Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 346 - Rules of the road.
346.94 - Miscellaneous prohibited or restricted acts.

346.94 Miscellaneous prohibited or restricted acts.
(1) Driving on sidewalk. Except as authorized in s. 23.33 (4) (f) or when the sidewalk is an all-terrain vehicle route, as defined in s. 23.33 (1) (c) or an off-highway motorcycle route, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (u), the operator of a vehicle may not drive upon any sidewalk area except at a permanent or temporarily established driveway unless permitted to do so by the local authorities.
(2) Racing. No operator of a motor vehicle shall participate in any race or speed or endurance contest upon any highway.
(4) Missiles, circulars or pamphlets. No person shall throw any missile, circular or pamphlet at the occupants of any vehicle or throw or place any missile, circular or pamphlet in or on any vehicle, whether or not the vehicle is occupied. This subsection does not apply to any person who places on a vehicle educational material relating to the parking privileges of physically disabled persons if the person has a good faith belief that the vehicle is violating state or local law on parking for motor vehicles used by the physically disabled and the educational material has been approved by the council on physical disabilities as provided under s. 46.29 (1) (em).
(5) Placing injurious substance on highway. No person shall place or cause to be placed upon a highway any foreign substance which is or may be injurious to any vehicle or part thereof.
(7) Spilling loads of waste or foreign matter. The operator of every vehicle transporting waste or foreign matter on the highways of this state shall provide adequate facilities to prevent such waste or foreign matter from spilling on or along the highways.
(8) Transporting persons in mobile homes, recreational vehicles, or boats. Except as provided in sub. (8m), no person may operate a motor vehicle towing any mobile home, recreational vehicle, or boat on a trailer upon a highway when any person is in such mobile home, recreational vehicle, or boat.
(8m) Transporting persons in fifth-wheel recreational vehicles.
(a) No person may operate a motor vehicle towing a fifth-wheel recreational vehicle upon a highway when any person under the age of 12 years is in the fifth-wheel recreational vehicle unless one person 16 years of age or older is also in the fifth-wheel recreational vehicle.
(b) No person may operate a motor vehicle towing a fifth-wheel recreational vehicle upon a highway with any person in such recreational vehicle unless the fifth-wheel recreational vehicle is equipped with a two-way communications system in proper working order and capable of providing voice communications between the operator of the towing vehicle and any occupant of the fifth-wheel recreational vehicle.
(8s) Transporting persons in buildings. No person may operate a vehicle transporting a building, as defined in s. 348.27 (12m) (a) 1., on a highway if any person is in the building.
(9) Alighting from or boarding moving vehicle. No person shall alight from or board any vehicle when such vehicle is in motion.
(10) Clinging to moving vehicle. No person riding upon a motor bicycle, moped or motorcycle may attach the same or himself or herself to any other moving vehicle upon a highway except when the motor bicycle, moped or motorcycle is incapacitated and being towed. A tow device attached to a towed motor bicycle, moped or motorcycle shall be attached so that an operator of the towed vehicle may release the tow device at any time.
(11) Towing sleds, etc. No person shall operate any vehicle or combination of vehicles upon a highway when such vehicle or combination of vehicles is towing any toboggan, sled, skis, bicycle, skates or toy vehicle bearing any person.
(12) Driving on bicycle lane or bicycle way. No operator of a motor vehicle may drive upon a bicycle lane or bicycle way except to enter a driveway, to merge into a bicycle lane before turning at an intersection, or to enter or leave a parking space located adjacent to the bicycle lane or bicycle way. Persons operating a motor vehicle upon a bicycle lane or bicycle way shall yield the right-of-way to all bicycles, electric scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices within the bicycle lane or bicycle way.
(13) Abandoned motor vehicles. No person may cause a motor vehicle to be abandoned, within the meaning of s. 342.40 (1m) or (4) (b) 1., on or along any highway or on any public or private property.
(14) Use of flashing blue lights along highways. Except as provided in ss. 346.03 (3) and 347.25 (1m) and (1s), no person may maintain or operate any device equipped with a flashing, oscillating or rotating blue light within 100 feet of a highway if the light is visible from the highway and if the department or the local authority responsible for maintaining the highway determines that motorists would believe the light was the warning light of a police vehicle. This subsection does not apply to airport lights.
(15) Towing by human service vehicles. No person may operate a school bus that is not equipped with a side exit or side emergency exit windows suitable to provide an exit for pupils in an emergency or a human service vehicle over any public highway of this state with any trailer or semitrailer attached.
