Chapter 343

343.04(1)(c) (c) Class C. A “Class C” motor vehicle is any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight and registered weight of 26,000 pounds or less, including any such vehicle towing a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating, actual gross weight and registered weight of less than 10,000 pounds, if any of the following applies:

343.04(1)(c)1. 1. The vehicle is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

343.04(1)(c)2. 2. The vehicle is transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73.

343.04(1)(d) (d) Class D. A “Class D” vehicle is any motor vehicle not included in par. (a), (b), (c) or (e).

343.04(1)(e) (e) Class M. A “Class M” vehicle is any motorcycle.

343.04(2) (2) Vehicle types. For purposes of this chapter, certain vehicles intended to carry school children or other passengers, or having special operating characteristics, are divided into the following vehicle types specified in pars. (a) to (f):

343.04(2)(a) (a) Hazardous materials transporter. Hazardous materials transporter vehicles are vehicles transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73.

343.04(2)(b) (b) Full air brakes equipped. Full air brakes equipped vehicles are commercial motor vehicles equipped with a braking system operating fully on the air brake principle.

343.04(2)(bm) (bm) Partial air brakes equipped. Partial air brakes equipped vehicles are commercial motor vehicles equipped with a braking system operating partially on the air brake principle and partially on the air over hydraulic brake principle.

343.04(2)(c) (c) Tanks. Tanks are commercial motor vehicles which are tank vehicles.

343.04(2)(d) (d) Passenger carrying. Passenger-carrying vehicles are motor vehicles designed to carry, or actually carrying, 16 or more passengers, including the driver.

343.04(2)(e) (e) School buses. All school buses, including those which are commercial motor vehicles.

343.04(2)(f) (f) Vehicles towing double or triple trailers. Vehicles towing double or triple trailers are commercial motor vehicles with double or triple trailers.

343.04 History History: 1989 a. 105; 1999 a. 140; 2003 a. 33; 2015 a. 123; 2019 a. 50.

subch. II of ch. 343 SUBCHAPTER II

ISSUANCE, EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF LICENSES

343.05 343.05 Operators to be licensed; exceptions.

343.05(1) (1) General provisions.

343.05(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in this subsection, no person may at any time have more than one operator’s license. This prohibition includes, without limitation, having licenses from more than one state, having licenses under more than one name or birthdate, and having more than one license issued for the operation of different types or classes of vehicles. This paragraph does not apply to any person who has only operator’s licenses issued by this state and by a country, province, or subdivision that is a party to an agreement under s. 343.16 (1) (d).

343.05(1)(c) (c) A person may have both an operator’s license and a duly issued instruction permit allowing restricted operation of a vehicle group not authorized by the license.

343.05(2) (2) Commercial motor vehicles.

343.05(2)(a) (a) No person may operate a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person is one of the following:

343.05(2)(a)1. 1. A resident who is at least 18 years of age, who is not disqualified under s. 343.315, who has a valid commercial driver license which is not revoked, suspended, canceled or expired and, for the operation of any vehicle type under s. 343.04 (2), has an endorsement authorizing operation of the vehicle type.

343.05(2)(a)2. 2. A nonresident who has in his or her immediate possession a valid commercial driver license issued to the person in another jurisdiction or Mexico bearing all endorsements required for the specific class and type of vehicle being operated. A license is not valid under this subdivision if the license is restricted to operation inside the person’s home jurisdiction, or if the person is otherwise violating restrictions or exceeding operating authorization stated on the person’s license. If the nonresident is operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce, he or she must be at least 21 years of age.

343.05(2)(a)4. 4. A person with a temporary license under s. 343.305 (8) (a) which expressly authorizes the operation of the applicable class and type of commercial motor vehicle and which is not expired.

343.05(2)(b) (b) This subsection does not apply to a person whose operation of a commercial motor vehicle is subject to waiver under s. 343.055.

343.05(2)(c) (c) A tow truck operator holding a valid commercial driver license who is engaged in the removal of a disabled or wrecked vehicle from the highway or eliminating a hazard is not required to hold an endorsement to his or her commercial driver license regardless of the type of vehicle being towed. This exception to the requirement for an endorsement does not apply to any subsequent towing of the vehicle, including moving the vehicle from one repair facility to another, unless one of the following applies:

343.05(2)(c)1. 1. The tow truck operator is accompanied by a driver who holds the required endorsements.

343.05(2)(c)2. 2. The vehicle is a vehicle that requires a “P” endorsement for its operation.

343.05(3) (3) Noncommercial vehicles. Except as provided in sub. (4):

343.05(3)(a) (a) No person may operate a motor vehicle which is not a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in this state unless the person possesses a valid operator’s license issued to the person by the department which is not revoked, suspended, canceled or expired.

