Authority and enforcement discretion

Authority and enforcement discretion. (1) Authority. The department has statutory authority and responsibility to enforce the size, weight and load requirements of ch. 348 , Stats. The provisions of ss. 84.01 (21) and 110.07 (1) (a) 3. , Stats., and of ch. 348 , Stats., provide this authority. To implement its enforcement responsibilities, the department may require the operator of any vehicle being operated on a Wisconsin highway to stop at a weigh station and have the vehicle and its load weighed, measured or inspected. (2) Enforcement discretion. Because of time, personnel and resource limitations, the department cannot weigh, measure or inspect all vehicles at weigh stations as a matter of regular course. Department experience shows that trucks having a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less often are used for personal transportation and not for property transportation. For this reason, the department chooses not to require operators of trucks having a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less to stop at open weigh stations unless directed to do so by a traffic officer.