Chapter 344, VEHICLES — FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

344.01 Words and phrases defined. (1) Words and phrases defined in ss. 340.01 and 343.01 are used in the same sense in this chapter unless a different definition is specifically provided. (2) In this chapter the following words and phrases have the designated meanings: (a) “Judgm…

344.02 Hearing on suspension or impoundment. (1) Whenever the department under s. 344.13 gives notice of the amount of security required to be deposited and that an order of suspension or impoundment will be made if such security is not deposited, it shall afford the person so no…

344.03 Judicial review. (1) Any person aggrieved by a final decision of the department under this chapter may, at any time prior to 30 days after the entry of an order of suspension, revocation or impoundment, seek judicial review under ch. 227. (2) If any person aggrieved by a d…

344.04 Power of court to stay suspension of registration or impoundment of vehicles. SUBCHAPTER II SECURITY FOR PAST ACCIDENTS

344.05 Courts to report nonpayment of certain judgments. (1) If a judgment of $500 or more for damages arising out of a motor vehicle accident is not satisfied within 30 days after its having become final by expiration without appeal of the time within which an appeal might have …

344.07 Responsibility law not to prevent other process. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as preventing the plaintiff in any action at law from relying for relief upon the other processes provided by law.

344.08 Suspension for failure to report accident. (1) The secretary may suspend the operating privilege or registration of any person who fails to report an accident as required by s. 346.70 or to give correctly the information requested by the secretary in connection with such r…

344.09 Reinstatement of operating privilege and registration. (1) Whenever the secretary is satisfied that the reason for suspending or revoking an operating privilege under this chapter has been removed, including satisfaction of any of the requirements of s. 344.18, the secreta…

344.12 Applicability of provisions relating to deposit of security for past accidents.

344.13 Secretary to determine amount of security required following accident and to give notice thereof.

344.14 Suspension for failure to deposit security; impoundment of vehicle; exceptions. SUBCHAPTER III PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE

344.15 Requirements as to policy or bond. (1) No policy or bond is effective under s. 344.14 unless issued by an insurer authorized to do an automobile liability or surety business in this state, except as provided in sub. (2), or unless the policy or bond is subject, if the acci…

344.16 Requirements as to self-insurers. (1) Any person in whose name more than 25 motor vehicles are registered may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance issued by the secretary as provided in sub. (2). (2) The secretary may, upon the application…

344.17 Requirements as to form and amount of security. (1) The security required under s. 344.14 shall be in such form and in such amount as the secretary may require but in no case in excess of the limits specified in s. 344.15 (1) with reference to the acceptable limits of a po…

344.18 Duration of suspension for failure to deposit security. (1) Any registration suspended or revoked under s. 344.14 shall remain suspended or revoked and shall not be renewed or reinstated until the person pays the fee required under s. 341.36 (1m), meets one of the requirem…

344.185 Duration of impoundment of motor vehicle; disposition. (1) Any motor vehicle impounded under s. 344.14 (1m) may not be returned to the owner unless: (a) An owner or holder of a security interest, mortgage or other interest who is first notified after the vehicle is impoun…

344.19 Applicability to nonresidents, unlicensed drivers, unregistered motor vehicles and accidents in other states. (1) If the operator or the owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident within this state has no license or registration, whether because the operator or owner…

344.20 Custody, disposition and return of security. (1) Security shall be deposited with the secretary in compliance with this chapter. (2) The secretary shall apply the security only to the payment of judgments and assignments and only as provided in this subsection: (a) The sec…

344.21 Matters not to be evidence in civil suits. Neither the report required following an accident, the action taken by the department pursuant to this chapter, the findings, if any, upon which such action is based nor the security filed as provided in this chapter shall be refe…

344.22 Short title. Sections 344.12 to 344.22 and the general provisions applicable thereto may be cited as the safety responsibility law. SUBCHAPTER III PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE 344.24 Applicability of sections relating to proof of financial responsibilit…

344.24 Applicability of sections relating to proof of financial responsibility for the future. SUBCHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS

344.25 Suspension for nonpayment of judgment; exceptions. Upon the receipt, under s. 344.05, of a certified copy of a judgment for damages of $500 or more arising out of a motor vehicle accident, the secretary shall immediately suspend the operating privilege and all registration…

344.26 Suspension after judgment for money damages. (1) (a) Subject to the exceptions stated in ss. 344.25 (2) and 344.27 (2), any operating privilege or registration suspended or revoked under s. 344.25 shall remain suspended or revoked for 5 years from the date of entry of judg…

344.27 Installment payment of judgments; suspension upon default. (1) A judgment debtor upon due notice to the judgment creditor may apply to the court in which such judgment was rendered for the privilege of paying such judgment in installments and the court, in its discretion a…

344.29 Proof of financial responsibility for the future required. Proof of financial responsibility for the future shall be furnished by any person required to give such proof under ss. 344.25 to 344.27, those cases in which the deposit of proof of financial responsibility for th…

344.30 Methods of giving proof of financial responsibility. Whenever a person is required under ch. 343 or this chapter to give proof of financial responsibility for the future, such proof may be given by filing: (1) Certification of insurance as provided in s. 344.31; or (2) A b…

344.31 Certification of insurance as proof. Proof of financial responsibility for the future may be furnished by filing with the secretary the written certification of any insurer duly authorized to do business in this state that there is in effect a motor vehicle liability polic…