(16) Radios or other electric sound amplification devices.
(a) Except as provided in s. 347.38 (1), no person may operate or park, stop or leave standing a motor vehicle while using a radio or other electric sound amplification device emitting sound from the vehicle that is audible under normal conditions from a distance of 75 or more feet, unless the electric sound amplification device is being used to request assistance or warn against an unsafe condition.
(b) This subsection does not apply to any of the following:
1. The operator of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm.
2. The operator of a vehicle of a public utility. In this paragraph, public utility means any corporation, company, individual, or association which furnishes products or services to the public, and which is regulated under ch. 195 or 196, including railroads, telecommunications, or telegraph companies and any company furnishing or producing heat, light, power, or water.
3. The operator of a vehicle that is being used for advertising purposes.
4. The operator of a vehicle that is being used in a community event or celebration, procession or assemblage.
5. The activation of a theft alarm signal device.
6. The operator of a motorcycle being operated outside of a business or residence district.
7. A local authority that has enacted an ordinance in conformity with s. 349.135.
(17) In-line skates on roadway.
(a) A person riding upon in-line skates may go upon any roadway under the jurisdiction of a local authority, subject to any restrictions specified by municipal ordinance enacted under s. 349.235.
(b) Any person riding upon in-line skates upon any roadway shall ride in a careful and prudent manner and with due regard under the circumstances for the safety of all persons using the roadway.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection or s. 349.235, no person riding upon in-line skates may attach the in-line skates or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway or, except while crossing a roadway at a crosswalk, go upon any roadway under the jurisdiction of the department.
(18) Electric personal assistive mobility devices on roadways and sidewalks.
(a)
1. Except as otherwise prohibited in this chapter, a person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device upon any roadway or sidewalk that is under the jurisdiction of the department.
2. Except as provided in s. 349.236 (1) (c), the department may by rule prohibit electric personal assistive mobility devices upon any roadway under its jurisdiction for which the speed limit is more than 25 miles per hour, and may by rule prohibit such devices upon any sidewalk under its jurisdiction. This subdivision does not apply upon any sidewalk at a permanent or temporarily established driveway.
(b) A person may operate an electric personal assistive mobility device upon any roadway under the jurisdiction of a local authority, subject to any prohibitions specified by municipal ordinance enacted under s. 349.236.
(18m) Personal delivery devices on sidewalks and crosswalks.
(a)
1. Except as otherwise prohibited in this chapter, a personal delivery device operator may operate a personal delivery device upon a sidewalk or crosswalk that is under the jurisdiction of the department.
2. Except as provided in s. 349.236 (1) (c), the department may by rule prohibit personal delivery devices upon any sidewalk under its jurisdiction. This subdivision does not apply upon any sidewalk at a permanent or temporarily established driveway.
(b) A personal delivery device operator may operate a personal delivery device upon any sidewalk under the jurisdiction of a local authority, subject to any prohibitions specified by municipal ordinance enacted under s. 349.236.
(18s) Electric scooters on roadways, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and bicycle ways.
(a) Except as otherwise prohibited in this chapter, a person may operate an electric scooter upon any roadway, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or bicycle way that is under the jurisdiction of the department or that is open to operation of bicycles.
(b) A person may operate an electric scooter upon any roadway, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or bicycle way under the jurisdiction of a local authority, subject to any restrictions or prohibitions specified by municipal ordinance enacted under s. 349.237.
(c) No person may operate an electric scooter upon any roadway, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or bicycle way at a speed in excess of 15 miles per hour.
(19) Off-road utility vehicles on roadway.
(a) A person may operate an off-road utility vehicle upon any roadway that has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. This paragraph applies only if the person operating the off-road utility vehicle is employed by, or under contract with, the state or a local governmental unit, as defined in s. 19.42 (7u), and the off-road utility vehicle is being used for the state or local governmental purpose of collecting residential or commercial solid waste, landscaping, or performing incidental street maintenance, and is operated on a highway for a distance not to exceed one half mile.