343.05(3)(b) (b) No person may operate a motorcycle unless the person possesses a valid operator’s license specifically authorizing the operation of motorcycles.

343.05(3)(c) (c) No person may operate a moped or motor bicycle unless the person possesses a valid operator’s license or a special restricted operator’s license issued under s. 343.135 or a restricted license issued under s. 343.08. A license under this paragraph does not authorize operation of a moped or motor bicycle if the license is revoked, suspended, canceled or expired.

343.05(4) (4) Exemptions.

343.05(4)(a) (a) The following are exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter:

343.05(4)(a)1. 1. A person in the armed services while operating a motor vehicle owned by or leased to the federal government.

343.05(4)(a)2. 2. A person while temporarily operating or moving a farm tractor or implement of husbandry on a highway between fields or between a farm and a field.

343.05(4)(a)3m. 3m. A person while operating motorized construction equipment. This subdivision does not apply to a truck or a construction vehicle designed for use on a roadway or to any vehicle exceeding a speed of 35 miles per hour.

343.05(4)(b) (b) The following are exempt from the licensing requirements of sub. (3):

343.05(4)(b)1. 1. A nonresident who is at least 16 years of age and who has in his or her immediate possession a valid operator’s license issued to the person in the person’s home jurisdiction.

343.05(4)(b)1m. 1m. A person who operates a limited use off-highway motorcycle, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (o), only as authorized under s. 23.335.

343.05(4)(b)2. 2. Any nonresident of the United States who holds an international driving permit or a valid operator’s license issued by a country which is a signatory to either the 1943 regulation of inter-American automotive traffic or the 1949 Geneva convention on road traffic.

343.05(4)(b)3. 3. Any nonresident of the United States who holds an international driving permit or a valid operator’s license issued by Germany, Mexico, or Switzerland or by any other nation having a reciprocal agreement with the United States concerning driving privileges.

343.05(4)(c) (c) An exemption under par. (b) 2. or 3. applies only for a period of one year after a nonresident’s arrival in the United States.

343.05(5) (5) Penalties.

343.05(5)(ag) (ag) In this subsection, “great bodily harm” has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (14).

343.05(5)(am) (am) Any person who violates sub. (1) or (2) shall be:

343.05(5)(am)1. 1. Fined not less than $200 nor more than $600 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both for the first such violation.

343.05(5)(am)2. 2. Fined not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not less than 5 days nor more than 6 months or both for the 2nd offense occurring within 3 years.

343.05(5)(am)3. 3. Fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 and imprisoned for not less than 10 days nor more than 6 months for the 3rd or subsequent offense occurring within 3 years.

343.05(5)(b) (b)

343.05(5)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subds. 2. to 5. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) may be required to forfeit not more than $200 for the first offense, may be fined not more than $300 and imprisoned for not more than 30 days for the 2nd offense occurring within 3 years, and may be fined not more than $500 and imprisoned for not more than 6 months for the 3rd or subsequent offense occurring within 3 years. In this paragraph, a violation of a local ordinance in conformity with this section or a violation of a law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with this section shall count as a previous offense.

343.05(5)(b)2. 2. A person whose operator’s license has expired not more than 3 months before a violation of sub. (3) (a) may be required to forfeit not more than $100 for the first offense.

343.05(5)(b)4. 4. Except as provided in subd. 2. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) and, in the course of the violation, causes great bodily harm to another person is required to forfeit not less than $5,000 nor more than $7,500, except that, if the person knows at the time of the violation that he or she does not possess a valid operator’s license, the person is guilty of a Class I felony.

343.05(5)(b)5. 5. Except as provided in subd. 2. and sub. (6), any person who violates sub. (3) (a) and, in the course of the violation, causes the death of another person is required to forfeit not less than $7,500 nor more than $10,000, except that, if the person knows at the time of the violation that he or she does not possess a valid operator’s license, the person is guilty of a Class H felony.

343.05(5)(c) (c) Any person who violates sub. (3) (b) or (c) may be required to forfeit not more than $100.

343.05(6) (6) Other offenses; penalties. Section 343.44 and the penalties thereunder shall apply in lieu of this section to any person operating a motor vehicle upon a highway in this state with an operator’s license which is revoked or suspended.

343.05 History History: 1971 c. 164 s. 83; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a); 1977 c. 273, 288, 447; 1979 c. 345; 1981 c. 42, 138; 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1983 a. 243, 534, 535, 538; 1985 a. 65; 1989 a. 87, 105, 359; 1991 a. 32, 39; 1995 a. 113, 269, 347; 1997 a. 237; 2005 a. 412; 2009 a. 103, 276; 2011 a. 113; 2013 a. 163; 2015 a. 170; 2019 a. 50.

