347.43 Safety glass.

(1g) In this section, “safety glass" means glass so treated or combined with other materials as to reduce, in comparison with ordinary sheet glass or plate glass, the likelihood of injury to persons by objects from external sources or by such glass when it is struck, cracked or broken.

(1s) No person may operate upon a highway any motor vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1936, except a recreational vehicle other than a 5th-wheel recreational vehicle, unless the motor vehicle is equipped with safety glass wherever glass is used on the motor vehicle in partitions, doors, windows or windshields.

(2) No person may sell any new motor vehicle unless such vehicle is equipped with safety glass in accordance with the requirements of sub. (1s).

(4) If a common carrier or person operating under a permit or certificate issued by the department is convicted of operating a vehicle in violation of this section, the department may suspend or revoke the permit or certificate until such time as the vehicle has been equipped with safety glass as required by this section.

History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (9) (f); 1981 c. 347; 1985 a. 187; 1993 a. 16; 1999 a. 85; 2007 a. 60.

Sub. (1) [now sub. (1s)] requires that whenever broken glass is replaced in a vehicle it must be replaced with safety glass. Replacing glass with plastic violated this section, and an officer observing a vehicle with replacement plastic had probable cause to stop the vehicle for a violation of this section. State v. Longcore, 2001 WI App 15, 240 Wis. 2d 429, 623 N.W.2d 201, 00-1171.