Bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Relating to: allowing an unlicensed person to use a motor vehicle and providing a penalty.
Fines Legislature — Criminal penalties joint review committee on Motor vehicle — Drivers license
- Introduced, stopped here
- Passes Senate, not reached
- Passes Assembly, not reached
- Governor signs, not reached
- Law, not reached
Unfamiliar terms? Glossary
What this bill does
Plain-language analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a person who owns or is in control of a motor vehicle is prohibited from allowing another person to operate the vehicle if the vehicle operator is not authorized to operate a motor vehicle. Current law also prohibits a person from renting a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to another person who is not authorized to operate a motor vehicle. A violation of either prohibition is a forfeiture of not more than $100.
This bill increases the penalty for both violations to a fine not to exceed $1,000 for a first offense and not to exceed $10,000 for a second or subsequent offense. The bill also provides that the prohibitions apply irrespective of whether the person permitting the operation of a motor vehicle had actual knowledge of the vehicle operator’s authorization to operate a motor vehicle.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.
Sponsors
Registered lobbying interests · 1
Organizations that registered lobbying activity on this bill with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Registration means interest, not a position for or against. Official record
Full history
- Mar 21, 2025 · Senate
Introduced by Senator Bradley; cosponsored by Representatives Maxey, Donovan, Piwowarczyk, Rodriguez, Dittrich, Gundrum, Gustafson, Knodl, Kreibich, Mursau, Penterman, B. Jacobson and O'Connor
- Mar 21, 2025 · Senate
Read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety
- Mar 23, 2026 · Senate
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1