Chapter 943

943.215 943.215 Absconding without paying rent.

943.215(1) (1) Whoever having obtained the tenancy, as defined in s. 704.01 (4), of residential property he or she is entitled to occupy, intentionally absconds without paying all current and past rent due is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.215(2) (2) A person has a defense to prosecution under sub. (1) if he or she has provided the landlord with a security deposit that equals or exceeds the amount that the person owes the landlord regarding rent and damage to property.

943.215(3) (3) A person has a defense to prosecution under sub. (1) if, within 5 days after the day he or she vacates the rental premises, he or she pays all current and past rent due or provides to the landlord, in writing, a complete and accurate forwarding address.

943.215(4) (4) When the existence of a defense under sub. (2) or (3) has been placed in issue by the trial evidence, the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the facts constituting the defense do not exist in order to sustain a finding of guilt under sub. (1).

943.215(5) (5) Subsection (1) does not apply to any tenant against whom a civil judgment has been entered for punitive damages because the tenant left the premises with unpaid rent.

943.215 History History: 1989 a. 336.

943.22 943.22 Use of cheating tokens. Whoever obtains the property or services of another by depositing anything which he or she knows is not lawful money or an authorized token in any receptacle used for the deposit of coins or tokens is subject to a Class C forfeiture.

943.22 History History: 1977 c. 173.

943.225 943.225 Refusal to pay for a motor bus ride.

943.225(1) (1) In this section, “motor bus” has the meaning specified in s. 340.01 (31).

943.225(2) (2) Whoever intentionally enters a motor bus that transports persons for hire and refuses to pay, without delay, upon demand of the operator or other person in charge of the motor bus, the prescribed transportation fare is subject to a Class E forfeiture.

943.225 History History: 1987 a. 171.

943.23 943.23 Operating vehicle without owner’s consent.

943.23(1) (1) In this section:

943.23(1)(a) (a) “Drive” means the exercise of physical control over the speed and direction of a vehicle while it is in motion.

943.23(1)(b) (b) “Major part of a vehicle” means any of the following:

943.23(1)(b)1. 1. The engine.

943.23(1)(b)2. 2. The transmission.

943.23(1)(b)2m. 2m. The catalytic converter.

943.23(1)(b)3. 3. Each door allowing entrance to or egress from the passenger compartment.

943.23(1)(b)4. 4. The hood.

943.23(1)(b)5. 5. The grille.

943.23(1)(b)6. 6. Each bumper.

943.23(1)(b)7. 7. Each front fender.

943.23(1)(b)8. 8. The deck lid, tailgate or hatchback.

943.23(1)(b)9. 9. Each rear quarter panel.

943.23(1)(b)10. 10. The trunk floor pan.

943.23(1)(b)11. 11. The frame or, in the case of a unitized body, the supporting structure which serves as the frame.

943.23(1)(b)12. 12. Any part not listed under subds. 1. to 11. which has a value exceeding $500.

943.23(1)(c) (c) “Operate” includes the physical manipulation or activation of any of the controls of a vehicle necessary to put it in motion.

943.23(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (3m), whoever intentionally takes and drives any vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of the following:

943.23(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a Class H felony.

943.23(2)(b) (b) For a 2nd or subsequent offense, a Class F felony.

943.23(2g) (2g) Except as provided in sub. (3m), whoever intentionally takes and drives any commercial motor vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of a Class G felony.

943.23(3) (3) Except as provided in sub. (3m), whoever intentionally drives or operates any vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of the following:

943.23(3)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a Class I felony.

943.23(3)(b) (b) For a 2nd or subsequent offense, a Class G felony.

943.23(3g) (3g) Except as provided in sub. (3m), whoever intentionally drives or operates any commercial motor vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of a Class H felony.

943.23(3m) (3m) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for a violation of sub. (2) or (3) if the defendant abandoned the vehicle without damage within 24 hours after the vehicle was taken from the possession of the owner. An affirmative defense under this subsection mitigates the offense to a Class A misdemeanor. A defendant who raises this affirmative defense has the burden of proving the defense by a preponderance of the evidence.

