Don't walk your animal down the highway from a car
Quote checked October 14, 2026Text match only; current legal status and enforcement not verified.
What the law says
“No person shall lead any animal upon a highway from a motor vehicle or from a trailer or semitrailer drawn by a motor vehicle.”
Penalty
This section doesn't print a penalty of its own. Other parts of the Wisconsin Statutes may set one; we haven't looked them up, so we don't state one here.
History note
“History: 1973 c. 314; 1987 a. 332 s. 54; Stats. 1987 s. 951.04.”
The earliest year in this note is 1973. That's the earliest year the note prints. It doesn't establish when this wording was enacted, took effect or first appeared.
In plain English
Our reading
Leading an animal along a Wisconsin highway from a motor vehicle, or from a trailer or semitrailer pulled by one, isn't allowed. The section says any animal, without listing kinds.
Written by Silly Rules from the quoted text above. It's a plain reading, not legal advice. We haven't researched how courts read this section or how often anyone enforces it.
Code
Wisconsin Statutes
Section
Wis. Stat. 951.04, “Leading animal from motor vehicle”
“A person commits the simple misdemeanor offense of stowing away when, without lawful authority or the consent of a railway corporation, the person does either of the following:”
“Any person who shall wilfully and maliciously or wantonly, and without authority unhitch any horse or team belonging to another, and lawfully hitched or standing in any street, alley or other place, or who in like manner shall …”
“It shall be unlawful for any railroad company operating its road in this state to bring or cause to be brought into this state from an adjoining state any empty car used for transporting hogs or sheep, or any empty combination car …”
“A person commits the offense of carrying a dog on the external part of a vehicle if the person carries a dog upon the hood, fender, running board or other external part of any automobile or truck that is upon a highway unless the …”
“Wildlife, except protected birds, elk, spotted fawn and bear cubs, killed or mortally wounded as a result of being accidentally or inadvertently struck by a motor vehicle may be lawfully possessed if the possessor of the wildlife …”
“The serving of colored oleomargarine or margarine at a public eating place as a substitute for table butter is prohibited unless it is ordered by the customer.”
“Every person, firm or corporation operating a telegraph line or lines in this state shall, without extra charge therefor, cause to be written, stamped or printed in a conspicuous place upon the addressee's copy of each telegram …”
Every quote on this site was matched against its official page on October 14, 2026. Text match only; current legal status and enforcement not verified.