2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
LRB-2597/1
ZDW:skw
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 217
April 20, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives SWEARINGEN, GREEN, BEHNKE,
BODDEN, EDMING, MAGNAFICI, O'CONNOR, PENTERMAN, SAPIK, SORTWELL and
VANDERMEER, cosponsored by Senators STAFSHOLT, COWLES, FELZKOWSKI,
MARKLEIN and TESTIN. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage.
1 AN ACT to create 23.33 (6) (ce) of the statutes; relating to: whip lights on
2 all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill authorizes equipping all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain
vehicles (UTVs) with whip lights.
Under current law, no person may operate an ATV or UTV that is equipped with
any of the following: 1) any color of light other than white or amber visible from the
front; 2) any color of light other than red, yellow, amber, or white that is visible from
the rear; or 3) any flashing, oscillating, or rotating light in a color other than yellow
or amber.
The bill authorizes the operation of ATVs and UTVs equipped with whip lights
that emit any color of light in a fixed display or according to any pattern or sequence
other than flashing red or blue. “Whip light” is defined as a series of lights arranged
vertically along a flexible rod that is attached to an ATV or UTV so that the emitted
light is visible from any direction.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
3 SECTION 1. 23.33 (6) (ce) of the statutes is created to read:
4 23.33 (6) (ce) 1. In this paragraph, “whip light” means a series of lights
5 arranged vertically along a flexible rod that is attached to an all-terrain vehicle or
 2023 - 2024 Legislature -2- LRB-2597/1
ZDW:skw
ASSEMBLY BILL 217 SECTION 1
1 utility terrain vehicle so that the emitted light is visible from any direction
2 approaching the all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle.
3 2. A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle or utility terrain vehicle that is
4 equipped with a whip light that emits any color of light in a fixed display or according
5 to any pattern or sequence.
6 3. Notwithstanding subd. 2., a person may not operate an all-terrain vehicle
7 or utility terrain vehicle that is equipped with a whip light that emits a flashing red
8 or blue color of light.
9 (END)