Help stop harassment of NEVs in WI, is Slow Moving Vehicle a way out?
 

There are some people in this area that are fragant morons and have been harassing me saying my NEV is illegal.

Anyway my mother took the ZX40 out to work but in her typical fashion did not listen to me, she did not stay to the far right lane while driving on a 40mph street, our NEV tops out at 30mph currently.

There are individuals who work (driving school buses) with my father that are ticked off about this, anyway we are forced to drive on a stretch of 40mph 4 or 3 lane road about a half mile to get "out" to safe 35mph roads

In any event mopeds, tractors, Amish buggies and all sorts of other slow moving vehicles are allowed on that same road without issue and in fact I know our state explicetly allows slow moving vehicles on ALL SECONDARY AND RURAL PRIMARY ROADS!

If they don't I find it mighty fresh that those vehicles are allowed everywhere if there is a law against it. Heck the amish drive down freeways in buggies around here.

Can anyone help me locate the specific laws that govern mopeds and slow moving vehicles in this state? At one time my local school had a full set of wisconsin statutes, at present I am not sure where to search.

I have the strong feeling as simple slow moving vehicle triangle might rectify this problem (in that I could not be turned in).

Also I was told at one time our state had "uncontrolled" roads and highways that had no lower speed limits posted and thus no lower speed limit as a justification for allowing farm equipment and Amish buggies.

Thank You
Ryan

My take, if traffic can get around you then you are not impeding it. But definitely stay in the right lane.

from http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/inju...oc/wispeed.pdf

Rather vague, the way that is written I should be able to drive any secondary road so long as I am in the right most portion of the road.

There is a slow moving vehicle designation in this state, I wonder where the buggies and farm tractors fit in?

Well sure, what is "reasonable" is up to debate. Might as well use it to your advantage.

But staying to the right is not ambiguous.

I don't disagree with the stay to the right, we have never had issues until my mother drove the vehicle. And I don't plan on going on high speed roads but 40mph is only 5mph over the stated max and "other" states apparently limit the LSV's to all secondary roads without a speed designation.

http://www.wmmic.com/infodocs/QA/Hwy...w%20Moving.doc

What isn't ambiguous is that farm equipment and amish buggies are allowed on ALL ROADS regardless of speed in this state.

Strange how a superior/safer form of transport is restricted off of roads where 5-10mph buggies are allowed on.

I have been under the radar thus far and will continue to lay low but I have a feeling eventually we will get called on it.


Ah well.

Stay to the right, and use a "slow moving vehicle" insignia. They're generally good for any vehicle which cannot exceed 40 MPH. (The triangle thing.)

Also - speak with some Amish people about their road-going ways and how the laws affect their transportation. You may gain some insight from that avenue as well.

Lastly, speak with your local State Police and DOT offices, to find out more detailed information. The law is only your enemy if you intend to offend it, otherwise, use the information provided by those in authority as often as possible, and take it in higher regard than the hearsay of those irritated by your slow moving ways. :turtle:

Oh, I am offending it, the local DOT didn't think NEVs where legal, the madison office overroad them, the local police don't know what it is and don't bother me about it.

Its best to leave well enough alone until I am called out on it.

About the only thing I could ask about is the slow moving vehicle status which is just any vehicle with said triangle on the back, far as law goes there aren't limitations you just need to stay to the right when using a Slow moving Vehicle. Oh and 4 lane freeways are an obvious no no. although the amish do offend if the road goes where they need to end up.

I am relatively familiar with the amish because of the many craft shows I set up at, they are allowed on all roads so long as they stay as far to the right as is reasonable. The law is however ambiguous.

Just keep your equiupment and lights in working order and cite old man Slattery case if someone rearends ya. But please educate your drivers on the right lane stuff, driver could go from zero fault to pretty much all fault.

Try slow moving vehicle in the "Search for a word or phrase in the Infobase" box on Wisconsin Statutes Home
Page - Legislative Reference Bureau

Also worth looking to through the Table of Contents for the Rules of the Road section of statutes for stuff like:

• 346.09 Limitations on overtaking on left or driving on left side of roadway.
• 346.41 Display of unauthorized signs and signals prohibited.
• 346.57 Speed restrictions.
• 346.58 Special speed restrictions for certain vehicles.
• 346.59 Minimum speed regulation.

Probably also worth trying google searches beginning

Statute 347.245 looks the most promising
1969 Assembly Bill 16 (4) No person shall display such emblem on any vehicle or equipment not specified in sub. (1) .

Since I spend a lot of time under 25mph (this accelerates above 15mph slowly) I would be fully justified and required to have a slow moving vehicle symbol on the vehicle (even though a later law says otherwise)

As such slow moving vehicles are allowed on any secondary roadway so long as the symbol is displayed and they stay to the Right as far as is reasonable.

Sounds like I have a good defense :) Now to keep a printed copy showing that the older law classifies this vehicle as slow moving, requires the triangle and slow moving vehicles are to be allowed onto most any public road as is reasonable so long as they stay to the right.

Thank You
Ryan

Even if you get a ticket from a cop, 30 in a 40 zone seems reasonable to me and probably to a judge. I'd bet it would be thrown out.

The law does not state you must adhere to the speed limit. The limit is a maximum. If you were going 10mph or lower I could see that as possibly unreasonably slow. If you were causing a traffic jam, that would be unreasonably slow. Harassment and threats of violence are a felony, you are within the law.

Keep on EV-ing and stand up for your rights.

Ignore the cretins. Some fine fellow in Mustang waved his hand at me in an unfriendly manner the other day because 20mph over the speed limit wasn't fast enough for him. Whaddyagonnado?

Before I moved from California, the community I lived in allowed the Chrysler GEM EVs on all city streets except for the 40 MPH and higher roads.