343.05 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 343.37 for limitations on nonresident operators.

343.05 Annotation The guidelines for operating a commercial vehicle under this section constitute a fundamental public policy to promote highway safety. The discharge of an at-will employee for refusing to violate this section was a wrongful discharge. Kempfer v. Automated Finishing, Inc., 211 Wis. 2d 100, 564 N.W.2d 692 (1997), 95-0649.

343.05 Annotation A 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. County of Fond du Lac v. Derksen, 2002 WI App 160, 256 Wis. 2d 490, 647 N.W.2d 922, 01-2870.

343.05 Annotation Summary judgment is inapplicable in hearings under this chapter. State v. Baratka, 2002 WI App 288, 258 Wis. 2d 342, 654 N.W.2d 875, 02-0770.

343.05 Annotation Three-wheeled trucks and automobiles, golf carts, and other special purpose vehicles such as street sweepers, industrial fork-lifts, and motorized wheelbarrows are not motorcycles, and operators are not required to have special driver licenses. 58 Atty. Gen. 17.

343.05 Annotation A driver license authorizing motor-driven cycle operation is not required for the operation of a motor-driven cycle on private property. 64 Atty. Gen. 79.

343.055 343.055 Commercial driver license waivers.

343.055(1) (1) Operators waived.

343.055(1)(a) (a) General. Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4) and notwithstanding s. 343.05 (2), operators of certain commercial motor vehicles specified in pars. (b) to (h) or any rule of the department promulgated under sub. (5) are not required to hold commercial driver licenses, if the operator holds a valid operator’s license not limited to “Class M” vehicles.

343.055(1)(b) (b) Fire fighters. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle including, without limitation, fire trucks, hook and ladder trucks and foam or water transporters, is a person employed by a volunteer or paid fire organization and the person is operating emergency or fire fighting equipment necessary to the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency management functions and equipped with a siren and warning lamps as provided in ss. 347.25 (1) and 347.38 (4) and the operation is in the routine performance of other duties of the fire organization or in response to an emergency call under s. 346.03 or during the return from a fire or other emergency response.

343.055(1)(c) (c) Farmers. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a farmer or a family member or employee of a farmer who is using the commercial motor vehicle to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies, or a combination thereof to or from a farm and the commercial motor vehicle is controlled by a farmer and not used in the operations of a common motor carrier or contract motor carrier, as defined in s. 194.01 (1) and (2). If the operator of the commercial motor vehicle is transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding, the waiver under this paragraph applies only within 150 miles of a farm where the operator is a farmer or a family member or employee of a farmer. In this paragraph, “controlled” means leased or owned; and “farmer” and “leased” have the meanings given in s. 340.01 (18) (b).

343.055(1)(d) (d) Recreational vehicle operators. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a person operating a motor home, or a vehicle towing a 5th-wheel recreational vehicle or single-unit recreational vehicle and the vehicle or combination, including both units of a combination towing vehicle and the 5th-wheel recreational vehicle or recreational vehicle, is both operated and controlled by the person and is transporting only members of the person’s family, guests or their personal property. This paragraph does not apply to any transportation for hire or the transportation of any property connected to a commercial activity. In this paragraph, “controlled” means leased or owned.

343.055(1)(e) (e) Law enforcement officers. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a law enforcement officer who is operating an authorized emergency vehicle that is necessary to the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency governmental functions and that is equipped with warning lamps and a siren as provided in ss. 347.25 and 347.38 (4).

343.055(1)(h) (h) Rescue squad members. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a member of a legally organized rescue squad. This paragraph applies only to the operation of authorized emergency vehicles.

343.055(2) (2) Disqualifications not applicable. Notwithstanding s. 343.44, a person disqualified under s. 343.315 may operate a commercial motor vehicle as described in this section if the person holds a valid operator’s license issued to the person authorizing the operation of “Class D” vehicles.

343.055(3) (3) Vehicles transporting hazardous materials, carrying passengers or towing double or triple trailers not waived. Nothing in this section authorizes the operation of a combination vehicle with double or triple trailers, a vehicle transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding except as provided in sub. (1) (c), a vehicle transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73, or a vehicle carrying or designed to transport the driver and 15 or more persons, by a person who does not hold a valid operator’s license properly endorsed to permit such operation.

