343.44(2)(c)(c) In addition to other penalties for violation of this section, if a person violates this section while his or her operating privilege is revoked as provided in ch. 351, the penalties may be enhanced by imprisonment and additional fines as provided in s. 351.08. For the purpose of enforcing this paragraph, in any case in which the accused is charged with operating a motor vehicle while his or her operator’s license, permit or privilege to operate is suspended or revoked or is charged with operating without a valid operator’s license, the court, before hearing the charge, shall determine whether the person is a habitual traffic offender or repeat habitual traffic offender and therefore barred from operating a motor vehicle on the highways of this state.

343.44(2)(d)(d) The chief judge of each judicial administrative district shall adopt guidelines, under the chief judge’s authority to adopt local rules under SCR 70.34, for the consideration of aggravating and mitigating factors. Such guidelines shall treat operators of commercial motor vehicles at least as stringently as operators of other classes of motor vehicles.

343.44(2p)(2p) Sentencing option. The legislature intends that courts use the sentencing option under s. 973.03 (4) whenever appropriate for persons subject to sub. (2) to provide cost savings for the state and for local governments. This option shall not be used if the revocation is a permanent revocation under s. 343.31 (1m) or if the suspension or revocation was for one of the following:

343.44(2r)(2r) Prior convictions. For purposes of determining prior convictions under this section, the 5-year period shall be measured from the dates of the violations that resulted in the convictions and each conviction under sub. (2) shall be counted. Convictions of s. 343.44 (1), 1997 stats., other than for operating a commercial motor vehicle while ordered out-of-service shall be counted under this section as prior convictions.

343.44(2s)(2s) Citations. Within 30 days after receipt by the department of a report from a law enforcement officer under s. 343.305 (7) or a court order under s. 343.28 of a violation committed by a person operating a commercial motor vehicle while subject to an out-of-service order under s. 343.305 (7) (b) or (9) (am), a traffic officer employed under s. 110.07 may prepare a uniform traffic citation under s. 345.11 for a violation of sub. (1) (c) or (d) and serve it on the person. The citation may be served anywhere in this state and shall be served by delivering a copy to the person personally or by leaving a copy at the person’s usual place of abode with a person of discretion residing therein or by mailing a copy to the person’s last-known residence address. The venue for prosecution may be the county where the alleged offense occurred or in the person’s county of residence.

343.44(3)(3) Failure to receive notice. Refusal to accept or failure to receive an order of revocation, suspension or disqualification mailed by 1st class mail to such person’s last-known address shall not be a defense to the charge of driving after revocation, suspension or disqualification. If the person has changed his or her address and fails to notify the department as required in s. 343.22 then failure to receive notice of revocation, suspension or disqualification shall not be a defense to the charge of driving after revocation, suspension or disqualification.

343.44(4)(4) Impoundment. In addition to other penalties for violation of this section, if a person has violated this section with respect to a motor vehicle which he or she is the owner, the court may order the vehicle impounded. The court may determine the manner and period of impoundment. The cost of keeping the vehicle constitutes a lien on the vehicle.

343.44(4r)(4r) Violation of out-of-service order. In addition to other penalties for violation of this section, if a person has violated this section after the person or the commercial motor vehicle operated by the person was ordered out-of-service under the law of this state or another jurisdiction or under federal law, the violation shall result in disqualification under s. 343.315 (2) (h) or (i).

343.44(5)(5) Vehicle impoundment; lessors and secured creditors. If a motor vehicle impounded under sub. (4) is subject to a security agreement or lease contract, the vehicle shall be released by the court to the lessor or secured creditor upon the filing of an affidavit by the lessor or secured creditor that the security agreement or lease contract is in default and shall be delivered to the lessor or secured creditor upon payment of the accrued cost of keeping the motor vehicle.

343.44 AnnotationA certified copy of the Department of Transportation order revoking the defendant’s driver license was admissible under s. 889.18 (2). State v. Mullis, 81 Wis. 2d 454, 260 N.W.2d 696 (1978).

343.44 AnnotationThe time between the violations underlying convictions, not the time between convictions, determines whether penalty enhancers apply. State v. Walczak, 157 Wis. 2d 661, 460 N.W.2d 797 (Ct. App. 1990).

343.44 AnnotationThe general requirements for establishing prior criminal offenses in s. 973.12 are not applicable to the penalty enhancement provisions for offenses under sub. (2). The convictions must be established by defendant’s admission, copies of prior judgments, or a teletype of the Department of Transportation driving record. State v. Spaeth, 206 Wis. 2d 135, 556 N.W.2d 728 (1996), 95-1827.

343.44 AnnotationA circuit court may not determine the validity of a prior conviction during an enhanced sentencing proceeding predicated on the prior conviction unless the offender alleges that a violation of the right to a lawyer occurred in the prior conviction. The offender may use whatever means are available to challenge the other conviction in another forum, and if successful, seek to reopen the enhanced sentence. State v. Hahn, 2000 WI 118, 238 Wis. 2d 889, 618 N.W.2d 528, 99-0554.

343.44 AnnotationA person has a privilege, but not a right, to drive a motor vehicle upon a public highway. To exercise that privilege, the person must satisfy the licensing requirements of the state. Failing that, the person may be properly prosecuted and convicted of operating after suspension of the person’s operating privileges. County of Fond du Lac v. Derksen, 2002 WI App 160, 256 Wis. 2d 490, 647 N.W.2d 922, 01-2870.

343.44 AnnotationA defendant may collaterally attack a prior conviction in an enhanced sentence proceeding on the ground that the defendant was denied the constitutional right to counsel in the earlier case. The U.S. Supreme Court recognized that the information a defendant must possess to execute a valid waiver of counsel depends on a range of case-specific factors, including the defendant’s education or sophistication. The Supreme Court’s reference to a defendant’s “education or sophistication” suggests that a court may take the defendant’s cognitive limitations into account when determining the validity of the defendant’s waiver. State v. Bohlinger, 2013 WI App 39, 346 Wis. 2d 549, 828 N.W.2d 900, 12-1060.

343.45(1)(1) No person shall cause or knowingly permit the person’s child or ward under 18 years of age to operate a motor vehicle upon any highway in violation of this chapter or when such minor is not authorized under this chapter to operate a motor vehicle.

343.45(2)(2) No person shall authorize or knowingly permit a motor vehicle owned by the person or under the person’s control to be operated upon any highway in violation of this chapter or by a person who is not authorized under this chapter to operate a motor vehicle. No dealer as defined in s. 340.01 (11) (intro.) but including the persons specified in s. 340.01 (11) (a), (b), (c) and (d), shall permit any person to operate any motor vehicle owned by the dealer or in the dealer’s possession or control on a trial run unless the dealer has been shown the person’s valid operator’s license, issued by this state or other jurisdiction, before permitting the trial run.

343.45(3)(3) Except as another penalty is provided by s. 343.245 (4) (b), any person violating this section may be required to forfeit not more than $100.

343.45 AnnotationA parent’s unrestricted entrustment of a motorcycle to minor child in violation of this section constituted negligence per se. Kempf v. Boehrig, 95 Wis. 2d 435, 290 N.W.2d 563 (Ct. App. 1980).

343.46(1)(1) No person shall rent a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer to another unless the person who is to operate such rented vehicle is duly licensed under this chapter or, in the case of a nonresident, is duly licensed under the laws of the jurisdiction of the nonresident’s residence.

343.46(2)(2) No person shall rent a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer to another until that person has inspected the license of the person who is to operate the vehicle and has compared and verified the signature thereon with the signature of such person written in his or her presence.