summary
Introduced
04/15/2025
04/15/2025
In Committee
09/19/2025
09/19/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Current law provides that a police vehicle may be equipped with flashing, oscillating, or rotating blue and red lights. On a marked police vehicle, the blue light must be mounted on the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light must be mounted on the driver side of the vehicle. This bill provides that, on a marked police vehicle with an exterior light bar, the blue light must be mounted on the roof of the passenger side of the vehicle and the red light must be mounted on the roof of the driver side of the vehicle. For lights mounted inside the vehicle, blue lights must be displayed on the interior of the passenger side of the vehicle and red lights must be displayed on the interior of the driver side of the vehicle. The bill also authorizes the use of a combination of blue and red lights mounted on the front, sides, or rear of a police vehicle if the vehicle is already equipped with roof or interior lights as required by the bill.
AI Summary
This bill modifies the existing law regarding lighting requirements for police vehicles by specifying more precise mounting locations for blue and red lights on marked police vehicles. For marked police vehicles with an exterior light bar, the blue light must now be mounted on the roof of the passenger side of the vehicle, and the red light must be mounted on the roof of the driver side of the vehicle. Additionally, when lights are mounted inside the vehicle, blue lights must be displayed on the interior of the passenger side, and red lights must be displayed on the interior of the driver side. The bill also authorizes police vehicles that already have the required roof or interior lights to use a combination of additional blue and red lights on the front, sides, or rear of the vehicle in any configuration. These changes aim to standardize and improve the visibility and positioning of emergency vehicle lights, ensuring they remain plainly visible from 500 feet during both daylight and nighttime conditions. The bill maintains existing restrictions on when these warning lights can be used, such as during emergency responses, pursuits, fire alarms, or when parked in hazardous highway positions.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (15)
Elijah Behnke (R)*,
Calvin Callahan (R)*,
Barbara Dittrich (R)*,
Robert Donovan (R)*,
Joy Goeben (R)*,
Brent Jacobson (R)*,
Dan Knodl (R)*,
Jeff Mursau (R)*,
Jerry O'Connor (R)*,
William Penterman (R)*,
Jim Piwowarczyk (R)*,
Treig Pronschinske (R)*,
Dan Feyen (R),
Steve Nass (R),
Van Wanggaard (R),
Last Action
Representative Billings added as a coauthor (on 03/10/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab179 |
| AB179 ROCP for Committee on Transportation | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/assembly/transportation/1934513.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/AB179.pdf |
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