Traffic Enforcement

The South Milwaukee Police Department utilizes the Three "E's" of traffic to promote a safe motoring community:

Education

          Education can consist of measures such as:

• Meetings and/or workshops with concerned citizens to explain how and why some speeding problems may be more perceived than real.

• Deployment of the speed trailer to inform motorists of their actual speed and remind them of the posted speed limit.

• Neighborhood speed watch program to identify neighborhood speeders and apply neighborhood pressure on them to slow down (Yard Sign Program)

• Neighborhood Newsletters, Web-Site, Government Access Channel, High School Newspapers, teaching parents how to properly install child restraint seats and programs like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers).
  

           Enforcement 

• Although viewed by the motoring public as a penalty, traffic enforcement is an educational tool designed to improve awareness of traffic laws. The Police Department receives traffic complaints on a regular basis. Enforcement areas are then assigned based on these complaints. Officers also take it upon themselves during their shift to enforce traffic laws while on patrol with random enforcement of areas with a low  and high volume of violators. 

  
  Engineering
  

• Patrol and Traffic Officers review areas for atypical circumstances and work with City, County and State engineers, to help identify problem areas to find solutions to make the roadways safer and more efficient. 
  

The purpose of this page is to offer information about various traffic issues in the city. We will be making updates on a regular basis. Our goal is to provide you with knowledge to help you be a well informed and safe driver. Please come back often.

Is this a legal turn?

No, not where it is being done!

This is a U-turn being done in the 900 block of Milwaukee Ave., a turn that is done quite often on many roads in the city. Roads where this turn can not be done. This is covered in Wisconsin State Statute 346.33, Where turns prohibited, exception. This statue states in part..."The operator of a vehicle shall not turn the vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon a highway at any of the following places: 

(b) In mid-block on any street in a business district, except where the highway is a divided highway and where the turn is made at an opening or crossover established by the authority in charge of the maintenance of the highway.

(c) In mid-block on any through highway in a residence district, except where the highway is a divided highway and where the turn is made at an opening or crossover established by the authority in charge of the maintenance of the highway.

What is a "Business District"? That definition can be found in Wisconsin State Statute 340.01(6)

And a Through Highway? A "Through highway" means every highway or portion thereof which has been declared by the state or local authorities pursuant to s. 349.07, and that can be found in the South Milwaukee Ordinances 12.30

One good rule to follow is that if there are solid double yellow lines, you CAN NOT make a U-Turn.

The penalty for a violation of 346.33 is $75.80 and 3 points.

Although this is a traffic tip for the City of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin State Statutes have been cited, so they would apply throughout the state as well.