Section 102.16. Operator's license and license endorsement issuance periods.

 

(1)   Original, reinstated and probationary licenses . Reinstated licenses, probationary licenses, and original licenses other than instruction permits and license endorsements shall expire 2 years from the licensed person's next birthday, or on the date that the person's legal presence in the United States is no longer authorized, whichever occurs sooner. If the expiration date of a person's probationary license is the date the person's legal presence in the United States is no longer authorized, and the person's legal presence is extended, the department may reissue the probationary license with an expiration date of the latest date determined under this section at the time of initial issuance or the date that the person's legal presence in the United States is no longer authorized, whichever occurs sooner. The department may not, as a consequence of expiration dates based on the person's legal presence in the United States, require any person to possess a probationary license beyond the latest date determined under this section at the time of initial issuance.

(2)   Eyesight tests. The eyesight test shall be given to each person who applies for renewal of a 2, 4 or 8 year license at the time application is made.

(3)   Renewed regular, commercial driver and motor-cycle only licenses. Regular, commercial and motorcycle only licenses shall expire 8 years from the expiration date of the license being renewed if the license is renewed prior to its expiration, or 7 years from the person's next birthday in all other circumstances, except as otherwise provided in this section.

(3m)   License extensions. A regular license issued by the department may be extended by the department for 4 years from the expiration date of the license if the department has selected the license for 4 year extension rather than renewal in order to balance the number of licenses that will expire in future years. The department may not extend an expiration date under this subsection beyond the date that the person's presence in the United States is legally authorized. The department may consider a person's driving history in deciding whether to extend the person's license. Vision examinations may not be required for extensions.

(4)   License renewal. No person may renew:

(a) An operator's license more than one year prior to the expiration date of the license.

(b) A probationary license or special restricted license more than 90 days prior to the expiration date of the license.

(5)   New state residents. Original operator's licenses issued under s. 343.20 (1) (e) , Stats., shall expire 3 years after the licensed person's next birthday or on the date that the person's legal presence in the United States is no longer authorized or on the following date, whichever occurs sooner.

(6)   Special restricted licenses . Special restricted license renewals expire on the date that the person's legal presence in the United States is no longer authorized or on the following date, whichever occurs sooner:

(7)   Endorsements expire with licenses . All endorsements on an operator's license shall expire on the same date the operator's license expires or is withdrawn.

(8)   Expiration date does not change with changes in authority . The expiration date of a valid license document shall remain the same when subsequent upgrades to classifications or endorsements are applied to the license, except that if the date that the person's legal presence in the United States is no longer authorized occurs sooner, the expiration date shall become the date that the person's legal presence in the United States is no longer authorized.

History: Cr. Register, January, 1984, No. 337 , eff. 2-1-84; r. and recr. Register, December, 1990, No. 420 , eff. 1-1-91; am. (3) (b), Register, September, 1992, No. 441 , eff. 10-1-92; am. (2), (5), r. and recr. (3), cr. (3m), Register, December, 1999, No. 528 , eff. 1-1-00; CR 06-082 : am. (1) (3m), (5), (6) and (8) Register December 2006 No. 612 , eff. 4-1-07.

Note

See s. 343.20 (1) (a) , Stats. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 See s. 343.16 (3) (a) , Stats. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Section 343.20 (1) (f) , Stats., provides that this extension program sunsets on December 31, 2001. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Section 343.20 , Stats., provides for licensing of qualified drivers previously licensed in other jurisdictions. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Expiration of restricted licenses is provided for in s. 343.08 (2) (a) , Stats. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1