Wisconsin Code § 86.196

Tourist-oriented directional signs
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(1) In this
section:
(a) “Tourist-oriented directional sign” means a sign providing
identification of and directional information for tourist-related
businesses, services or activities.
(b) “Tourist-related business, service or activity” means a
business, service or activity the major portion of whose income
or visitors is derived during the normal business season from motorists not residing in the immediate area where the business, service or activity is located.
(c) “Urban areas” means the areas located within the urban
area boundaries contained in the January 1, 1989, document prepared by the department in cooperation with the federal highway
administration and entitled “Urban Federal Aid Systems”.
(2) The department shall establish by rule standards for
tourist-oriented directional signs. The rule shall conform to federal standards for tourist-oriented directional signs adopted under
23 USC 131 (q) and with the manual of uniform traffic control
devices adopted by the department under s. 84.02 (4) (e) . The
rule shall include all of the following:
(a) Criteria for eligibility for signing.
(b) Criteria for limiting or excluding businesses, services and
activities that maintain signs that do not conform to requirements
under s. 84.30.
(c) Provisions for fees to cover costs of sign manufacture,
erection and maintenance to be collected through a permit
system.
(d) Provisions specifying sign design and composition.
(f) Criteria for determining when to permit advance signing.
(g) Criteria for determining when to permit signing for facilities that are not located on a crossroad of a highway upon which
tourist-oriented directional signs are permitted.
(h) Criteria for signing at at-grade intersections of
expressways.
(i) Provisions specifying conditions under which the time of
operation of a business, service or activity is shown.
(j) Provisions for covering or removing signs during off seasons for businesses, services and activities operated on a seasonal
basis.
(k) Provisions specifying the maximum number of signs permitted per intersection.
(L) Provisions for limiting the number of signs and for establishing information centers when the number of eligible sign applicants exceeds the maximum number of tourist-oriented directional signs permitted.
(m) Provisions to integrate specific information signs erected
under s. 86.195 with tourist-oriented directional signs erected under this section.
(3) Upon the request of any person, a local authority that has
adopted an ordinance permitting the erection of tourist-oriented
directional signs may authorize their erection within the right-ofway of any highway under the jurisdiction of the local authority,
except that tourist-oriented directional signs may be erected only
outside of urban areas and not within the right-of-way of a freeway or the right-of-way of any highway designated in s. 86.195
(2) (ag) for specific information signs. No tourist-oriented directional sign may be erected unless it is erected in compliance with
rules promulgated by the department for such signs.
(4) The department may contract for the erection, installation
and maintenance of tourist-oriented directional signs within the
right-of-way of any highway under the jurisdiction of the department, except that tourist-oriented directional signs may be
erected only outside of urban areas and not within the right-ofway of a freeway or the right-of-way of any highway designated in
s. 86.195 (2) (ag) for specific information signs. No tourist-oriented directional sign may be erected unless it is erected in compliance with rules promulgated by the department for such signs.
(5) A tourist-related business, service or activity may not be
located more than 5 miles from the highway on which the touristoriented directional sign for that business, service or activity is
erected.
(6) Notwithstanding any eligibility criteria established under
this section and rules promulgated under this section, the department shall install and maintain, on I 94 in Milwaukee County, 2
signs meeting the specifications under this section and rules promulgated under this section. One sign shall be viewable from the
northbound lanes of I 94 and shall be located between Rawson
Avenue and College Avenue. The other sign shall be viewable
from the eastbound lanes of I 94 and shall be located in the proximity of the Waukesha County line. Both signs shall highlight
lakefront attractions in the city of Milwaukee and shall include
information about the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Betty Brinn
Children’s Museum, Discovery World, Summerfest, and the Milwaukee County War Memorial.

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