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Bills from the 2011–12 session

Assembly Bill 291

Restrictions on the operation of motor vehicles by persons holding instruction permits or probationary licenses and providing a penalty

Topics: Forfeiture, Motor vehicle: Driver's license, Motor vehicle: Regulation, Motorcycle, Telecommunications, Telephone

Became law

The governor signed it on Mar 30, 2012. It's ⁠.

  1. Introduced, passed

    Sep 29, 2011

  2. Committee, passed

    Approved

  3. Assembly vote, passed

    Passed Feb 21, 2012

  4. Senate vote, passed

    Passed Mar 13, 2012

  5. Governor, passed

    Signed

  6. Law, here now

    2011 Wisconsin Act 164

Latest entry in the official record, Mar 30, 2012: “Published 4-11-2012”

Read the bill

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What it does

Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, the Department of Transportation (DOT) may issue an instruction permit to a person who is at least 15 years and 6 months of age, who has passed a knowledge test, who, if under 18 years of age, has enrolled in an approved driver education and training course, and who, except for age or lack of training in the operation of a motor vehicle, is qualified to obtain an operator's license. The permit remains valid for 12 months unless cancelled by DOT. The permit authorizes the person to operate most motor vehicles (excluding commercial motor vehicles, school buses, and Type 1 motorcycles), subject to certain restrictions, including restrictions related to persons required to accompany the permittee while operating a motor vehicle, persons who may be passengers in a motor vehicle operated by the permittee, and hours during which the permittee may operate a motor vehicle.

Under current law, a person who is at least 16 years of age and who is otherwise qualified (including having passed a knowledge test and, if under 18 years of age, having completed a driver education and training course and a basic motorcycle rider course) may obtain a Type 1 motorcycle instruction permit. The permit is valid for six months but may be renewed. The permit authorizes the person to operate a Type 1 motorcycle subject to certain restrictions related to persons who may accompany the permittee on a motorcycle and hours during which the permittee may operate a motorcycle.

Read the full summary

This bill creates an additional restriction that a person operating a motor vehicle under an instruction permit may not operate the motor vehicle, and a person operating a motorcycle under a motorcycle instruction permit may not operate the motorcycle, while using a cellular telephone or other wireless telecommunications device (cellular telephone), except to report an emergency.

Under current law, a probationary license is, with certain exceptions, issued to all applicants who qualify for an original driver's license and remains in effect for two years from the date of the licensee's next birthday. During the first nine months following issuance of a probationary license, a probationary licensee who is under 18 years of age is subject, with limited exceptions, to certain restrictions on the operation of "Class D" vehicles (automobiles and most other motor vehicles), including restrictions related to persons who may be passengers in a motor vehicle operated by the licensee and hours during which the licensee may operate a motor vehicle.

This bill creates an additional restriction that a probationary licensee who is under 18 years of age may not, during the first nine months following issuance of the probationary license, operate a "Class D" vehicle while using a cellular telephone, except to report an emergency. The same exceptions that apply to existing restrictions on the licensee also apply to this new restriction.

Under current law, a person holding a probationary license or instruction permit who violates operating restrictions must forfeit $50 for a first offense and not less than $50 nor more than $100 for each subsequent offense.

This bill provides the same penalty for cellular telephone operating restriction violations.

Who's behind it

8 lawmakers are its ⁠. 7 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat.

4 more lawmakers ⁠.

See all 12 names

Authors (8)

Signed on in support (4)

What it would cost

State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

How lawmakers voted

There were 3 votes on this bill.

Assembly Committee on Transportation vote on an amendment

Passed, 13 to 0 · Feb 2, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Transportation, Ayes 13, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Assembly vote to pass it

Passed, 94 to 0 · Feb 21, 2012 · 5 didn't vote

See how each of the 99 representatives voted

D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican

Yes (94)

Didn't vote (5)

Official motion: “Read a third time and passed, Ayes 94, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page

Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections vote to recommend it

Passed, 4 to 1 · Mar 12, 2012

No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.

