Senate Bill 341
Open doors on authorized emergency vehicles
Topics: Fire department, Medical service, Motor vehicle: Regulation, Police
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 3, 2012. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Dec 19, 2011
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Jan 24, 2012
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed Feb 21, 2012
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 184
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 5, 2012: “Published 4-16-2012”
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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, when an authorized emergency vehicle is responding to an emergency call or in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, the operator is exempt from traffic restrictions relating to parking if the vehicle's warning lights are activated. The operator is also exempt from traffic restrictions relating to speed, traffic signals, and direction of travel if the vehicle's warning lights and siren are activated. However, even when an authorized emergency vehicle is operated with the vehicle's warning lights and siren activated, the operator must drive with due regard under the circumstances for the safety of all persons and may be held responsible for the consequences of his or her reckless disregard for the safety of others.
Also under current law, no person may open any door of a motor vehicle located on a highway without first taking due precaution to ensure that opening the door will not interfere with the movement of traffic or endanger any other person or vehicle.
Read the full summary Show less
Under this bill, a law enforcement officer, a fire fighter, or emergency medical personnel may open and leave open any door of an authorized emergency vehicle when the vehicle is stopped, standing, or parked and the person is performing official duties.
Who's behind it
5 senators are its . All 5 are Republicans.
3 more lawmakers .
See all 8 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- Pam Galloway · Republican, Senate
- Neal Kedzie · Republican, Senate
- Mary Lazich · Republican, Senate
- Luther S. Olsen · Republican, Senate
- Van Wanggaard · Republican, Senate
Signed on in support (3)
- Jerry Petrowski · Republican, Senate
- Richard Spanbauer · Republican, Assembly
- Kathleen Vinehout · Democrat, Senate
How lawmakers voted
There were 2 votes on this bill.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections vote to recommend it
Passed, 5 to 0 · Jan 12, 2012
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 and Elections, Ayes 5, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly Committee on Transportation vote to recommend it
Passed, 13 to 0 · Feb 16, 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, Ayes 13, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 5, 2012
The new law was published.
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Apr 3, 2012
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 184.
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Mar 30, 2012
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 21, 2012
The Assembly passed it too.
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Feb 16, 2012
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 16, 2012
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 13 to 0.
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Feb 7, 2012
The committee held a public hearing.
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Jan 27, 2012
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.
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Jan 25, 2012
The Assembly received it.
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Jan 24, 2012
The Senate passed it.
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Jan 24, 2012
1 more senator signed on in support.
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Jan 12, 2012
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 5 to 0.
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Jan 12, 2012
The committee held a public hearing.
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Dec 19, 2011
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections.
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Dec 19, 2011
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Dec 19, 2011 · Senate
Introduced by Senators Lazich, Wanggaard, Kedzie, Olsen and Galloway;Cosponsored by Representatives Spanbauer and Petrowski
- Dec 19, 2011 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Elections
- Jan 12, 2012 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Jan 12, 2012 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Jan 12, 2012 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 5, Noes 0
- Jan 12, 2012 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Jan 23, 2012 · Senate
Placed on calendar 1-24-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Jan 24, 2012 · Senate
Senator Vinehout added as a coauthor
- Jan 24, 2012 · Senate
Read a second time
- Jan 24, 2012 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Jan 24, 2012 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Jan 24, 2012 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Jan 24, 2012 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Jan 25, 2012 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Jan 27, 2012 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation
- Feb 7, 2012 · Assembly
Public hearing held
- Feb 14, 2012 · Assembly
Executive action taken
- Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly
Report concurrence recommended by committee on Transportation, Ayes 13, Noes 0
- Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly
Referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 16, 2012 · Assembly
Placed on calendar 2-21-2012 by committee on Rules
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Rules suspended
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Read a third time and concurred in
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 22, 2012 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 28, 2012 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 2-28-2012
- Mar 30, 2012 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 3-30-2012
- Apr 3, 2012 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 4-2-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 184
- Apr 5, 2012 · Senate
Published 4-16-2012
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
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