343.135 Special restricted operator's license.

(1) Issuance.

(a) Except as provided in par. (b), upon application therefor, the department shall issue a special restricted operator's license to any person who meets the following requirements:

1. Is at least 14 years of age and is physically disabled or is at least 16 years of age.

2. Does not possess a valid operator's license issued under this chapter.

3. Pays all required fees.

4. Has passed an examination which includes a test of the applicant's eyesight, ability to read and understand highway signs regulating, warning and directing traffic, knowledge of the traffic laws and an actual demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of the vehicle for which the special restricted license is to be issued. An applicant shall furnish the motor vehicle he or she will be operating for use in testing his or her ability to operate the vehicle. The department may waive the demonstration of ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a moped or motor bicycle as provided in s. 343.16 (2) (d).

(b) The department may not issue a special restricted license to a person whose operating privilege is suspended or revoked.

(2) Scope.

(a) A special restricted operator's license may be issued only for the specific vehicle or type of vehicle described on the license. A license under this paragraph may not be issued to authorize operation of a commercial motor vehicle or a school bus. A special restricted operator's license may be issued only for the following vehicles:

1. Motor bicycles or mopeds; or

2. Specially designed vehicles having a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour which the department authorizes to be operated on the highway.

(b) If a special restricted operator's license is issued for operation of a vehicle described in par. (a) 2., the vehicle may be operated only by the following persons:

1. The holder of the restricted license.

2. A person licensed under this chapter who operates the vehicle for the limited purposes of repairing or testing the vehicle.

(3) Design of license. The special restricted license shall be of the same size and general design of the operator's license, except that it shall bear the words “SPECIAL RESTRICTED LICENSE". The information on the license shall be the same as specified under s. 343.17 (3) and the holder may affix a decal thereto as provided in s. 343.175 (3). All restrictions imposed under sub. (6) shall be listed on the license or on an attachment thereto.

(4) Physical requirements. The department may set such physical standards as it deems necessary for eligibility for licensing under this section. The standards shall include a vision standard.

(5) Examination. The department may require an applicant to submit to a medical examination to determine whether the applicant meets the standards set under sub. (4). The applicant shall pay the cost of any such examination.

(6) Restrictions. The department may impose such restrictions as it deems necessary on any license issued under this section. Such restrictions may include, but are not limited to, the type of vehicle, special equipment, time of day of operation, and specific geographic areas and streets or routes of travel. A vehicle operated under this section shall display a slow moving vehicle emblem as required under s. 347.245.

(7) Expiration; renewal. A special restricted operator's license issued under this section shall expire 2 years after the date of issuance. Within 90 days prior to the expiration of a license, the holder of the restricted license may renew the license by paying all required fees and passing the examination under sub. (1) (a) 4.

History: 1979 c. 345; 1981 c. 138; 1983 a. 243; 1989 a. 105; 2007 a. 20.