Senate Bill 423
Disqualification of commercial motor vehicle operators
Topics: Bus and truck, Motor vehicle: Driver's license, Motor vehicle: Regulation
Became law
The governor signed it on Apr 6, 2012. It's .
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Introduced, passed
Feb 3, 2012
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Committee, passed
Approved
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Senate vote, passed
Passed Feb 21, 2012
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Assembly vote, passed
Passed 74 to 20
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Governor, passed
Signed
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Law, here now
2011 Wisconsin Act 244
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 10, 2012: “Published 4-19-2012”
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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, the Department of Transportation (DOT) issues commercial driver licenses (CDLs) authorizing the licensee to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). CMVs are generally defined as motor vehicles that are designed or used to transport property or passengers and weigh more than 26,000 pounds, that transport 15 or more passengers plus the driver, or that transport hazardous materials. A person is disqualified from operating a CMV for a 60-day period upon a second conviction, or for a 120-day period upon a third conviction, of a serious traffic violation within a three-year period if the violation is committed while the person is operating a CMV or if the person holds a CDL and commits the violation while operating a non-CMV vehicle. A "serious traffic violation" is defined to include various offenses committed: 1) while operating a CMV; or 2) while operating a non-CMV vehicle if the person has ever held a CDL, has ever operated a CMV on a highway, or has ever been convicted of a violation related to, or been disqualified from, operating a CMV.
Under this bill, the definition of "serious traffic violation" identified in item 2), above, applies only if the offense results in the revocation, cancellation, or suspension of the person's operating privilege.
Read the full summary Show less
Under current law, if an authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, or road maintenance vehicle is stopped on or within 12 feet of the paved portion of a highway and is giving a proper visual signal, an approaching motorist must move his or her vehicle into a lane not nearest the stopped vehicle and travel in that lane until he or she passes the stopped vehicle. If the roadway has only one lane for traffic traveling in the same direction as the approaching motorist or if the motorist cannot change lanes safely or without interfering with other traffic, the motorist must slow his or her vehicle until he or she has passed the stopped vehicle. This statute is commonly referred to as the "Move Over Law."
This bill classifies a violation of the "Move Over Law" as a serious traffic violation for purposes of disqualification from operating a CMV.
Who's behind it
2 lawmakers are its . 1 is a Republican. 1 has no party on record.
4 more lawmakers .
See all 6 names Hide the names
Authors (2)
- Mary Lazich · Republican, Senate
- by request of The Department of Transportation
Signed on in support (4)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Garey Bies · Republican, Assembly
- Jerry Petrowski · Republican, Senate
- Richard Spanbauer · Republican, Assembly
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.
Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections vote on an amendment
Passed, 4 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 adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 4, Noes 0”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote to pass it
Passed, 74 to 20 · Feb 21, 2012 · 5 didn't vote
See how each of the 99 representatives voted Hide the names
D: Democrat, I: Independent, R: Republican
Yes (74)
- Alvin Ott (R, 3)
- Amy Loudenbeck (R, 31)
- Amy Sue Vruwink (D, 70)
- André Jacque (R, 1)
- Andy Jorgensen (D, 43)
- Barbara Toles (D, 17)
- Bill Kramer (R, 97)
- Brett Hulsey (D, 78)
- Chad Weininger (R, 4)
- Chris Kapenga (R, 33)
- Cory Mason (D, 66)
- Dale Kooyenga (R, 5)
- Dan Knodl (R, 24)
- Dan Meyer (R, 34)
- Daniel LeMahieu (R, 59)
- David Craig (R, 28)
- Dean Knudson (R, 30)
- Don Pridemore (R, 22)
- Duey Stroebel (R, 20)
- Edward Brooks (R, 50)
- Erik Severson (R, 28)
- Evan Wynn (R, 43)
- Garey Bies (R, 1)
- Gary Hebl (D, 46)
- Gary Tauchen (R, 6)
- Gordon Hintz (D, 54)
- Howard Marklein (R, 17)
- Janet Bewley (D, 25)
- Jason Fields (D, 11)
- Jeff Fitzgerald (R, 39)
- Jeff Mursau (R, 36)
- Jeffrey Stone (R, 82)
- Jeremy Thiesfeldt (R, 52)
- Jerry Petrowski (R, 29)
- Jill Billings (D, 95)
- Jim Ott (R, 23)
- Jim Steineke (R, 5)
- Joan Ballweg (R, 14)
- Joe Knilans (R, 44)
- Joel Kleefisch (R, 38)
- John Klenke (R, 88)
- John Murtha (R, 29)
- John Nygren (R, 89)
- Josh Zepnick (D, 9)
- Karl Van Roy (R, 90)
- Kathleen Bernier (R, 23)
- Keith Ripp (R, 42)
- Kevin Petersen (R, 57)
- Lee Nerison (R, 96)
- Leon Young (D, 16)
- Mark Honadel (R, 21)
- Mark Pocan (D, 78)
