Wis. Stat. § 343.31 — WI Code / Chapter 343 / Section 343.31
Revocation or suspension of licenses after certain convictions or declarations.
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall revoke a person’s operating privilege upon receiving a record of conviction showing that the person has been convicted of any of the following offenses under a state law or under a local ordinance which is in conformity therewith or under a law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state which is in conformity with state law:

(a) Homicide or great bodily harm resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle and which is criminal under s. 346.62 (4) , 940.06 , 940.09 , 940.10 or 940.25 .

(am) Injury by the operation of a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog, or any combination of an intoxicant, a controlled substance and a controlled substance analog, under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving or while the person has a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his or her blood or has a prohibited alcohol concentration and which is criminal under s. 346.63 (2) .

(ar) Injury by the operation of a commercial motor vehicle while the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more but less than 0.08 and which is criminal under s. 346.63 (6) .

(b) Upon conviction for operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, controlled substance, controlled substance analog or a combination thereof, under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, in accordance with the order of the court.

(c) Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used.

(d) Failure to stop and render aid as required under the laws of this state in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death of or personal injury to another or in serious property damage.

(g) Operating a motor vehicle without having furnished proof of financial responsibility when proof of financial responsibility is required.

(i) Knowingly fleeing or attempting to elude a traffic officer under s. 346.04 (3) .

(1m)

(a) In this subsection, “qualifying conviction” means any of the following:

1. A conviction for a violation under s. 940.06 , 940.09 , or 940.10 involving the use of a vehicle.

2. A conviction for a crime punishable as a felony under chs. 341 to 348 or a felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used.

(b) Upon receiving a record of conviction under s. 940.09 (1) or 940.25 or conviction, suspension, or revocation counted under s. 343.307 (1) that together with other records of the department show that the number of convictions under ss. 940.09 (1) and 940.25 in the person’s lifetime, plus the total number of other convictions, suspensions, and revocations counted under s. 343.307 (1) , equals 4 or more, the department shall revoke the person’s operating privilege permanently. This paragraph does not apply if the most recent conviction, suspension, or revocation counted under this paragraph occurred more than 15 years after the next preceding conviction, suspension, or revocation counted under this paragraph. The person is not eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 . After 10 years of the revocation period have elapsed, the person may apply for reinstatement under s. 343.38 .

(c) Upon receiving a record of conviction under s. 940.09 (1) or 940.25 or conviction, suspension, or revocation counted under s. 343.307 (1) that together with other records of the department show that the number of convictions under ss. 940.09 (1) and 940.25 in the person’s lifetime, plus the total number of other convictions, suspensions, and revocations counted under s. 343.307 (1) within a 25-year period, equals 2 or more, and that the person has 2 or more qualifying convictions, the department shall revoke the person’s operating privilege permanently. The person is not eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 . After 10 years of the revocation period have elapsed, the person may apply for reinstatement under s. 343.38 .

(2) The department shall revoke the operating privilege of any resident upon receiving notice of the conviction of such person in another jurisdiction for an offense therein which, if committed in this state, would have been cause for revocation under this section or for revocation under s. 343.30 (1q) . Such offenses shall include violation of any law of another jurisdiction that prohibits a person from using a motor vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance or controlled substance analog, or a combination thereof; with an excess or specified range of alcohol concentration; while under the influence of any drug to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely driving; or while having a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in his or her blood, as those or substantially similar terms are used in that jurisdiction’s laws. Upon receiving similar notice with respect to a nonresident, the department shall revoke the privilege of the nonresident to operate a motor vehicle in this state. Such revocation shall not apply to the operation of a commercial motor vehicle by a nonresident who holds a valid commercial driver license issued by another state.

(2m) The department may suspend or revoke, respectively, the operating privilege of any resident upon receiving notice of the conviction of that person under a law of another jurisdiction or a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state for an offense which, if the person had committed the offense in this state and been convicted of the offense under the laws of this state, would have permitted suspension or revocation of the person’s operating privilege under s. 343.30 (1d) or (1g) . Upon receiving similar notice with respect to a nonresident, the department may suspend or revoke the privilege of the nonresident to operate a motor vehicle in this state. The suspension or revocation shall not apply to the operation of a commercial motor vehicle by a nonresident who holds a valid commercial driver license issued by another state. A suspension or revocation under this subsection shall be for any period not exceeding 6 months.

(2r) The department shall suspend a person’s operating privilege upon receiving a record of conviction showing that the person has been convicted of perjury or the making of a false affidavit or the making of a false statement or certification to the department under this chapter or any other law relating to the ownership or operation of motor vehicles.

(2s) The department may suspend a person’s operating privilege for 2 years upon receiving a record of conviction under s. 973.137 . If the department receives a record of conviction under s. 973.137 or a notice of suspension under s. 938.34 (14q) for a person whose license or operating privilege is currently suspended or revoked or for a person who does not currently possess a valid operator’s license, the suspension is first effective on the date on which the person is first eligible for issuance, renewal, or reinstatement of an operator’s license.

