Wis. Stat. § 343.38 — WI Code / Chapter 343 / Section 343.38
Reinstatement after revocation, suspension, cancellation, or disqualification.
Status: in_force

(1) Reinstatement after revocation. Except as provided in ss. 343.10 , 343.31 (1m) , 343.39 , and 351.07 , the department shall not reinstate the operating privilege of a person whose operating privilege has been duly revoked unless the period of revocation has expired and the person:

(a) Pays to the department all required fees; and

(b) If the secretary so prescribes, passes an examination including the tests specified in s. 343.16 or such parts thereof as the secretary may require; and

(c)

1. Except as provided in subd. 2. , files and maintains with the department proof of financial responsibility in the amount, form and manner specified in ch. 344 . Except for a reinstatement under s. 343.31 (1m) , this subdivision does not apply after 3 years have elapsed since the expiration of the period of revocation. For a reinstatement under s. 343.31 (1m) , this subdivision does not apply to a person after 3 years have elapsed since the reinstatement of the operating privilege of the person.

2. No proof under subd. 1. shall be required for any of the following:

a. A vehicle subject to the requirements of s. 121.53 , 194.41 or 194.42 .

b. A vehicle owned by or leased to the United States, this state or any county or municipality of this state.

c. Reinstatement of an operating privilege revoked under s. 343.30 (1q) (b) 2. or (d) , 343.305 (10) (d) or 343.31 (3) (b) or (bm) 2.

d. Reinstatement of an operating privilege revoked under s. 343.31 (1) (b) or (2) if, within the 5-year period preceding the violation, the person has not been convicted of a prior offense that may be counted under s. 343.307 (2) and if, within the 10-year period preceding the violation, the person has not been convicted of 2 or more prior offenses that may be counted under s. 343.307 (2) .

(d) If the person’s operating privilege has been revoked under s. 343.31 (1m) , satisfies all of the following:

1. The person has not been convicted of an offense that is a felony or a misdemeanor, that is counted under s. 343.307 (1) or specified under s. 351.02 (1) (a) , and that was committed during the 10-year period immediately preceding the application for reinstatement.

2. Not more than 45 days before applying for reinstatement, the person submits to and complies with an assessment by an approved public treatment facility, as defined in s. 51.45 (2) (c) , for examination of the person’s use of alcohol, controlled substances, or controlled substance analogs and development of a driver safety plan for the person.

(2) Reinstatement of nonresident’s operating privilege. A nonresident’s operating privilege revoked or suspended under the laws of this state is reinstated as a matter of law when the period of revocation or suspension has expired and the nonresident pays the fees specified in s. 343.21 (1) (j) , (jr) , if applicable, and (n).

(3) Reinstatement after suspension. Except as provided in sub. (2) and s. 343.10 , the department shall not reinstate the operating privilege of a person whose operating privilege has been duly suspended while the suspension remains in effect. Subject to s. 343.31 (2t) (b) , upon the expiration of the period of suspension, the person’s operating privilege is reinstated upon receipt by the department of the fees specified in s. 343.21 (1) (j) and (n) and, for reinstatement of an operating privilege suspended under ch. 344 , the filing with the department of proof of financial responsibility, if required, in the amount, form, and manner specified under ch. 344 .

(3g) Reinstatement after certain cancellations.

(a) The department may reinstate the operator’s license of a person whose operator’s license has been duly canceled under s. 343.25 (2) or (3) if the person pays the fees specified in s. 343.21 (1) (m) and (n) and either the person is at least 18 years of age or the requirements specified in s. 343.15 are satisfied.

(b) The department may reinstate the operator’s license or identification card of a person whose operator’s license or identification card has been duly canceled because of the person’s nonpayment of a fee if the person pays that fee, pays any fee required by the department under s. 20.905 (2) , and pays the fees specified in s. 343.21 (1) (m) and (n) .

(3r) Reinstatement of commercial driving privileges following disqualification.

(a) Except as provided in pars. (b) and (c) , upon application for reinstatement after a person’s disqualification by the department, the department may issue a commercial driver license to the person if the person has paid the fees required under s. 343.21 (1) (jm) and (n) , taken any examination required by the department under s. 343.16 , and satisfied any other requirement under this chapter for reinstatement.

(b) Any disqualification under s. 343.315 (2) (g) terminates at the beginning of the 25th hour following issuance of the citation specified in s. 343.315 (2) (g) . If a person has been disqualified solely on the basis of s. 343.315 (2) (g) , the person’s authorization to operate a commercial motor vehicle is automatically reinstated upon termination of the disqualification, as provided in this paragraph, and no application or fee is required for reinstatement.

(c) If a person is authorized to operate a commercial motor vehicle under s. 343.055 , the person’s authorization to operate a commercial motor vehicle may be reinstated without issuance of a commercial driver license to the person.

(4) First issuance of license in Wisconsin after suspension or revocation by another state. The department may issue an operator’s license to a person moving to this state whose operating privileges have been previously suspended or revoked in another state when their operating privilege has been reinstated in that state and the following conditions have been met:

(a) When the period of suspension or revocation required by law for conviction for the same traffic violation in this state has terminated.

(b) Acceptable proof of financial responsibility has been filed.

(c) Application for a Wisconsin operator’s license has been made.

(d) Any required examination has been passed.

(e) The fees required for the issuance of an original license have been paid.

(5) Restrictions on license. If a court has ordered that the person’s operating privilege be restricted for a period of time after the revocation period is completed to operating vehicles equipped with an ignition interlock device, the license issued under this section shall include that restriction.

History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (7) (a) , (c); 1979 c. 306 , 316 ; 1983 a. 525 ; 1989 a. 72 ; 1991 a. 277 , 316 ; 1997 a. 27 , 84 ; 1999 a. 143 ; 2007 a. 20 ; 2009 a. 100 , 103 ; 2011 a. 173 , 258 ; 2017 a. 172 .