78.11 Bond.

(1) Amount.

(a) To protect the revenues of this state, the department may require any person liable to the department for the tax imposed by this subchapter to place with it, either before or after a license under s. 78.09 is issued, security in the amount which the department determines. The amount of security required may be increased or decreased as the department deems necessary, but shall not exceed 3 times the licensee's average monthly liability for taxes under this subchapter, as estimated by the department. If any applicant or licensee fails or refuses to place such security, the department may refuse to issue or may revoke the license. If any taxpayer is delinquent in the payment of taxes imposed by this subchapter, the department may, upon 10 days' notice, recover the taxes, interest, penalties, costs and disbursements from the taxpayer's security placed with the department. No interest shall be paid or allowed by the state to any person for the deposit of the security.

(b) The security required by this subsection may be in the form of a surety bond furnished to the department payable to the state to secure payment of any motor vehicle fuel taxes, interest and penalties accrued under this subchapter, together with the costs and disbursements incurred in the collection thereof. The department shall prescribe the form and contents of the bond.

(2) Release of surety. The surety upon a bond required under sub. (1) may elect to conditionally cancel the bond at any time by filing with the licensee and the department written notice of such conditional cancellation. The surety so filing shall not be discharged from any liability already accrued or which may accrue under the bond before the expiration of 60 days after the filing of said notice. If the licensee does not within 60 days after receiving such notice file a new bond satisfactory to the department with the department, the licensee's license shall be automatically revoked. If a new bond is furnished by a licensee, the department shall cancel and surrender the old bond of the licensee as soon as it is satisfied that all liability under the old bond has been fully discharged.

(3) Additional bond; when required. If liability upon the bond filed by any licensee is discharged or reduced by judgment rendered, payment made or otherwise, or if in the opinion of the department, the bond of any licensee has become insufficient by the subsequent insolvency, death or removal of the sureties or any of them, or if for any cause any such bond is deemed insufficient as to sureties or amount, the department shall require any such licensee to give and file additional surety or new bonds in the same manner and form and with sureties satisfactory to the department. If any such licensee fails to file such additional bond within 5 days after written notice from the department, then that licensee's license shall be automatically revoked.

(4) Liability on bond continues. The validity of any bond shall not be affected by the suspension, revocation or cancellation of any license under s. 78.09 or by partial recovery upon the bond or by the execution of any new bond.

History: 1973 c. 90; 1991 a. 316; 1993 a. 16.