(b) No person may operate an off-road utility vehicle upon any highway that has a speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
(20) Opening motor vehicle door on highway.
(a) No person may open any door of a motor vehicle located on a highway without first taking due precaution to ensure that his or her act will not interfere with the movement of traffic or endanger any other person or vehicle.
(b) The operator of a motor vehicle located on a highway may not permit any person under 16 years of age to open any door of the motor vehicle without the operator first taking due precaution to ensure that opening the door will not interfere with the movement of traffic or endanger any other person or vehicle.
(21) Lightweight utility vehicles on highways.
(a) In this subsection:
1. “Agricultural operations" includes transporting farm implements, equipment, supplies, or products on a farm or between farms.
2. “Lightweight utility vehicle" has the meaning given in s. 23.33 (11m) (a) 2., except that the term does not include a device that is equipped with a seat designed to be straddled by the operator.
NOTE: Section 23.33 (11m) was repealed by 2009 Wis. Act 175.
(b)
1. Notwithstanding s. 23.33 (11m), a person may operate in the conduct of agricultural operations a lightweight utility vehicle on a highway, including any roadway or, notwithstanding ss. 346.05 (1) and 346.08, any shoulder of a highway, to cross the highway or to travel on the highway.
NOTE: Section 23.33 (11m) was repealed by 2009 Wis. Act 175.
2. Any person operating a lightweight utility vehicle on a highway shall exercise due care and, as far as is practicable, avoid interfering with the movement of traffic.
3. Any person operating a lightweight utility vehicle upon any roadway shall operate as close as practicable to the right-hand edge or curb of the unobstructed roadway.
(c) Except as provided in par. (b) and s. 23.33 (11m), no person may operate a lightweight utility vehicle on a highway.
NOTE: Section 23.33 (11m) was repealed by 2009 Wis. Act 175.
(22) Low-speed vehicles operated on highways.
(a) Except as provided in par. (b) and s. 349.26, a person may operate a low-speed vehicle on any highway that has a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less and that is under the jurisdiction, for maintenance purposes, of a municipality or county.
(b)
1. Paragraph (a) applies to the operation of a low-speed vehicle on a connecting highway only if the connecting highway has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour or less or the municipality or county with jurisdiction has adopted a valid ordinance under s. 349.26 (2).
2. Subject to subd. 3., par. (a) applies to an intersection where the highway under the jurisdiction of the municipality or county crosses a state trunk highway or connecting highway only if the state trunk highway or connecting highway has a speed limit at the intersection of 35 miles per hour or less and traffic at the intersection is controlled by traffic control signals.
3. Paragraph (a) does not apply to an intersection where the highway under the jurisdiction of the municipality or county crosses an expressway, as defined in s. 346.57 (1) (ag), or freeway, as defined in s. 346.57 (1) (am), or a controlled-access highway designated under s. 83.027 or 84.25.
(c) No person may operate a low-speed vehicle on any highway except as authorized under this subsection or s. 349.26 (2).
(d) No person may operate a low-speed vehicle at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour.
(23) Commercial quadricycles.
(a) In this subsection:
1. “Alcohol beverages" has the meaning given in s. 125.02 (1).
2. “Fermented malt beverages" has the meaning given in s. 125.02 (6).
(b) No driver of a commercial quadricycle may consume alcohol while the commercial quadricycle is occupied by passengers.
(c) No person may drive a commercial quadricycle while the person has an alcohol concentration of more than 0.02.
(d) No person may drive a commercial quadricycle occupied by passengers after 10:30 p.m. or after any earlier time established by ordinance under s. 349.18 (1) (d).
(e) No person may drive a commercial quadricycle on which any alcohol beverages other than fermented malt beverages are carried or consumed. No person may drive a commercial quadricycle on which any alcohol beverages are sold, including delivery on the commercial quadricycle of alcohol beverages previously sold by a caterer.
(f) No person may possess on, or carry onto, a commercial quadricycle more than 36 fluid ounces of fermented malt beverages.
(g) Upon conviction of a driver of a commercial quadricycle for a violation of this subsection, the court shall enter an order permanently prohibiting the person from driving a commercial quadricycle. No person may drive a commercial quadricycle in violation of such an order.
History: 1973 c. 182, 314; 1975 c. 320; 1977 c. 68; 1983 a. 56, 175, 243, 538; 1989 a. 335; 1991 a. 83, 87; 1993 a. 260; 1995 a. 131, 138, 216, 373; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 90; 2003 a. 26, 192; 2005 a. 118, 250; 2007 a. 11; 2009 a. 22, 157, 311, 367; 2013 a. 106; 2015 a. 117, 170; 2017 a. 13; 2017 a. 365 s. 111; 2019 a. 11.
An ordinance adopting sub. (4) in its entirety violated the constitutional guarantee of free speech. Deida v. City of Milwaukee, 176 F. Supp. 2d 859 (2001).

Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations

Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations

Chapter 346 - Rules of the road.

346.01 - Words and phrases defined.

346.02 - Applicability of chapter.

346.03 - Applicability of rules of the road to authorized emergency vehicles.

346.04 - Obedience to traffic officers, signs and signals; fleeing from officer.

346.05 - Vehicles to be driven on right side of roadway; exceptions.

346.06 - Meeting of vehicles.

346.07 - Overtaking and passing on the left.

346.072 - Passing stopped emergency or roadside service vehicles.

346.075 - Overtaking certain vehicles and devices.

346.08 - When overtaking and passing on the right permitted.

346.09 - Limitations on overtaking on left or driving on left side of roadway.

346.10 - When passing at a railroad crossing, intersection, bridge, viaduct or tunnel prohibited.

346.11 - Passing or meeting frightened animal.

346.12 - Driving through safety zones prohibited.

346.13 - Driving on roadways laned for traffic.

346.14 - Distance between vehicles.

346.15 - Driving on divided highway.

346.16 - Use of controlled-access highways, expressways and freeways.

346.17 - Penalty for violating sections 346.04 to 346.16.

346.175 - Vehicle owner's liability for fleeing a traffic officer.

346.177 - Railroad crossing improvement surcharge for vehicles illegally passing at railroad crossings.

346.18 - General rules of right-of-way.

346.19 - What to do on approach of emergency vehicle.

346.195 - Owner's liability for vehicle failing to yield the right-of-way to an authorized emergency vehicle.

346.20 - Right-of-way of funeral processions and military convoys.

346.205 - Owner's liability for vehicle failing to yield the right-of-way to a funeral procession.

346.21 - Right-of-way of livestock.

346.215 - Emergency vehicles operated as escorts and rights-of-way related to escorted vehicles.

346.22 - Penalty for violating sections 346.18 to 346.21.

346.23 - Crossing controlled intersection or crosswalk.

346.24 - Crossing at uncontrolled intersection or crosswalk.

346.25 - Crossing at place other than crosswalk.

346.26 - Blind pedestrian on highway.

346.27 - Persons working on highway.

346.28 - Pedestrians to walk on left side of highway; drivers to yield on sidewalks.

346.29 - When standing or loitering in roadway or highway prohibited.

346.30 - Penalty for violating sections 346.23 to 346.29.

346.31 - Required position and method of turning at intersections.

346.32 - Required position for turning into private road or driveway.

346.33 - U-turns.

346.34 - Turning movements and required signals on turning and stopping.

346.35 - Method of giving signals on turning and stopping.

346.36 - Penalty for violating sections 346.31 to 346.35.

346.37 - Traffic-control signal legend.

346.38 - Pedestrian control signals.

346.39 - Flashing signals.

346.40 - Whistle signals.

346.41 - Display of unauthorized signs and signals prohibited.

346.42 - Interference with signs and signals prohibited.

346.43 - Penalty for violating sections 346.37 to 346.42.

346.44 - All vehicles to stop at signal indicating approach of train.

