, Ch. 13 co-debtor stay does not prohibit collection against non-bankrupt persons who are liable on a debt with a bankrupt person.

Trans 128.10(2)(b) (b) Release of suspension ordered in violation of automatic stay. If the department is notified that a stay prohibiting action against a debtor under 11 USC 362 was in effect at the time the department suspended a debtor’s vehicle registration under this chapter, the department shall reinstate the bankruptcy debtor’s vehicle registration without any reinstatement fee.

Trans 128.10(2)(c) (c) Reimposition of suspension. The department may suspend or refuse a debtor’s vehicle registration that was released under sub. (1) or this subsection upon a subsequent TVRP case filing by a suspending authority. Such a filing shall be deemed a representation by the authority that the debt described in the filing was not discharged or satisfied within the bankruptcy proceeding and that no bankruptcy stay is in effect.