WI AB203

Manufacturers, distributors, sellers, installers, and owners of traffic control devices are shielded from liability for damages if the device complies with DOT's traffic control devices manual specifications and operates as intended.

Liability protection covers claims for personal injury, property damage, negligence, strict liability, and breach of warranty arising from traffic control device use.

Claimants can overcome the liability shield by proving with clear and convincing evidence that the device did not comply with manual specifications or did not operate as intended at the time damages occurred.

Creates a rebuttable presumption of compliance if the defendant demonstrates the device was designed, manufactured, distributed, and installed per applicable standards, and any deviations were authorized in writing by DOT or local authorities.

Traffic control devices include signs, signals, markings, and channelizing devices used to communicate regulatory, warning, or guidance messages on highways, bicycle ways, sidewalks, and pedestrian ways.