779.41 Mechanic's liens.

(1) Every mechanic and every keeper of a garage or shop, and every employer of a mechanic who transports, makes, alters, repairs or does any work on personal property at the request of the owner or legal possessor of the personal property, has a lien on the personal property for the just and reasonable charges therefor, including any parts, accessories, materials or supplies furnished in connection therewith and may retain possession of the personal property until the charges are paid. The lien provided by this section is subject to the lien of any security interest in the property which is perfected as provided by law prior to the commencement of the work for which a lien is claimed unless the work was done with the express consent of the holder of the security interest, but only for charges in excess of $1,500 except if the personal property is:

(a) A trailer or semitrailer designed for use with a road tractor, for charges in excess of $4,500.

(b) Road machinery, including mobile cranes and trench hoes, farm tractors, machines of husbandry, or off-highway construction vehicles and equipment, for charges in excess of $7,500.

(c) A motor vehicle not included under par. (a) or (b) with a manufacturer's gross weight rating, including, with respect to road tractors, a manufacturer's gross weight rating for the combined carrying capacity of the tractor and trailer, of:

1. More than 10,000 and less than 20,000 pounds, for charges in excess of $3,000.

2. 20,000 pounds or more but less than 40,000 pounds, for charges in excess of $6,000.

3. 40,000 pounds or more but less than 60,000 pounds, for charges in excess of $9,000.

4. 60,000 pounds or more, for charges in excess of $12,000.

(1m) Annually, on January 1, the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall adjust the dollar amounts identified under sub. (1) (intro.), (a), (b) and (c) 1. to 4. by the annual change in the consumer price index, as determined under s. 16.004 (8) (e) 1., and publish the adjusted figures.

NOTE: The department will publish the adjusted mechanic's lien limits in the December Wisconsin Administrative Register.

(1s)

(a) Subsection (1), as it applies to a mechanic, mechanic's employer or keeper of a garage or shop, applies to a boat mechanic, boat mechanic's employer, person who tows a boat or keeper of a marina or shop at which boats are repaired, except as follows:

1. The lien provided by this subsection is subject to the lien of any security interest in the boat that is perfected as provided by law prior to the commencement of the work for which the lien is claimed unless the work was done with the express consent of the holder of the security interest, but only for charges in excess of $1,200.

2. Within 30 days after the charges for the work become past due, the person claiming a lien under this subsection shall send written notice to the owner of the boat and the holder of the senior lien on the boat informing them that they must take steps to obtain the release of the boat. To reclaim the boat, the owner or the senior lienholder must pay all charges that have a priority over other security interests under this subsection and all reasonable storage charges on the boat that have accrued after 60 days from the date that the charges for the work became past due. A reasonable effort to notify the owner and the holder of the senior lien satisfies the notice requirement under this subdivision. Failure to make a reasonable effort to notify the owner and the senior lienholder renders void any lien to which the person may be entitled under this subsection.

(b) A lien under this subsection is in addition to any remedy available under ch. 780.

(2) Every keeper of a garage or repair shop who alters, repairs, or does any work on any detached accessory, fitting, or part of an automobile, a truck, a motorcycle, a moped, a motor bicycle or similar motor vehicle, a bicycle, an electric scooter, or an electric personal assistive mobility device, at the request of the owner or legal possessor thereof, shall have a lien upon and may retain possession of any such accessory, fitting, or part until the charges for such alteration, repairing, or other work have been paid. If the detached article becomes attached to such motor vehicle, bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device while in the possession of the keeper, the keeper has a lien on the motor vehicle, bicycle, electric scooter, or electric personal assistive mobility device under sub. (1).

(3) Insofar as the possessory right and lien of the person performing labor and services under this section are released, relinquished and lost by the removal of property upon which a lien has accrued, it is prima facie evidence of intent to defraud if upon the removal of such property, the person removing the property issues any check or other order for the payment of money in payment of the indebtedness secured by the lien, and thereafter stops payment on the check or order. This subsection does not apply when a check is stopped because the product is improperly repaired or improperly serviced and the product has been returned to the person performing the labor or services for proper repair or service.

History: 1971 c. 333; 1979 c. 32 s. 57; 1979 c. 176, 252; Stats. 1979 s. 779.41; 1983 a. 243; 1987 a. 399; 1995 a. 107, 331; 1997 a. 35; 2001 a. 90; 2019 a. 11.

Cross-reference: See s. 779.48 (2) for method of enforcing a mechanics' lien.

The lien of a garage keeper who did not obtain the consent of the lienholder to make the repairs was limited to the statutory amount, and the garage keeper could not claim more under a theory of unjust enrichment. Industrial Credit Co. v. Inland G. M. Diesel, 51 Wis. 2d 520, 187 N.W.2d 157 (1971).

Upon a conditional release of personal property by the lienor, the lien is enforceable against all parties except a bona fide purchaser for value or a subsequent levying creditor with no notice of the lien. M&I Western State Bank v. Wilson, 172 Wis. 2d 357, 493 N.W.2d 387 (Ct. App. 1992).

The legislature did not create a crime or invoke criminal penalties in enacting sub. (3), which renders stopping payment on a check used to pay for certain repairs to personal property “prima facie evidence of intent to defraud." This section could operate to establish prima facie evidence of only one of the elements of the crime of theft defined in s. 943.20 (1) (d). 63 Atty. Gen. 81.