347.02 Applicability of chapter.

(1) No provision of this chapter requiring vehicles to be equipped in a particular manner is applicable to any of the following vehicles unless the vehicle is expressly included within or made subject to the particular provision:

(a) Farm tractors.

(b) Implements of husbandry.

(c) Vehicles drawn by animals.

(d) Road machinery.

(e) Bicycles.

(em) Electric bicycles.

(g) Motor bicycles.

(h) Golf carts operated in accordance with s. 349.18 (1) (b) or (c) or (1m).

(i) Electric scooters and electric personal assistive mobility devices.

(j) Lightweight utility vehicles, as defined in s. 346.94 (21) (a) 2.

(k) Personal delivery devices.

(2) No provision of this chapter requiring or prohibiting certain types of equipment on a vehicle is applicable when such vehicle is not operated upon or occupying a highway.

(2m)

(a) No provision of this chapter requiring or prohibiting certain types of equipment on a vehicle is applicable to an imported vehicle which has been granted entry into the United States by the federal government solely for the purpose of test or experiment.

(b) The exemption under par. (a) is limited to the one-year period following the entry of the vehicle.

(3) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the use of additional parts and accessories on any vehicle not inconsistent with this chapter.

(4) Beginning July 1, 1960, the provisions of this chapter covering lighting shall be applicable to all state, county and municipal trucks, truck tractors, trailers and semitrailers.

(5) If a vehicle registered under s. 341.25 (1) (a), 341.265, 341.266, or 341.269 has equipment which was designated by the manufacturer as optional equipment in the model year the vehicle was manufactured, it is not necessary for such equipment to be in operating condition unless it replaces equipment which is required by law to be both present and functioning.

(6) Notwithstanding the requirements of this chapter, the department may establish special equipment standards for vehicles operated under s. 343.135 which differ from the equipment standards established under this chapter. Equipment standards established under this subsection may not be less stringent than any federal standards established for the vehicle.

(7) The vehicle equipment requirements for a street modified vehicle shall be the same as the vehicle equipment requirements for a vehicle of the same type and model year that is not a street modified vehicle. The vehicle equipment requirements for a replica vehicle or a homemade vehicle specified in s. 341.268 (1) (b) 2. shall be the same as the vehicle equipment requirements for a vehicle of the same type and model year as the vehicle used for purposes of the reproduction.

History: 1977 c. 39; 1979 c. 345; 1981 c. 275; 1983 a. 243, 288, 538; 1985 a. 187; 1985 a. 197 s. 7; 1993 a. 165; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 85; 2001 a. 90, 109; 2009 a. 135, 157; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 232; 2017 a. 13; 2019 a. 11, 34.