This Is How Moving In Wisconsin Can Now Be Illegal

If you are moving, you know what real stress is.  Not even talking about finding the new place you are moving to, but the actual state of moving from one location to another.  If you are moving down the road or across the country, it's stressful.

A way to make it worse...by getting pulled over with all your stuff that you are just trying to move to the new home.  In Wisconsin, you can get pulled over in your car, truck, or van if you don't follow the rules of packing.

How Many People Moved To Wisconsin In 2024?

Unlike Wisconsin's neighbors to the south, where people are leaving, Illinois, Wisconsin has seen tremendous growth recently.

From July 2023 to June 2024, Wisconsin gained 22,146 residents through international migration.  Plus, there was a gain of 6,332 residents through domestic migration for a total net migration of 28,478 residents to Wisconsin.

With all these people needing moving boxes, they should know not to stack them that high in the car, or they could get pulled over.

You Can Get Pulled Over For Moving Boxes In Wisconsin

Can you see the road behind you in the rearview mirror?  Me neither.  Which is why this move was illegal.

Wisconsin's obstructed view law states, "No person shall drive a vehicle when it is so loaded or when there are in the front seat such number of persons, or any persons so situated, as to obstruct the view of the operator to the front or to the sides or as to interfere with the operator having free use of both hands and feet to the operating mechanisms or controls of the vehicle."

The "so loaded" part...would be the part to worry about here with all those boxes blocking your view.

But there's more.   "No person shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway so loaded or with any object so placed or suspended in or upon the vehicle so as to obstruct the driver’s clear vision through the rear window unless such vehicle is equipped with an outside rear view mirror meeting the requirements of s. 347.40"

Not pictured above is the stack of boxes that was not only in the backseat but also in the passenger seat, which was blocking that window as well.  Whoops.

How Much Will An Obstructed View Ticket Be In Wisconsin?

It's not going to break the bank...but again, do you really need to add to the stress of moving?

The fine for boxes obstructing your view won't be less than $20 nor more than $40 for the first offense, increasing to not less than $50 nor more than $100 for a subsequent conviction within a year.

Of course, they could add in reckless driving cause those boxes could be seen as a hazard. Hopefully, you weren't speeding, you don't have any unpaid tickets...you know what, just be safe and make a couple of trips when you are moving, and you don't block the windows.