Wis. Stat. § 343.10 — WI Code / Chapter 343 / Section 343.10
Occupational licenses.
Status: in_force

(1) Application for occupational license.

(a) If a person’s license or operating privilege is revoked or suspended under this chapter or s. 767.73 , 938.34 (14q) , 943.21 (3m) , or 961.50 and if the person is engaged in an occupation, including homemaking or full-time or part-time study, or a trade making it essential that he or she operate a motor vehicle, the person, after payment of the fee provided in sub. (6) , may file an application with the department setting forth in detail the need for operating a motor vehicle. No person may file more than one application with respect to each revocation or suspension of the person’s license or operating privilege under this chapter or s. 767.73 , 938.34 (14q) , 943.21 (3m) , or 961.50 , except that this limitation does not apply to an application to amend an occupational license restriction.

(b) The application shall be in a form established by the department and shall identify the specific motor vehicle that the applicant seeks authorization to operate, including the vehicle classification and any required endorsements. The application shall include an explanation of why operating the motor vehicle is essential to the person’s livelihood and identify the person’s occupation or trade. The application shall identify the applicant’s employer, and include proof of financial responsibility as specified in s. 343.38 (1) (c) covering the vehicle or vehicles that the applicant requests authorization to operate. The application shall identify the hours of operation and routes of travel being requested by the applicant in accord with the restrictions of sub. (5) .

(2) Eligibility.

(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (f) , and subject to s. 343.165 (5) , a person is eligible for an occupational license if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. Except for a revocation or suspension that arose out of the same incident or occurrence for which the person’s license or operating privilege is currently revoked or suspended, the person’s license or operating privilege was not revoked or suspended previously under this chapter or ch. 344 or s. 943.21 (3m) or 961.50 within the one-year period immediately preceding the present revocation or suspension, except as provided in s. 344.40 .

2. The person files proof of financial responsibility as specified under s. 343.38 (1) (c) covering all vehicles for which the person seeks permission to operate.

4. At least 15 days have elapsed since the date of revocation or suspension, or, in the case of an appeal that is subsequently dismissed or affirmed, at least 15 days have elapsed since the date of revocation or suspension following the dismissal or affirmance of the appeal, unless another minimum waiting period or immediate eligibility is expressly provided by law.

(b) No occupational license may permit the operation of any motor vehicles for which the applicant did not hold valid authorization at the time of revocation or suspension of the person’s license or operating privilege.

(c) No occupational license permitting the operation of a commercial motor vehicle may be granted to a person.

(d) A person whose operating privilege is revoked under ch. 351 is not eligible for an occupational license except as provided in s. 351.07 .

(dm) A person whose operating privilege is suspended or revoked under s. 343.30 (1q) (d) or 343.305 (10) (d) is not eligible for an occupational license.

(e) If the court orders a person to submit to and comply with an assessment and driver safety plan and if the person has 2 or more prior convictions, suspensions or revocations, as counted under s. 343.307 (1) , no occupational license may be granted until the person has completed the assessment and is complying with the driver safety plan.

(f) If the court orders under s. 343.301 (1g) that the person’s operating privilege for the operation of “Class D” vehicles be restricted to operating vehicles that are equipped with an ignition interlock device, no occupational license may be granted until the person pays the surcharge under s. 343.301 (5) and submits proof that an ignition interlock device has been installed in each motor vehicle to which the order under s. 343.301 applies. A person who is subject to an order under s. 343.301 (1g) (am) 2. need not submit proof that an ignition interlock device has been installed if he or she is participating in a program designated in the order, unless he or she is also subject to an order under s. 343.301 (1g) (am) 1.

(3) Determination on application.

(a) If satisfied that the person is eligible under sub. (2) , the department shall consider the number and seriousness of prior traffic convictions in determining whether to issue an occupational license and what restrictions to specify. Notwithstanding s. 343.40 , the denial by the department of an application for an occupational license is not subject to judicial review.