Official motion: “Report concurrence recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 4, Noes 1”. Official record · This vote on its own page

What happened

  1. Mar 30, 2012

    The new law was published.

  2. Mar 30, 2012

    The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 164.

  3. Mar 28, 2012

    Sent to the governor.

  4. Mar 13, 2012

    The Senate passed it too.

  5. Mar 12, 2012

    “Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2” (the official wording)

  6. Mar 12, 2012

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 1.

  7. Feb 22, 2012

    Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections.

  8. Feb 22, 2012

    The Senate received it.

  9. Feb 21, 2012

    The Assembly passed it, 94 to 0.

  10. Feb 21, 2012

    The Assembly adopted it.

  11. Feb 21, 2012

    8 more representatives signed on in support.

  12. Feb 2, 2012

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.

  13. Feb 2, 2012

    The committee voted to recommend passing it, 13 to 0.

  14. Oct 24, 2011

    A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.

  15. Oct 11, 2011

    The committee held a public hearing.

  16. Sep 29, 2011

    Sent to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.

  17. Sep 29, 2011

    Introduced in the Assembly.

See the official record, word for word
  1. Sep 29, 2011 · Assembly

    Introduced by Representatives Bernier, Petrowski, Kooyenga, Litjens, Petryk, C. Taylor, Van Roy and Wynn;Cosponsored by Senators Olsen, Schultz and Lassa

  2. Sep 29, 2011 · Assembly

    Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation

  3. Oct 11, 2011 · Assembly

    Public hearing held

  4. Oct 24, 2011 · Assembly

    Fiscal estimate received

  5. Nov 30, 2011 · Assembly

    Assembly substitute amendment 1 offered by Representative Petrowski

  6. Jan 31, 2012 · Assembly

    Executive action taken

  7. Feb 2, 2012 · Assembly

    Report Assembly Substitute Amendment 1 adoption recommended by committee on Transportation, Ayes 13, Noes 0

  8. Feb 2, 2012 · Assembly

    Report passage as amended recommended by committee on Transportation, Ayes 13, Noes 0

  9. Feb 2, 2012 · Assembly

    Referred to committee on Rules

  10. Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly

    Placed on calendar 2-21-2012 by committee on Rules

  11. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Representatives Pasch, Barca, Turner, Sinicki, Bies, Clark, A. Ott and T. Larson added as coauthors

  12. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Read a second time

  13. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Assembly substitute amendment 1 adopted

  14. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Ordered to a third reading

  15. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Rules suspended

  16. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Read a third time and passed, Ayes 94, Noes 0

  17. Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly

    Ordered immediately messaged

  18. Feb 22, 2012 · Senate

    Received from Assembly

  19. Feb 22, 2012 · Senate

    Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Elections

  20. Mar 12, 2012 · Senate

    Executive action taken

  21. Mar 12, 2012 · Senate

    Report concurrence recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 4, Noes 1

  22. Mar 12, 2012 · Senate

    Available for scheduling

  23. Mar 12, 2012 · Senate

    Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2

  24. Mar 12, 2012 · Senate

    Placed on calendar 3-13-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)

  25. Mar 13, 2012 · Senate

    Read a second time

  26. Mar 13, 2012 · Senate

    Ordered to a third reading

  27. Mar 13, 2012 · Senate

    Rules suspended

  28. Mar 13, 2012 · Senate

    Read a third time and concurred in

  29. Mar 13, 2012 · Senate

    Ordered immediately messaged

  30. Mar 13, 2012 · Assembly

    Received from Senate concurred in

  31. Mar 19, 2012 · Assembly

    Report correctly enrolled

  32. Mar 28, 2012 · Assembly

    Presented to the Governor on 3-28-2012

  33. Mar 30, 2012 · Assembly

    Report approved by the Governor on 3-29-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 164

  34. Mar 30, 2012 · Assembly

    Published 4-11-2012

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

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate. 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

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

Cost estimate

A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.

Official term: Fiscal estimate

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