Purpose and definitions

Purpose and definitions. (1) The purpose of this chapter is to administratively interpret those portions of chs. 343 to 349 , Stats., relating to establishing a traffic violation demerit point system, and to administratively interpret provisions of the statutes related to the revocation and suspension of a person’s operating privilege. (2) The words and phrases defined in ss. 340.01 and 343.01 , Stats., have the same meaning in this chapter, except as provided in sub. (3) . (3) In this chapter: (a) “Federal traffic law” means any federal law that is in strict conformity with a state traffic law. (b) “Point case” or “demerit point case” means a suspension of operating privileges imposed upon an individual under s. 343.32 (2) , Stats., and this chapter, as the result of the accumulation of demerit points. A conviction shall be considered part of a point case if the demerit points assessed for the conviction are used as part of the total in determining whether to suspend a person’s operating privilege for accumulation of demerit points. (c) “Released,” when used with reference to a point case, means that the department has vacated a demerit point suspension affecting a driver due to the appeal, vacation, reversal, or amendment of a conviction that results in the driver not being subject to a suspension for accumulation of demerit points. (d) “State traffic law” means any law under ch. 194 , chs. 340 to 348 and ch. 351 , Stats., in which the movement or operation of a motor vehicle is an element of the offense. (e) “Tribal traffic law” means a law enacted by a federally-recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state that strictly conforms to a provision in chs. 341 to 348 , Stats.