344.33 “Motor vehicle liability policy” defined. (1) CERTIFICATION. In this chapter, “motor vehicle liability policy” means a motor vehicle policy of liability insurance, certified as provided in s. 344.31 as proof of financial responsibility for the future, and issued by an insu…

344.34 Notice of cancellation or termination of certified policy. When an insurer has certified a motor vehicle liability policy under s. 344.31 or a bond under s. 344.36, the insurance so certified shall not be canceled or terminated until at least 10 days after a notice of canc…

344.35 This chapter not to affect other policies. (1) This chapter does not apply to or affect policies of automobile insurance against liability which may now or hereafter be required by any other law of this state. If such policies contain an agreement or are endorsed to confor…

344.36 Bond as proof. (1) Proof of financial responsibility may be evidenced by the bond of a surety company duly authorized to transact business within this state or a bond with at least 2 individual sureties each owning real estate within this state and together having equities…

344.37 Money or securities as proof. (1) Proof of financial responsibility for the future may be evidenced by a deposit with the secretary by the person of $60,000 in cash, or in securities such as may legally be purchased by savings banks or for trust funds of a market value of …

344.38 Owner and leasing company may give proof for others. Whenever any person required to give proof of financial responsibility for the future under this chapter is or later becomes an operator in the employ of any owner, or is or later becomes a member of the immediate family…

344.39 Substitution of proof. The secretary shall consent to the cancellation of any bond or certification of insurance or return any money or securities to the person entitled thereto upon the substitution and acceptance of other adequate proof of financial responsibility pursua…

344.40 Revocation or suspension for failure to maintain proof; other proof may be required. (1) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), whenever any person whose operating privilege was suspended or revoked who has furnished proof of financial responsibility fails to maintain such pr…

344.41 Duration of proof; when proof may be canceled or returned. (1) Subject to the exceptions set forth in sub. (2), the secretary shall, upon request, consent to the immediate cancellation of any bond or certification of insurance, return to the person entitled thereto any mon…

344.42 Submission of certifications and recertifications by insurers. If the sum of certifications and recertifications under ss. 344.31 and 344.34 that are submitted by an insurer to the department in any year exceeds 1,000, the insurer shall pay to the department a transaction …

344.45 Surrender of license and registration upon suspension. (1) Whenever a person’s operating privilege or registration is suspended under this chapter, the department may order the person to surrender to the department his or her operator’s license and the registration plates …

344.46 Transfer of vehicle ownership to defeat purpose of chapter. (1) No owner of a motor vehicle involved in an accident in this state which is reportable under s. 346.70 shall transfer the ownership or registration of any vehicle whose registration is subject to suspension or …

344.48 Forged proof. (1) No person shall: (a) Forge or, without authority, sign any notice provided for in s. 344.14 or 344.15 (4), or both, to the effect that a policy or bond is in effect or, knowing or having reason to believe that the notice has been forged or signed without …

344.51 Financial responsibility for domestic rented or leased vehicles. (1g) In this section: (a) “Lessor” means a person who, for compensation, leases a motor vehicle to a lessee to be operated by or with the consent of the lessee or who acquires a contract for the leasing of a …

344.52 Financial responsibility for foreign rented vehicles. (1g) In this section, “motor vehicle” means a self-propelled vehicle. (1r) Whenever any motor vehicle rented for compensation outside this state is operated in this state, the lessor of the motor vehicle is directly lia…

344.55 Insurance for human service vehicles. (1) No motor vehicle may be used as a human service vehicle unless a policy of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance, issued by an insurer authorized to transact business in this state, is maintained thereon. The policy…

344.57 Definitions applicable to ss. 344.57 to 344.579. In ss. 344.57 to 344.579: (1) “Accident” means collision of a private passenger vehicle with another object or other upset of the private passenger vehicle not caused intentionally by the renter. (2) “Authorized driver” mean…

344.572 Applicability to rental agreements. (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), ss. 344.574, 344.576 and 344.578 apply to all rental agreements concerning private passenger vehicles rented from locations in this state for a period of 30 consecutive days or less. (2) Sections 344.…

344.574 Limited liability for damage. (1) DAMAGE TO 344.574 PRIVATE PASSENGER VEHICLE. (a) Unless a renter purchases a damage waiver offered in accordance with s. 344.576, a rental company may hold the renter liable to the extent permitted under subs. (2) to (4) for physical or m…

344.576 Damage waivers. (1) OFFER AND SALE RESTRICTED. A rental company may not offer or sell a damage waiver in conjunction with a rental agreement unless the terms of the damage waiver comply with sub. (2) and the renter is provided the notice required under sub. (3). (2) TERMS…

344.577 Advertisement or representation. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “advertisement or representation” means any oral, written or graphic statement which is made in connection with the solicitation of the rental of a private passenger vehicle. (2) DAMAGE WAIVER CHARGE. If a …

344.578 Credit card for deposit or damages. (1) PROHIBITED DEPOSITS; COLLECTION OF DAMAGES. Except as provided in this subsection, in sub. (2), or in s. 345.28 (5w), a rental company may not charge a credit card belonging to a renter as a deposit for damages for which the renter …

344.579 Violations. (1) PENALTIES. Whoever violates s. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) or (3) (a) or (b), 344.577 or 344.578 may be required to forfeit not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each violation. (2) ENFORCEMENT. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protect…