346.445 - Limitations on pedestrians and personal delivery devices crossing railroad tracks.

346.45 - Certain vehicles to stop at railroad crossings.

346.452 - Owner's liability for vehicle illegally crossing at a railroad crossing.

346.455 - Vehicles to stop at fire station.

346.457 - Owner's liability for vehicle illegally passing fire truck.

346.46 - Vehicles to stop at stop signs and school crossings.

346.465 - Owner's liability for vehicle illegally crossing controlled school crossing.

346.47 - When vehicles using alley or nonhighway access to stop.

346.475 - Human service vehicles; loading or unloading children with disabilities.

346.48 - Vehicles to stop for school buses displaying flashing lights.

346.485 - Owner's liability for vehicle illegally passing school bus.

346.49 - Penalty for violating ss. 346.44 to 346.485.

346.495 - Railroad crossing improvement surcharge.

346.50 - Exceptions to stopping and parking restrictions.

346.503 - Parking spaces for vehicles displaying special registration plates or special identification cards.

346.505 - Stopping, standing or parking prohibited in parking spaces reserved for vehicles displaying special registration plates or special identification cards.

346.51 - Stopping, standing or parking outside of business or residence districts.

346.52 - Stopping prohibited in certain specified places.

346.53 - Parking prohibited in certain specified places.

346.54 - How to park and stop on streets.

346.55 - Other restrictions on parking and stopping.

346.56 - Penalty for violating sections 346.503 to 346.55.

346.57 - Speed restrictions.

346.58 - Special speed restrictions for certain vehicles.

346.59 - Minimum speed regulation.

346.595 - Motorcycles and mopeds.

346.60 - Penalty for violating sections 346.57 to 346.595.

346.61 - Applicability of sections relating to reckless and drunken driving.

346.62 - Reckless driving.

346.63 - Operating under influence of intoxicant or other drug.

346.635 - Report arrest or out-of-service order to department.

346.637 - Driver awareness program.

346.64 - Employment of drunken operators.

346.65 - Penalty for violating sections 346.62 to 346.64.

346.655 - Driver improvement surcharge.

346.657 - Safe ride program surcharge.

346.66 - Applicability of sections relating to accidents and accident reporting.

346.665 - Definition.

346.67 - Duty upon striking person or attended or occupied vehicle.

346.675 - Vehicle owner's liability for failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

346.68 - Duty upon striking unattended vehicle.

346.69 - Duty upon striking property on or adjacent to highway.

346.70 - Duty to report accident; assistance following accident.

346.71 - Coroners or medical examiners to report; require blood specimen.

346.72 - Garages to keep record of repairs of accident damage.

346.73 - Accident reports not to be used in trial.

346.74 - Penalty for violating sections 346.67 to 346.73.

346.77 - Responsibility of parent or guardian for violation of bicycle and play vehicle regulations.

346.78 - Play vehicles not to be used on roadway.

346.79 - Special rules applicable to bicycles.

346.80 - Riding bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device on roadway.

346.803 - Riding bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device on bicycle way.

346.804 - Riding bicycle on sidewalk.

346.805 - Riding electric scooter or electric personal assistive mobility device on sidewalk.

346.806 - Special rules applicable to electric bicycles.

346.807 - Operating personal delivery device on sidewalk.

346.82 - Penalty for violating sections 346.77 to 346.807.

346.87 - Limitations on backing.

346.88 - Obstruction of operator's view or driving mechanism.

346.89 - Inattentive driving.

346.90 - Following emergency vehicle.

346.91 - Crossing fire hose.

346.915 - Following snowplows.

346.92 - Illegal riding.

346.922 - Transporting children in cargo areas of motor trucks.

346.923 - Human service vehicles; minimum operator qualifications.

346.924 - Transporting buildings on highways.

346.925 - Operation of agricultural machinery by youthful operators.

346.93 - Intoxicants in vehicle; underage persons.

346.935 - Intoxicants in motor vehicles.

346.94 - Miscellaneous prohibited or restricted acts.

346.945 - Vehicle owner's liability for radios or other electric sound amplification devices.

346.95 - Penalty for violating sections 346.87 to 346.94.