Wis. Stat. § 343.51 — WI Code / Chapter 343 / Section 343.51
Special identification cards for physically disabled.
Status: in_force

(1) Any person who qualifies for registration plates of a special design under s. 341.14 (1) , (1a) , (1m) , or (1q) or any other person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk may request from the department a special identification card that will entitle any motor vehicle parked by, or under the direction of, the person, or a motor vehicle operated by or on behalf of the organization when used to transport such a person, to parking privileges under s. 346.50 (2) , (2a) , and (3) . The department shall issue the card at a fee to be determined by the department, upon submission by the applicant, if the applicant is an individual rather than an organization, of a statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in any state, from an advanced practice registered nurse licensed to practice nursing in any state, from a public health nurse certified or licensed to practice in any state, from a physician assistant licensed or certified to practice in any state, from a podiatrist licensed to practice in any state, from a chiropractor licensed to practice chiropractic in any state, from a physical therapist licensed to practice in any state, or from a Christian Science practitioner residing in this state and listed in the Christian Science journal that the person is a person with a disability that limits or impairs the ability to walk. The statement shall state whether the disability is permanent or temporary and, if temporary, the opinion of the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, public health nurse, physician assistant, podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, or practitioner as to the duration of the disability. The department shall issue the card upon application by an organization on a form prescribed by the department if the department believes that the organization meets the requirements under this subsection.

(1m)

(a) The form for application for a special identification card under sub. (1) shall include the information required under s. 85.103 (2) and shall advise the applicant of the requirement under par. (b) .

(b) If the department issues to a person a special identification card under sub. (1) , the person shall retain, for the period during which the special identification card is valid, any statement specified in sub. (1) submitted by the person to the department in support of the application. Any time that a special identification card issued under sub. (1) is displayed on a vehicle, the person issued the special identification card shall carry on the person or in the vehicle a copy of this statement and shall, upon request by any traffic officer, produce the statement for inspection.

(2)

(a) Subject to sub. (2m) , the department shall prescribe the form and size of identification cards issued under this section and shall promulgate rules regarding the issuance and use of the cards. The identification cards shall be designed and displayed so as to enable law enforcement officers to determine that the vehicle, when parked, is entitled to parking privileges under s. 346.50 (2) , (2a) and (3) , but shall not be unnecessarily conspicuous when the vehicle is operated. Except as provided in par. (b) , special identification cards shall be valid for 4 years.

(b) The department shall issue special identification cards which are valid for limited periods of time if the statement required by sub. (1) indicates that the applicant’s disability is temporary.

(c) At least 30 days prior to the expiration of the card, the department shall mail a renewal application to the last-known address of each identification card holder. The application shall include all of the information required for issuance of a special identification card under sub. (1) . The fee for a renewal identification card shall be the fee established by the department under sub. (1) . Except as provided in par. (b) , each card shall be valid for 4 years.

(2m)

(a) The department may issue only one special identification card under this section to an applicant unless the applicant requests in the application, or subsequently in writing, a 2nd card.

(b) The department shall provide by rule for the issuance of special identification cards to replace special identification cards that have been lost or destroyed.

(3) The department shall disseminate information to all applicants for a special identification card under sub. (1) relating to the parking privileges granted under s. 346.50 (2) , (2a) or (3) and their right to request enforcement of s. 346.505 .

History: 1979 c. 276 ; 1981 c. 119 , 255 ; 1985 a. 87 s. 5 ; 1985 a. 202 , 332 ; 1987 a. 19 ; 1989 a. 304 ; 1991 a. 240 , 269 ; 1993 a. 16 ; 1995 a. 147 ; 1997 a. 27 , 67 , 252 ; 1999 a. 88 ; 2005 a. 455 ; 2007 a. 120 ; 2013 a. 359 ; 2023 a. 188 ; 2025 a. 17 .