943.23(4m) (4m) Whoever knows that the owner does not consent to the driving or operation of a vehicle and intentionally accompanies, as a passenger in the vehicle, a person while he or she violates sub. (2), (3), or (3m) is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.23(5) (5) Whoever intentionally removes a major part of a vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of a Class I felony. Whoever intentionally removes any other part or component of a vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.23(6) (6) 

943.23(6)(a) (a) In this subsection, “pecuniary loss” has the meaning described in s. 943.245 (1).

943.23(6)(b) (b) In addition to the other penalties provided for violation of this section, a judge shall require a violator of sub. (2g) or (3g) to pay restitution for any damage he or she causes to a commercial motor vehicle to or on behalf of a victim, and a judge may require any other violator to pay restitution to or on behalf of a victim, regardless of whether the violator is placed on probation under s. 973.09. If restitution is ordered, the court shall consider the financial resources and future ability of the violator to pay and shall determine the method of payment. Upon the application of any interested party, the court may schedule and hold an evidentiary hearing to determine the value of the victim’s pecuniary loss resulting from the offense.

943.23 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1987 a. 349; 1989 a. 359; 1993 a. 92; 2001 a. 109; 2017 a. 287, 311; 2023 a. 10, 166.

943.23 Annotation The statutory language “intentionally takes and drives any vehicle without the consent of the owner” does not require that the driver of the stolen vehicle be the person who actually took the vehicle from the rightful owner. In this case, the defendant was charged with intentionally taking and driving an automobile but not charged with the initial taking from the true owner. While the state did not need to claim or prove that the defendant was the person who initially took the car from the true owner, the state was required to prove that, in addition to driving the stolen car, the defendant had knowledge that the defendant was operating the car without the owner’s consent. Edwards v. State, 46 Wis. 2d 249, 174 N.W.2d 269 (1970).

943.23 Annotation Leaving a vehicle because of the threat of imminent arrest is involuntary relinquishment, not abandonment under sub. (2) [now sub. (3m)]. State v. Olson, 106 Wis. 2d 572, 317 N.W.2d 448 (1982).

943.23 Annotation Restitution under sub. (6) (b) is analyzed in the same manner as restitution under the general statute, s. 973.20. A defendant is entitled to a hearing, although it may be informal, to challenge the existence of damage to the victim, as well as the amount of damage. If damage results from a criminal episode in which the defendant played any part, the defendant is jointly and severally liable in restitution for the amount of damages. State v. Madlock, 230 Wis. 2d 324, 602 N.W.2d 104 (Ct. App. 1999), 98-2718.

943.231 943.231 Carjacking.

943.231(1) (1) Whoever, while possessing a dangerous weapon and by the use of, or the threat of the use of, force or the weapon against another, intentionally takes any vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of a Class B felony.

943.231(2) (2) Whoever, by the use of force against another or by the threat of the use of force against another, intentionally takes any vehicle without the consent of the owner is guilty of a Class E felony.

943.231(3) (3) Whoever knows that the owner does not consent to the driving or operation of a vehicle and intentionally accompanies, as a passenger in the vehicle, a person while he or she violates sub. (1) is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.231 History History: 2023 a. 10 ss. 21, 22, 24.

943.24 943.24 Issue of worthless check.

943.24(1) (1) Whoever issues any check or other order for the payment of not more than $2,500 which, at the time of issuance, he or she intends shall not be paid is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

943.24(2) (2) Whoever issues any single check or other order for the payment of more than $2,500 or whoever within a 90-day period issues more than one check or other order amounting in the aggregate to more than $2,500 which, at the time of issuance, the person intends shall not be paid is guilty of a Class I felony.

943.24(3) (3) Any of the following is prima facie evidence that the person at the time he or she issued the check or other order for the payment of money, intended it should not be paid:

943.24(3)(a) (a) Proof that, at the time of issuance, the person did not have an account with the drawee; or

943.24(3)(b) (b) Proof that, at the time of issuance, the person did not have sufficient funds or credit with the drawee and that the person failed within 5 days after receiving written notice of nonpayment or dishonor to pay the check or other order, delivered by regular mail to either the person’s last-known address or the address provided on the check or other order; or

943.24(3)(c) (c) Proof that, when presentment was made within a reasonable time, the person did not have sufficient funds or credit with the drawee and the person failed within 5 days after receiving written notice of nonpayment or dishonor to pay the check or other order, delivered by regular mail to either the person’s last-known address or the address provided on the check or other order.