(2t)

(a) The department shall suspend a person’s operating privilege upon receiving a record of conviction for a violation of s. 346.05 (1) , 346.06 , 346.07 (2) or (3) , 346.09 , 346.18 , 346.23 , 346.31 , 346.37 (1) (a) 1. , (c) 3. , or (d) 1. , 346.39 (1) , 346.46 (1) or (4) (a) , 346.47 (1) or (2) , or 346.87 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith, resulting in great bodily harm, as defined in s. 939.22 (14) , or death, as follows:

2. For a period of 3 months, if the offense resulted in great bodily harm to another but did not result in the death of another.

3. For a period of 9 months, if the offense resulted in the death of another.

(b) If a person is convicted of violating s. 346.05 (1) , 346.06 , 346.07 (2) or (3) , 346.09 , 346.18 , 346.23 , 346.31 , 346.37 (1) (a) 1. , (c) 3. , or (d) 1. , 346.39 (1) , 346.46 (1) or (4) (a) , 346.47 (1) or (2) , or 346.87 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, the department shall order the person to attend a vehicle right-of-way course whose mode of instruction is approved by the secretary and which is conducted by any regularly established safety organization, by the provider of driver education courses approved under s. 38.04 (4) or 115.28 (11) , or by a driver school licensed under s. 343.61 . The course of instruction shall acquaint the person with vehicle right-of-way rules and provide instruction on motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle awareness. If the course is conducted by the provider of approved driver education courses or a driver school, the provider or driver school shall issue to the person a certificate upon successful completion of the course. If a person’s operating privilege has been suspended under par. (a) or (c) , the department may not reinstate the person’s operating privilege unless the person has successfully completed the course required under this paragraph.

(c) If a person is convicted of violating s. 346.05 (1) , 346.06 , 346.07 (2) or (3) , 346.09 , 346.18 , 346.23 , 346.31 , 346.37 (1) (a) 1. , (c) 3. , or (d) 1. , 346.39 (1) , 346.46 (1) or (4) (a) , 346.47 (1) or (2) , or 346.87 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith and great bodily harm or death did not result, and the person has not completed the course required under par. (b) within 6 months of the department ordering the person to attend the course, the department shall suspend the person’s operating privilege until the person successfully completes the course. The department may not suspend a person’s operating privilege for more than 5 years under this subsection.

(2u) The department shall suspend the operating privilege of a person who has been issued an occupational license upon receiving a record of conviction showing that the person has been convicted of any of the following offenses.

(a) Any offense that may be counted under s. 351.02 (1) (a) , other than s. 351.02 (1) (a) 5.

(b) Exceeding by 20 or more miles per hour any lawful or posted maximum speed limit.

(c) Participating in any race or speed or endurance contest.

(2x) The department shall suspend a person’s operating privilege upon receiving a record of a declaration under s. 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. that the person is incompetent to apply for an operator’s license. The department may reinstate the person’s operator’s license upon receiving a record of a declaration that the person is no longer incompetent to apply for an operator’s license under s. 54.25 (2) (c) 1. d. , if the person is otherwise qualified under this chapter to obtain an operator’s license.

(3)

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or sub. (1m) , (2m) , (2s) , (2t) , or (2x) , all revocations or suspensions under this section shall be for a period of one year.

(b) If the revocation results from a first conviction of operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, controlled substance, controlled substance analog or a combination thereof, under the influence of any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving, or under the combined influence of an intoxicant and any other drug to a degree which renders him or her incapable of safely driving and the conviction occurs in another jurisdiction, the period of revocation shall be 6 months.

(bm) For any person convicted under a law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with s. 346.63 (1) :

1. Except as provided in subds. 3. and 4. , the department shall revoke the person’s operating privilege under this paragraph according to the number of previous suspensions, revocations or convictions that would be counted under s. 343.307 (1) . Suspensions, revocations and convictions arising out of the same incident shall be counted as one. If a person has a conviction, suspension or revocation for any offense that is counted under s. 343.307 (1) , that conviction, suspension or revocation shall count as a prior conviction, suspension or revocation under this subdivision.

2. Except as provided in subd. 3. , 4. or 4m. , for the first conviction, the department shall revoke the person’s operating privilege for not less than 6 months nor more than 9 months. If an Indian tribal court in this state revokes the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle on tribal lands for not less than 6 months nor more than 9 months for the conviction specified in par. (bm) (intro.) , the department shall impose the same period of revocation. The person is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 at any time.

