Chapter Trans 303
EQUIPMENT STANDARDS FOR SPECIAL VEHICLES
Trans 303.03 Definitions. Trans 303.04 Registration options. Trans 303.05 Motor bicycle equipment requirements. Trans 303.06 Special vehicle equipment requirements. Trans 303.07 Special requirements. Trans 303.08 Vehicles not qualified as special vehicles. Trans 303.01Trans 303.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum equipment safety standards for special vehicles operated on the highway which are registered under s. 341.067, Stats., and are operated by persons licensed under ss. 343.075 and 343.135, Stats. Trans 303.01 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81. Trans 303.02Trans 303.02 Scope. This rule is intended to meet the requirements of s. 347.02 (6), Stats., to establish minimum special equipment standards for vehicles operated under s. 343.135, Stats., and registered under s. 341.067, Stats. The standards for vehicles covered by this chapter that have not been certified by the manufacturer as meeting all applicable federal safety standards are permitted to differ from equipment requirements in ch. 347, Stats., by s. 347.02 (6), Stats., but shall meet the requirements of this chapter. The rule addresses the requirements for motor bicycles and specially designed vehicles. Trans 303.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81. Trans 303.03(3)(3) “Motor bicycle” means a motor bicycle as defined in s. 340.01 (30), Stats., with a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. Trans 303.03(5)(5) “Specially designed vehicle” or “special vehicle” means a home built, a reconstructed, or a manufactured vehicle having a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour and authorized by the department to be operated on the highway under ss. 341.067, 343.075, and 343.135, Stats. Trans 303.04Trans 303.04 Registration options. Any vehicle defined in s. Trans 303.03 (2) or (3) may, due to individual use, be registered as a special vehicle. Trans 303.05Trans 303.05 Motor bicycle equipment requirements. Those vehicles registered as a motor bicycle will be required to be equipped as provided in statute and this section with the following equipment: Trans 303.05(1)(1) No person may operate a motor bicycle upon a highway unless the motor bicycle is equipped with at least one brake capable of stopping the vehicle within 25 feet from a speed of 20 miles per hour. The brake may be designed to be operated either by hand or by foot. The brake shall be of sound design with the disc or brake drum directly connected or integral with the rear wheel and with internal-expanding brake shoes or engaging discs. The wheel rim shall qualify as the disc or brake drum. The design shall permit simple and easy adjustment to compensate for wear. If the brake control is hand-operated, there shall be no other controls linked to it. Trans 303.05 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81. Trans 303.06Trans 303.06 Special vehicle equipment requirements. Trans 303.06(1)(1) The following equipment is required for daylight operation on all specially designed vehicles covered by this chapter unless the vehicle is expressly exempted: Trans 303.06(1)(a)(a) Horn. There shall be a horn in good working order audible from a distance of 200 feet. The horn shall be electrically activated. The horn shall not be a siren or compression whistle. Trans 303.06(1)(c)(c) Muffler. A muffler is required on all internal combustion engines. The muffler shall consist of a series of chambers of baffle plates or other mechanical design for receiving exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine and which is effective in reducing noise. Trans 303.06(1)(d)(d) Service brake. There shall be a service brake which can be applied by hand or foot or both. The braking device shall be capable of stopping the vehicle within 25 feet from a speed of 20 miles per hour. Trans 303.06(1)(e)(e) Parking brakes. There shall be parking brakes adequate to hold the vehicle on any grade on which it is operated on a surface free from snow, ice, or loose material. The parking brakes shall be capable of being applied by the driver’s muscular effort or by spring action or by equivalent means. Motor bicycles registered as specially designed vehicles are exempt from this requirement. Trans 303.06(1)(f)(f) Stop lamp. There shall be at least one but not more than 2 stop lamps mounted on the same plane. Stop lamps shall be mounted no more than 54 inches nor less than 20 inches above the ground. Stop lamps shall emit a red color visible from 300 feet to the rear. Motor bicycles registered as specially designed vehicles are exempt from this requirement. Trans 303.06(1)(g)(g) Slow moving vehicle emblem. The emblem shall be mounted with the point up with the lower edge of the emblem no more than 54 inches nor less than 10 inches above the ground. The slow moving vehicle emblem shall meet the requirements of s. Trans 304.04. Trans 303.06(1)(h)(h) Flag on staff. There shall be a pennant type flag mounted on a staff at or near the rear of the vehicle. The flag shall be of durable material. The flag shall be high visibility orange. It shall be triangular shaped, no larger than 12 inches long and 6 inches high and not less than 6 inches long and 3 inches high. The staff shall not be higher than 72 inches nor less than 60 inches above the ground. The flag shall be attached to the top of the staff. Trans 303.06(2)(2) The following equipment is required on all specially designed vehicles operated during hours of darkness in addition to the equipment required for daylight operation unless the vehicle is expressly exempted: Trans 303.06(2)(a)(a) Headlamp. There shall be at least one headlamp but not more than 2 headlamps mounted on the same plane. The headlamp shall be mounted not more than 54 inches or less than 24 inches above the level surface on which the vehicle stands. The headlamps must be of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead. Trans 303.06(2)(b)(b) Tail lamp. There shall be at least one tail lamp but not more than 2 tail lamps. The tail lamps shall be mounted not more than 54 inches or less than 20 inches above the level surface on which the vehicle stands. The tail lamp shall emit a red light plainly visible from 500 feet to the rear. Trans 303.06(2)(c)(c) Turn signals. There shall be 2 turn signal lamps showing to the front and 2 turn signal lamps showing to the rear of the vehicle so as to indicate intention to turn right or left. Lamps showing to the front shall be located on the same level and shall project a white or amber light. Lamps showing to the rear shall be located on the same level and shall project a red or amber light to the rear and shall be plainly visible from all distances to 300 feet. Motor bicycles registered as specially designed vehicles are exempt from this requirement. Trans 303.06(2)(d)(d) Registration plate lamp. There shall be a registration plate lamp so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the registration plate and to render it clearly visible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. This lamp may be incorporated with the tail lamp. Motor bicycles registered as specially designed vehicles are exempt from this requirement. Trans 303.06 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81; am. (1) (g), Register, March, 1984, No. 339, eff. 4-1-84. Trans 303.07(1)(1) Specially designed vehicles shall be inspected by the department prior to being operated on the highway. Trans 303.07(2)(2) Additional equipment may be required by special driver license restrictions. Trans 303.07 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81. Trans 303.08Trans 303.08 Vehicles not qualified as special vehicles. Trans 303.08(2)(2) The foregoing enumeration is intended to be illustrative and does not exclude other vehicles which are designed for other purposes. Trans 303.08 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, April, 1981, No. 304, eff. 5-1-81; 2013 Wis. Act 363: am. (1) (d) Register May 2014 No. 701, eff. 6-1-14.
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