341.41 Reciprocity agreements authorized.

(1) The secretary with the approval of the governor is authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with the responsible officers of other jurisdictions as to licenses, mileage and flat taxes under which motor vehicles, trailers, or semitrailers properly licensed or registered in other jurisdictions may be operated in interstate commerce in this state without a Wisconsin registration or the payment of mileage or flat taxes, provided like privileges are accorded to vehicles owned by Wisconsin residents when operated in such other jurisdictions. Such agreement may include such restrictions, conditions and privileges as are deemed advisable. Such agreement shall provide that a resident of this state when using the highways of such other jurisdiction shall receive exemptions of a similar kind to a like degree.

(1a) The secretary with the approval of the governor is authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with the responsible officers of other jurisdictions as to licenses, mileage and flat taxes under which motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers properly licensed or registered in either jurisdiction, may be operated in intrastate commerce in either jurisdiction without additional base plate registration or the payment of mileage or flat taxes, providing like privileges are accorded Wisconsin licensed vehicles when operated in such other jurisdictions, and that this state will obtain a fair and equitable share of license registrations. Such agreement may include such restrictions, conditions and privileges as are deemed advisable.

(1b) Vehicles operated in intrastate commerce in this state are not exempt by virtue of any reciprocity agreement entered into pursuant to sub. (1a) unless:

(a) The vehicle has conspicuously displayed upon it a valid registration plate;

(b) The operator of the vehicle has in his or her possession a valid registration certificate or other evidence that the vehicle is properly registered; and

(c) The vehicle displays some form of Wisconsin authorization unless operated in accordance with rules adopted under s. 341.40 (1) (d).

(2) A nonresident operating a vehicle in this state is not exempt by virtue of any reciprocity agreement entered into pursuant to sub. (1) unless all of the following requirements are met:

(a) The vehicle is properly registered in the jurisdiction of the residence of its owner, its domicile, or the principal place of business of its owner or is registered on a proportional registration basis pursuant to an interstate compact.

(b) The vehicle has conspicuously displayed upon it a valid registration plate.

(c) The operator of the vehicle has in his or her possession a valid registration certificate or other evidence that the vehicle is properly registered.

(3) If the laws of another jurisdiction impose upon the vehicles of residents of this state any taxes, fees, charges, penalties, obligations, restrictions, prohibitions or limitations of any kind additional to those imposed by this state upon the vehicles of residents of such other jurisdiction the secretary with the approval of the governor is authorized to impose and collect fees or charges in like amount and to provide for similar obligations, prohibitions or limitations upon the owner or operator of a vehicle registered in such other jurisdiction so long as the laws of such other jurisdiction requiring such imposition remain in effect.

(4) Trailers and semitrailers may be operated in Wisconsin without the payment of fees or ton mile or flat taxes when such trailers or semitrailers are operated in exchange for trailers or semitrailers or are operated in accordance with rules adopted by the secretary respecting the interchange of equipment. When used in railroad trailer-on-flat-car service, foreign licensed trailers or semitrailers may be operated in commerce in Wisconsin without the payment of permit or registration fees.

(7) Except as to foreign owned vehicles required by s. 341.07 to be registered in this state, vehicles owned or operated by a nonresident in interstate or intrastate movement may be qualified by advance purchase of a trip permit which authorizes operation for a 72-hour period when the vehicle is not eligible for reciprocal privileges. Unless waived by the secretary, the fee for the trip permit shall be not less than $15. The secretary may, upon determining that a special transportation need exists, waive the fee for the trip permit. The secretary shall make rules and regulations for the issuance and use of the permits. No permit may be issued under this subsection for any motor vehicle for which the motor carrier identified on the permit application as the motor carrier responsible for safety of the vehicle has been issued a federal out-of-service order for unsatisfactory safety compliance.

History: 1977 c. 29 ss. 1448, 1654 (7) (a), (c); 1977 c. 273, 418; 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (29); 1983 a. 192; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (4); 1987 a. 369; 1991 a. 316; 1999 a. 85; 2011 a. 32, 262.