Senate Bill 278
U-turns on highways and providing a penalty
Topics: Motor vehicle: Regulation, Road: Marking, Street
Became law
The governor signed it on Dec 11, 2009. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Aug 28, 2009
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Oct 20, 2009
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Nov 5, 2009
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2009 Wisconsin Act 97
Latest entry in the official record, Dec 15, 2009: “Published 12-28-2009.”
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Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
What it does
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, an operator of a vehicle may not make a turn to proceed in the opposite direction (U-turn) in certain circumstances, including at intersections where traffic is controlled by a traffic control signal or by a traffic officer and in any place where there are signs prohibiting U-turns erected by the authority that maintains the highway.
This bill removes the general limitation on U-turns at intersections controlled by traffic control signals. This bill also prohibits making U-turns on a curve or near the crest of a grade on an undivided highway where visibility is limited, and making U-turns when unsafe or when the U-turn would interfere with traffic.
Read the full summary Show less
In Kaufman v. Postle , 2001 WI App 86, 26 N.W. 2d 10, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals determined that the statutes prohibited a motorist from passing a left-turning vehicle on the right by use of a paved shoulder. This bill reverses that decision by specifically allowing a motorist to pass a left-turning vehicle on the right by use of either the roadway or a paved shoulder.
Who's behind it
6 senators are its . 5 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.
9 more lawmakers .
See all 15 names Hide the names
Authors (6)
- Dave Hansen · Democrat, Senate
- Jim Holperin · Democrat, Senate
- Theodore Kanavas · Republican, Senate
- Jeffrey Plale · Democrat, Senate
- Jim Sullivan · Democrat, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
Signed on in support (9)
- Edward Brooks · Republican, Assembly
- Glenn Grothman · Republican, Senate
- Mary Williams · Republican, Assembly
- Lee Nerison · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry Petrowski · Republican, Senate
- John Steinbrink · Democrat, Assembly
- John Townsend · Republican, Assembly
- Robert Turner · Democrat, Assembly
- Robin Vos · Republican, Assembly
How lawmakers voted
There was one vote on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation vote to recommend it
Passed, 7 to 0 · Oct 5, 2009
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Report passage recommended by committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources, Ayes 7, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Dec 15, 2009
The new law was published.
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Dec 11, 2009
The governor signed it. It became 2009 Wisconsin Act 97.
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Dec 8, 2009
Sent to the governor.
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Nov 5, 2009
The Assembly passed it too.
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Oct 23, 2009
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Oct 22, 2009
The Assembly received it.
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Oct 20, 2009
The Senate passed it.
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Oct 5, 2009
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 7 to 0.
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Sep 17, 2009
The committee held a public hearing.
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Sep 17, 2009
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Aug 28, 2009
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources.
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Aug 28, 2009
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Aug 28, 2009 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Sullivan, Kanavas, Taylor, Holperin, Plale and Hansen;Cosponsored by Representatives Steinbrink, Nerison, Townsend, Brooks, Petrowski, Vos, M. Williams and Turner
- Aug 28, 2009 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources
- Sep 17, 2009 · Senate
Senator Grothman added as a coauthor
- Sep 17, 2009 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Sep 30, 2009 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Oct 5, 2009 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Transportation, Tourism, Forestry, and Natural Resources, Ayes 7, Noes 0
- Oct 5, 2009 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Oct 13, 2009 · Senate
Placed on calendar 10-20-2009 by committee on Senate Organization
- Oct 20, 2009 · Senate
Read a second time
- Oct 20, 2009 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 20, 2009 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Oct 20, 2009 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Oct 20, 2009 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Oct 22, 2009 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Oct 23, 2009 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Oct 27, 2009 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 10-29-2009 by committee on Rules
- Oct 29, 2009 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from calendar and take up
- Oct 29, 2009 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Oct 29, 2009 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Oct 29, 2009 · Assembly
Laid on the table
- Nov 5, 2009 · Assembly
Taken from the table
- Nov 5, 2009 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Nov 5, 2009 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Nov 6, 2009 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Nov 10, 2009 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 11-10-2009
- Dec 8, 2009 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 12-8-2009
- Dec 11, 2009 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 12-10-2009. 2009 Wisconsin Act 97
- Dec 15, 2009 · Senate
Published 12-28-2009.
Terms on this page
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Wisconsin Act
The number a bill gets when it becomes law, like 2025 Wisconsin Act 12.
Official term: Act
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Roll call
A vote where each lawmaker's yes or no is recorded by name.
Official term: Roll call vote