(b) The department shall inform a person whose application for an occupational license under sub. (1) is denied in whole or in part of the specific reasons for the denial and that he or she may file one petition for an occupational license under sub. (4) .

(4) Petition for occupational license.

(a) A person whose application for an occupational license under sub. (1) is denied in whole or in part may file a petition with the clerk of the circuit court in the county in which the person resides for an order authorizing the issuance of an occupational license to the person. No person may file a petition under this paragraph unless he or she first pays the fee specified in s. 814.61 (14) to the clerk of the circuit court. The person’s petition shall include a copy of the person’s current operating record under s. 343.23 (2) and the reasons why the person should be granted an occupational license. The court shall consider the number and seriousness of prior traffic convictions in determining whether to grant the petition and shall state, in writing, its reasons for granting or denying the petition. No person may file more than one petition with respect to a denial of an application for an occupational license under sub. (1) .

(b) If the court grants the petition, the court shall issue an order authorizing the issuance of an occupational license to the person. The order for issuance of an occupational license shall include definite restrictions as to hours of the day, hours per week, type of occupation and areas or routes of travel to be permitted under the license as provided in sub. (5) . A copy of the order shall be forwarded to the department. Upon receipt of the court order, the petitioner shall be considered an applicant by the department for purposes of this section. The occupational license issued by the department under this paragraph shall contain the restrictions ordered by the court. If the court denies the petition, the clerk of the court shall notify the department of the denial of the petition.

(c) The department shall not issue an occupational license to a person upon receipt of an order from a court under this subsection if the person appears by the records of the department to have filed more than one petition with a court for an occupational license under this subsection.

(5) Restrictions and limitations on occupational license.

(a) Restrictions.

1. In addition to any restrictions appearing on the former operator’s license of the applicant, the occupational license shall contain definite restrictions as to hours of the day, not to exceed 12, hours per week, not to exceed 60, type of occupation and areas or routes of travel which are permitted under the license. The occupational license may permit travel to and from church during specified hours if the travel does not exceed the restrictions as to hours of the day and hours per week in this subdivision. The occupational license may permit travel necessary to comply with a driver safety plan ordered under s. 343.30 (1q) or 343.305 if the travel does not exceed the restrictions as to hours of the day and hours per week in this subdivision. The occupational license may contain restrictions on the use of alcohol and of controlled substances and controlled substance analogs in violation of s. 961.41 .

2. If the applicant has 2 or more convictions, suspensions or revocations, as counted under s. 343.307 (1) , the occupational license shall prohibit the applicant from driving or operating a motor vehicle while he or she has an alcohol concentration of more than 0.0.

3. The occupational license of the applicant shall restrict the applicant’s operation under the occupational license to vehicles that are equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device if the court has ordered under s. 343.301 (1g) that the person’s operating privilege for Class D vehicles be restricted to operating vehicles that are equipped with an ignition interlock device or has ordered under s. 346.65 (6) (a) 1. , 1999 stats., that the motor vehicle owned by the person and used in the violation or improper refusal be equipped with an ignition interlock device. A person to whom a restriction under this subdivision applies violates that restriction if he or she removes or disconnects an ignition interlock device, requests or permits another to blow into an ignition interlock device or to start a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device for the purpose of providing the person an operable motor vehicle without the necessity of first submitting a sample of his or her breath to analysis by the ignition interlock device, or otherwise tampers with or circumvents the operation of the ignition interlock device. Except as provided in s. 343.301 (3) (b) , if the occupational license restricts the applicant’s operation to a vehicle that is equipped with an ignition interlock device, the applicant shall be liable for the reasonable costs of equipping the vehicle with the ignition interlock device. This subdivision does not apply to an applicant who is subject to an order under s. 343.301 (1g) (am) 2. while the applicant is participating in a program designated in the order, unless he or she is also subject to an order under s. 343.301 (1g) (am) 1.

