195.04 Complaints, investigation, hearings, notice.

(1) Upon complaint of any person, including any state agency, water carrier, or railroad, either relating to a railroad as provided under s. 192.324, 192.34, 195.20, 195.28 (1), 195.285 (1), 195.29 (1), (5), or (6), 195.31, or 195.32 or that any water carrier rate, fare, charge, or classification or any regulation or practice whatever affecting the transportation of persons or property, or any service in connection therewith, is in any respect unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory or that any service is inadequate, the office may investigate the complaint and shall set the complaint for hearing. No order may be entered by the office without a public hearing, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(2) The office shall, prior to any hearing, notify the water carrier or railroad complained of that a complaint has been made, and 20 days after such notice has been given the office may proceed to set a time and place for a hearing.

(3) The office shall give the water carrier or railroad and the complainant 20 days' notice of the hearing and the matters to be considered and determined. Both the water carrier or railroad and the complainant shall be entitled to be heard and shall have process to enforce the attendance of witnesses.

(4) The notice provided for in subs. (2) and (3) may be combined but if combined the notice shall not be less than 20 days.

History: 1977 c. 29; 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (1); 1993 a. 16, 123; 2005 a. 179.