Senate Bill 409 aims to amend Wisconsin's existing "move over or slow down" law to include provisions for disabled vehicles in addition to emergency and roadside service vehicles. The bill defines a "disabled vehicle" as one that is stopped and meets specific criteria, such as displaying warning lights, having emergency flares nearby, or having visible individuals attending to it. The bill requires drivers approaching a disabled vehicle to either change lanes away from the vehicle if safe to do so or to slow down while passing.

The bill includes several amendments to the current law, such as renumbering existing definitions and updating the title to reflect the inclusion of disabled vehicles. Specifically, it amends the language to replace references to "emergency or roadside service vehicles" with "certain stopped vehicles," thereby broadening the scope of the law. Additionally, it clarifies the responsibilities of drivers when encountering both emergency and disabled vehicles, ensuring that safety measures are in place for all types of stopped vehicles on or near highways.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 346.072(title), 346.072, 346.072(1g)(intro.), 346.072(1m)