(b) Limitations. Occupational licenses are subject to the limitations specified in ss. 343.30 (1q) (b) and (h) , 343.305 (8) (d) and (10) (b) and (em) , 343.31 (3m) , 343.32 (1m) , 767.73 and 961.50 .

(6) Fee. No person may file an application for an occupational license under sub. (1) unless he or she first pays to the department the fees specified in s. 343.21 (1) (k) and (n) .

(7) Department to issue occupational license.

(b) Subject to s. 343.165 (5) , the department shall issue an occupational license as soon as practicable upon receipt of an application to the department under sub. (1) or an order from a court under sub. (4) or s. 351.07 for such a license, if the department determines that the applicant is eligible under sub. (2) .

(c) If the person is disqualified under s. 343.315 but otherwise eligible under sub. (2) , the department shall issue an occupational license authorizing operation only of vehicles other than commercial motor vehicles.

(cm) If the occupational license includes the restriction specified in sub. (5) (a) 3. , the department shall not issue the occupational license until the applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the department that any motor vehicle that the applicant will be permitted to operate has been equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device.

(d) An occupational license issued by the department under this subsection shall be in the form of a license that includes a photograph described in s. 343.14 (3) , unless the exception under s. 343.14 (3m) applies.

(e) The occupational license issued by the department shall contain the restrictions required by sub. (5) . The occupational license authorizes the licensee to operate a motor vehicle only when that operation is an essential part of the licensee’s occupation or trade. If the department determines that the applicant is eligible under sub. (2) , the department may impose such conditions and limitations upon the authorization to operate motor vehicles as in the secretary’s judgment are necessary in the interest of public safety and welfare, including reexamination of the person’s qualifications to operate a motor vehicle or a particular type thereof. The department may limit such authorization to include, without limitation, the operation of particular vehicles, particular kinds of operation and particular traffic conditions.

(f) The expiration date of the occupational license is the 2nd working day after the date of termination of the period of revocation or suspension as provided by law, or the expiration date determined under s. 343.20 (1m) , whichever is earlier. The occupational license may be revoked, suspended or canceled before termination of that period. An occupational license is not renewable when it expires. If an occupational license expires and is not revoked, suspended or canceled, the licensee may obtain a new license upon that expiration but only if he or she complies with the conditions specified in s. 343.38 . Revocation, suspension or cancellation of an occupational license has the same effect as revocation, suspension or cancellation of any other license.

(8) Violation of restrictions. Any person who violates a restriction on an occupational license as to hours of the day, area, routes or purpose of travel, vehicles allowed to be operated, use of an ignition interlock device, sobriety or use of alcohol, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs shall be:

(a) Prosecuted under s. 343.44 (1) (a) if the occupational license was issued while the person’s operating privilege was suspended.

(b) Prosecuted under s. 343.44 (1) (b) if the occupational license was issued while the person’s operating privilege was revoked.

(9) Notice. The department shall inform a person whose operating privilege is revoked or suspended under this chapter of his or her right to apply to the department for issuance of an occupational license under this section.

History: 1973 c. 90 , 218 ; 1975 c. 297 ; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a) , (e); 1977 c. 193 ; 1979 c. 102 , 316 , 355 ; 1981 c. 20 ; 1983 a. 27 , 525 , 526 ; 1985 a. 32 s. 3 ; 1985 a. 71 , 337 ; 1987 a. 3 ; 1989 a. 31 , 38 , 105 , 359 ; 1991 a. 39 , 269 , 277 ; 1995 a. 113 , 201 , 269 , 401 , 436 , 448 ; 1997 a. 35 , 84 , 237 ; 1999 a. 109 ; 2001 a. 16 ss. 3409f , 3409g , 4060hw , 4060hy ; 2003 a. 33 , 80 , 200 , 326 ; 2005 a. 443 s. 265 ; 2007 a. 20 , 94 ; 2009 a. 100 , 103 ; 2011 a. 23 , 32 ; 2015 a. 77 , 389 ; 2025 a. 210 .