343.055(4) (4) Effect of waivers. The waivers under this section shall apply to the extent permitted under federal law and shall exempt a person only from the requirement in s. 343.05 (2) to hold a commercial driver license to operate a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in this state. A commercial motor vehicle operated under this waiver remains a commercial motor vehicle.

343.055(5) (5) Rules. As soon as possible after the federal commercial motor vehicle safety act, 49 USC 31301 to 31317, or the regulations adopted under that act permit any commercial driver license waiver, the department shall promulgate rules governing eligibility for the waiver. This subsection applies to waivers not permitted by federal law on May 12, 1992.

343.055 History History: 1989 a. 105; 1991 a. 39, 242; 1993 a. 19; 1995 a. 113, 247; 1999 a. 9, 140; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 11; 2009 a. 254; 2019 a. 163.

343.06 343.06 Persons not to be licensed.

343.06(1) (1) The department shall not issue a license:

343.06(1)(a) (a) To any person whose operator’s license or nonresident’s operating privilege was withheld, suspended, revoked or canceled under the provisions of the law in effect prior to September 1, 1941, unless such person complies with the requirements of this chapter relative to obtaining a license or restoration of operating privileges after suspension, revocation or cancellation.

343.06(1)(b) (b) To any person whose operating privilege has been suspended or revoked or is subject to immediate mandatory suspension or revocation under this chapter, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter.

343.06(1)(c) (c) To any person under age 18 unless the person is enrolled in a school program or high school equivalency program and is not a habitual truant as defined in s. 118.16 (1) (a), has graduated from high school or been granted a declaration of high school graduation equivalency, or is enrolled in a home-based private educational program, as defined in s. 115.001 (3g), and has satisfactorily completed a course in driver education in public schools approved by the department of public instruction, or in technical colleges approved by the technical college system board, or in nonpublic and private schools or tribal schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (15m), that meet the minimum standards set by the department of public instruction, or has satisfactorily completed a substantially equivalent course in driver training approved by the department and given by a school licensed by the department under s. 343.61, or has satisfactorily completed a substantially equivalent course in driver education or training approved by another state and has attained the age of 16, except as provided in s. 343.07 (1g). The department shall not issue a license to any person under the age of 18 authorizing the operation of “Class M” vehicles unless the person has successfully completed a basic rider course approved by the Wisconsin department of transportation motorcycle safety program. The department may, by rule, exempt certain persons from the basic rider course requirement of this paragraph. Applicants for a license under s. 343.08 or 343.135 are exempt from the driver education, basic rider or driver training course requirement. The secretary shall prescribe rules for licensing of schools and instructors to qualify under this paragraph. The driver education course shall be made available to every eligible student in the state. Except as provided under s. 343.16 (1) (bm) and (c) and (2) (cm) to (e), no operator’s license may be issued unless a driver’s examination has been administered by the department.

343.06 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 129, Wis. adm. code.

343.06(1)(cm) (cm) To operate “Class D” vehicles to any person under 18 years of age, unless the person has accumulated at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, at least 10 hours of which were during hours of darkness. Each hour of behind-the-wheel driving experience while accompanied by a qualified instructor, as defined in s. 343.07 (1c), shall be considered to be 2 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience, except that no more than 5 hours of behind-the-wheel driving experience while accompanied by a qualified instructor may be counted in this manner. This paragraph does not apply to applicants for a restricted license under s. 343.08 or a special restricted operator’s license under s. 343.135. The department may promulgate rules that waive the requirement of accumulating at least 50 hours of behind-the-wheel experience for qualified applicants who are licensed by another jurisdiction to operate “Class D” vehicles.

343.06(1)(d) (d) To any person whose dependence on alcohol has attained such a degree that it interferes with his or her physical or mental health or social or economic functioning, or who is addicted to the use of controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, except that the secretary may issue a license if the person submits to an examination, evaluation or treatment in a treatment facility meeting the standards prescribed in s. 51.45 (8) (a), as directed by the secretary, in accordance with s. 343.16 (5).

343.06(1)(e) (e) To any person who is unable to exercise reasonable control over a motor vehicle, as defined by the department by rule.

343.06(1)(f) (f) To any person who is required by this chapter to take an examination, unless such person takes and successfully passes such examination. Deaf persons otherwise qualified under this chapter to receive a license shall be issued such license in the discretion of the secretary.

343.06(1)(g) (g) To any person who is required under the motor vehicle financial responsibility laws of this state to furnish proof of financial responsibility, and who has not furnished such proof in the manner prescribed by statute and any lawful rules of the department pertaining thereto.

343.06(1)(h) (h) To any person when the secretary has good cause to believe that the operation of a motor vehicle on the highways by such person will be inimical to the public safety or welfare.