2023 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations › Chapter 349 - Vehicles — powers of state and local authorities. › 349.03 - Regulation by local authorities forbidden; exceptions.

349.03
Regulation by local authorities forbidden; exceptions.
(1)
Chapters 341 to 348 and 350 shall be uniform in operation throughout the state. No local authority may enact or enforce any traffic regulation unless such regulation:
(a)
Is not contrary to or inconsistent with chs. 341 to 348 and 350; or
(b)
Is expressly authorized by ss. 349.06 to 349.25 or some other provision of the statutes.
(2)
No local authority may enact or enforce any traffic regulation providing for suspension or revocation of motor vehicle operator's licenses or requiring local registration of vehicles, except as authorized by s. 341.35, or in any manner excluding or prohibiting any motor vehicle, mobile home, vehicle transporting a manufactured home or modular home, recreational vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer whose owner has complied with chs. 341 to 348 from the free use of all highways, except as authorized by sub. (3) and ss. 66.0429 (1) and (3), 349.13, 349.17, 349.22 and 349.23.
(2m)
Notwithstanding sub. (2), a municipal court may suspend a license for a violation of a local ordinance in conformity with s. 346.63 (1) or (2m).
(3)
In a county having a population of at least 750,000, city councils and village boards may, as to streets within their corporate limits, and the county board may, as to all other highways, establish one-way lanes to be used only by specified public transportation vehicles but only to facilitate mass transit and taxicab movement. The authority granted by this subsection may be exercised extraterritorially by the county board of the populous county on those portions of county trunk and state trunk highways in contiguous counties which are within 2 miles of the populous county if the highways so affected are connected to highways similarly affected in the populous county and if the board of the contiguous county concurs.
(4)
If a violation under s. 343.305 or 346.63 or a local ordinance in conformity with s. 346.63 (1), (5) or (7) occurs within a law enforcement officer's jurisdiction, he or she may enforce the violation anywhere in the state.
(5)
(a)
Notwithstanding sub. (1), a political subdivision may enter into a written agreement with the owner of a private road or driveway within a manufactured and mobile home community, as defined in s. 66.0435 (1) (cg), that is located within the boundaries of the political subdivision to enforce traffic regulations under ch. 346, or local ordinances in conformity with these regulations, on the private road or driveway.
(b)
The agreement under par. (a) may limit the traffic regulations or ordinances to be enforced on the private road or driveway under the agreement.
History:  1971 c. 234, 277; 1973 c. 86, 87, 336; 1979 c. 59; 1981 c. 20, 165; 1983 a. 535; 1985 a. 194; 1987 a. 3, 27; 1989 a. 105; 1993 a. 113; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2007 a. 11; 2009 a. 129; 2017 a. 207 s. 5; 2023 a. 1.
This section, in prohibitory language, is the same concept of municipal power that is expressed affirmatively in s. 349.06. These sections must be read together and establish one test. Janesville v. Walker, 50 Wis. 2d 35, 183 N.W.2d 158 (1971).
A city ordinance prohibiting loud and unnecessary tire or engine noise was valid under sub. (1) and s. 349.06 (1). City of Janesville v. Garthwaite, 83 Wis. 2d 866, 266 N.W.2d 418 (1978).