943.24(4) (4) This section does not apply to a postdated check or to a check given for a past consideration, except a payroll check.

943.24(5) (5) 

943.24(5)(a) (a) In addition to the other penalties provided for violation of this section, a judge may order a violator to pay restitution under s. 973.20.

943.24(5)(b) (b) In actions concerning violations of ordinances in conformity with this section, a judge may order a violator to make restitution under s. 800.093.

943.24(5)(c) (c) If the court orders restitution under pars. (a) and (b), any amount of restitution paid to the victim under one of those paragraphs reduces the amount the violator must pay in restitution to that victim under the other paragraph.

943.24(6) (6) 

943.24(6)(a) (a) If the department of justice, a district attorney, or a state or local law enforcement agency requests any of the following information under par. (b) from a financial institution, as defined in s. 705.01 (3), regarding a specific person, the financial institution shall provide the information within 10 days after receiving the request:

943.24(6)(a)1. 1. Documents relating to the opening and closing of the person’s account.

943.24(6)(a)2. 2. Notices regarding any of the following that were issued within the 6 months immediately before the request and that relate to the person:

943.24(6)(a)2.a. a. Checks written by the person when there were insufficient funds in his or her account.

943.24(6)(a)2.b. b. Overdrafts.

943.24(6)(a)2.c. c. The dishonor of any check drawn on the person’s account.

943.24(6)(a)3. 3. Account statements sent to the person by the financial institution for the following:

943.24(6)(a)3.a. a. The period during which any specific check covered by a notice under subd. 2. was issued.

943.24(6)(a)3.b. b. The period immediately before and immediately after the period specified in subd. 3. a.

943.24(6)(a)4. 4. The last known address and telephone number for the person’s home and business.

943.24(6)(b) (b) The department of justice, a district attorney, or a state or local law enforcement agency may request information under par. (a) only if the request is in writing and if it states that the requester is investigating whether the person specified violated this section or is prosecuting the person specified under this section.

943.24(6)(c) (c) A financial institution may not impose a fee for providing information under this subsection.

943.24 History History: 1977 c. 173; 1985 a. 179; 1987 a. 398; 1991 a. 39, 40; 1993 a. 71; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2003 a. 138, 306; 2005 a. 462.

943.24 Annotation The grace period under sub. (3) does not transform the issuance of a worthless check into a debt for which one may not be imprisoned under article I, section 16, of the Wisconsin Constitution. Locklear v. State, 86 Wis. 2d 603, 273 N.W.2d 334 (1979).

943.24 Annotation Checks cashed at a dog track for the purpose of making bets were void gambling contracts under s. 895.055 and could not be enforced under this section although returned for nonsufficient funds. State v. Gonnelly, 173 Wis. 2d 503, 496 N.W.2d 671 (Ct. App. 1992).

943.24 Annotation The distinction between present and past consideration under sub. (4) is discussed. State v. Archambeau, 187 Wis. 2d 501, 523 N.W.2d 150 (Ct. App. 1994).

943.24 Annotation Each different group of checks totalling more than $1,000, issued during the 15-day period, may be the basis for a separate charge under sub. (2). State v. Hubbard, 206 Wis. 2d 651, 558 N.W.2d 126 (Ct. App. 1996), 96-0865.

943.24 Annotation Although sub. (5) (b) references the procedures spelled out in s. 800.093, which discusses municipal courts, the authority sub. (5) (b) confers on any “judge” continues to apply. A circuit court judge may impose restitution under this section, utilizing the procedures provided for by s. 800.093. OAG 3-12.

943.245 943.245 Worthless checks; civil liability.

943.245(1) (1) In this section, “pecuniary loss” means:

943.245(1)(a) (a) All special damages, but not general damages, including, without limitation because of enumeration, the money equivalent of loss resulting from property taken, destroyed, broken or otherwise harmed and out-of-pocket losses, such as medical expenses; and

943.245(1)(b) (b) Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the victim resulting from the filing of charges or cooperating in the investigation and prosecution of the offense under s. 943.24.