- Mary Williams (R, 87)
- Michelle Litjens (R, 56)
- Mike Endsley (R, 26)
- Mike Kuglitsch (R, 84)
- Pat Strachota (R, 58)
- Paul F. Farrow (R, 33)
- Richard Spanbauer (R, 53)
- Robert Turner (D, 61)
- Robin Vos (R, 33)
- Roger Rivard (R, 75)
- Samantha Kerkman (R, 61)
- Scott Krug (R, 72)
- Scott Suder (R, 69)
- Steve Doyle (D, 94)
- Steve Kestell (R, 27)
- Steve Nass (R, 11)
- Thomas Larson (R, 67)
- Thomas Tiffany (R, 12)
- Tony Staskunas (D, 15)
- Travis Tranel (R, 49)
- Tyler August (R, 31)
- Warren Petryk (R, 93)
No (20)
- Bob Ziegelbauer (I, 25)
- Chris Danou (D, 92)
- Chris Taylor (D, 76)
- Christine Sinicki (D, 20)
- Dean Kaufert (R, 53)
- Donna Seidel (D, 85)
- Fred Clark (D, 81)
- Frederick Kessler (D, 12)
- Janis Ringhand (D, 15)
- JoCasta Zamarripa (D, 8)
- Jon Richards (D, 19)
- Kelda Roys (D, 26)
- Louis Molepske Jr. (D, 71)
- Margaret Krusick (D, 7)
- Mark Radcliffe (D, 92)
- Penny Bernard Schaber (D, 57)
- Peter Barca (D, 64)
- Sandy Pasch (D, 10)
- Sondy Pope (D, 80)
- Terese Berceau (D, 77)
Didn't vote (5)
- David Cullen (D, 13)
- Elizabeth Coggs (D, 10)
- John Steinbrink (D, 65)
- Nick Milroy (D, 73)
- Tamara Grigsby (D, 18)
Official motion: “Read a third time and concurred in, Ayes 74, Noes 20”. Official record · This vote on its own page
Assembly vote on an amendment
Passed, 58 to 36 · Feb 21, 2012
No member-by-member record exists for this vote. Committee votes and some older sessions record totals only.
Official motion: “Assembly amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 58, Noes 36”. Official record · This vote on its own page
What happened
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Apr 10, 2012
The new law was published.
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Apr 6, 2012
The governor signed it. It became 2011 Wisconsin Act 244.
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Apr 5, 2012
Sent to the governor.
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Feb 21, 2012
The Assembly passed it too, 74 to 20.
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Feb 21, 2012
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Rules.
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Feb 21, 2012
The Assembly received it.
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Feb 21, 2012
The Senate passed it.
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Feb 21, 2012
The Senate adopted it.
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Feb 16, 2012
The committee voted to recommend passing it, 4 to 0.
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Feb 16, 2012
“Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 4, Noes 0” (the official wording)
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Feb 9, 2012
The committee held a public hearing.
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Feb 3, 2012
Sent to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Elections.
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Feb 3, 2012
Introduced in the Senate.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Feb 3, 2012 · Senate
Introduced by Senator Lazich, by request of The Department of Transportation;Cosponsored by Representatives Petrowski, Bies, A. Ott and Spanbauer
- Feb 3, 2012 · Senate
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation and Elections
- Feb 9, 2012 · Senate
Public hearing held
- Feb 15, 2012 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 offered by Senator Lazich
- Feb 16, 2012 · Senate
Executive action taken
- Feb 16, 2012 · Senate
Report adoption of Senate Amendment 1 recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 4, Noes 0
- Feb 16, 2012 · Senate
Report passage recommended by committee on Transportation and Elections, Ayes 4, Noes 0
- Feb 16, 2012 · Senate
Available for scheduling
- Feb 20, 2012 · Senate
Placed on calendar 2-21-2012 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Feb 21, 2012 · Senate
Read a second time
- Feb 21, 2012 · Senate
Senate amendment 1 adopted
- Feb 21, 2012 · Senate
Ordered to a third reading
- Feb 21, 2012 · Senate
Rules suspended
- Feb 21, 2012 · Senate
Read a third time and passed
- Feb 21, 2012 · Senate
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Received from Senate
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Rules
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Rules suspended to withdraw from committee on Rules and take up
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Read a second time
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 offered by Representative Molepske Jr
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Assembly amendment 1 laid on table, Ayes 58, Noes 36
- 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, Ayes 74, Noes 20
- Feb 21, 2012 · Assembly
Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 22, 2012 · Senate
Received from Assembly concurred in
- Feb 24, 2012 · Senate
Report correctly enrolled on 2-24-2012
- Apr 5, 2012 · Senate
Presented to the Governor on 4-5-2012
- Apr 6, 2012 · Senate
Report approved by the Governor on 4-6-2012. 2011 Wisconsin Act 244
- Apr 10, 2012 · Senate
Published 4-19-2012
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