3. Except as provided in subd. 4m. , if the number of convictions under ss. 940.09 (1) and 940.25 in the person’s lifetime, plus the total number of suspensions, revocations, and other convictions counted under s. 343.307 (1) within a 10-year period, equals 2, the department shall revoke the person’s operating privilege for not less than one year nor more than 18 months. If an Indian tribal court in this state revokes the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle on tribal lands for not less than one year nor more than 18 months for the conviction specified in par. (bm) (intro.) , the department shall impose the same period of revocation. After the first 60 days of the revocation period or, if the total number of convictions, suspensions, and revocations counted under this subdivision within any 5-year period equals 2 or more, after one year of the revocation period has elapsed, the person is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 .

4. Except as provided in subd. 4m. , if the number of convictions under ss. 940.09 (1) and 940.25 in the person’s lifetime, plus the total number of other suspensions, revocations and convictions counted under s. 343.307 (1) , equals 3 or more, the department shall revoke the person’s operating privilege for not less than 2 years nor more than 3 years. If an Indian tribal court in this state revokes the person’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle on tribal lands for not less than 2 years nor more than 3 years for the conviction specified in par. (bm) (intro.) , the department shall impose the same period of revocation. After one year of the revocation period has elapsed, the person is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 .

4m. If the Indian tribal court that convicted the person determined that there was a minor passenger under 16 years of age in the motor vehicle at the time of the incident that gave rise to the conviction, the applicable minimum and maximum revocation periods under subd. 2. , 3. or 4. for the conviction are doubled.

5. The time period under this paragraph shall be measured from the dates of the refusals or violations which resulted in the suspensions, revocations or convictions.

(c) Any person convicted under s. 940.09 of causing the death of another or of an unborn child by the operation or handling of a motor vehicle shall have his or her operating privilege revoked for 5 years. If there was a minor passenger under 16 years of age or an unborn child, as defined in s. 939.75 (1) , in the motor vehicle at the time of the violation that gave rise to the conviction under s. 940.09 , the revocation period is 10 years.

(d) Any person convicted of knowingly fleeing or attempting to elude a traffic officer under s. 346.04 (3) shall have his or her operating privilege revoked as follows:

1. If the offense did not result in bodily harm to another or damage to the property of another, for 6 months.

2. If the offense results in bodily harm to another or causes damage to the property of another, as provided in par. (a) .

3. If the offense results in great bodily harm to another, for 2 years.

4. If the offense results in the death of another, for 5 years.

(e) Any person convicted under s. 346.63 (2) shall have his or her operating privilege revoked for not less than one year nor more than 2 years. If there was a minor passenger under 16 years of age in the motor vehicle at the time of the violation that gave rise to the conviction under s. 346.63 (2) , the minimum and maximum revocation periods are doubled.

(f) Any person convicted under s. 940.25 shall have his or her operating privilege revoked for 2 years. If there was a minor passenger under 16 years of age or an unborn child, as defined in s. 939.75 (1) , in the motor vehicle at the time of the violation that gave rise to the conviction under s. 940.25 , the revocation period is 4 years.

(i) If a person is convicted for a violation of s. 346.67 (1) where the accident involved great bodily harm, the period of revocation is 2 years.

(j) If a person is convicted for a violation of s. 346.67 (1) where the accident involved death, the period of revocation is 5 years.

(3m)

(a) Any person who has his or her operating privilege revoked under sub. (3) (c) or (f) is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 after the first 120 days of the revocation period, except that if the total number of convictions, suspensions, or revocations for any offense that is counted under s. 343.307 (1) within any 5-year period equals 2 or more, the person is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 after one year of the revocation period has elapsed.

(b) Any person who has his or her operating privilege revoked under sub. (3) (e) is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 after the first 60 days of the revocation period, except that if the total number of convictions, suspensions, or revocations for any offense that is counted under s. 343.307 (1) within any 5-year period equals 2 or more, the person is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 after one year of the revocation period has elapsed.

(4) For any revocation the department orders under sub. (1) (a) , (am) , (ar) , or (b) , if the offense is criminal under s. 940.09 and involved the use of a motor vehicle, or if the offense is criminal under s. 940.25 , or under sub. (3) , the department shall extend the revocation period by the number of days to which a court sentences the person to imprisonment in a jail or prison.

History: 1971 c. 219 ; 1975 c. 297 ; 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a) , (e); 1977 c. 193 , 447 ; 1979 c. 221 ; 1981 c. 20 , 70 ; 1983 a. 192 s. 304 ; 1983 a. 459 ; 1985 a. 80 , 82 ; 1985 a. 293 s. 3 ; 1987 a. 3 , 399 ; 1989 a. 31 , 105 ; 1991 a. 39 , 277 , 316 ; 1993 a. 317 ; 1995 a. 269 , 425 , 448 ; 1997 a. 84 , 237 , 258 , 295 ; 1999 a. 109 , 143 ; 2001 a. 16 , 38 , 109 ; 2003 a. 30 , 97 , 200 ; 2005 a. 387 ; 2009 a. 100 , 102 , 121 ; 2011 a. 113 ; 2011 a. 173 ss. 2 , 3 , 6 ; 2017 a. 105 , 172 ; 2019 a. 107 .