TOMAH
POLICE DEPARTMENT"Serving the Community"
OFFICE: 608-374-7400
EMERGENCY: DIAL 911
Helpful Information
8/18/16: New Law - Effective August 16, 2016
Under a new state regulation, school buses in
Wisconsin built after January 1, 2005 must have amber lights to
alert drivers that the bus is about to activate its flashing red
warning lights while coming to a stop. The new regulation goes
into effect on August 16, 2016.
“Flashing amber lights are a signal that the school bus is
preparing to stop, so drivers need to slow down, pay attention
and proceed carefully. Drivers are allowed to pass a moving bus
with flashing amber lights, but they should do so cautiously,”
says State Patrol Lieutenant Karl Mittelstadt. “However, once
the bus displays flashing red warning lights, drivers both in
front of and behind the bus must stop at least 20 feet from the
bus and remain stopped until the red lights are turned off or
the bus resumes travel. Drivers must stop even if the red
stop-sign arm on the side of the bus is not extended.”
Stopping for red flashing lights on buses has been a state law
for decades. Violating the law results in a minimum fine of
$326.50 and four demerit points. The law does not apply to
vehicles traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus on
a divided highway separated by a median or other physical
barrier. However, the law does apply if there is no median or
barrier on a multiple-lane road.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
school buses are the safest form of transportation for students
going to and from school and extra-curricular activities.
“With amber lights as a cautionary signal, school buses will be
even safer for transporting children,” Mittelstadt said.
PDF Link to WI DOT Brochure
BEGINNING NOVEMBER 1, 2016
Night restricted parking. After the hour of 2:00 a.m. and before 6:00 a.m., motor vehicles or any other type of vehicle shall be parked on even-numbered calendar dates on the side of the street where the dwellings are even-numbered and on days having odd-numbered calendar dates on the side of the street having odd-numbered dwellings. This provision shall be effective between November 1 and April 1 following each year. The effective calendar date shall be determined as of the date at 2:00 a.m. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all streets in the city except as otherwise specified herein.
Move Over Law: Drivers must provide a safety zone for stopped law enforcement and other emergency vehicles
During winter months, law enforcement officers, tow truck operators and emergency responders often must battle the elements while rescuing motorists and removing vehicles that have slid off icy roads or crashed. Although functioning in frigid conditions can be hazardous, the greatest danger to these workers is being hit by vehicles traveling at high speeds just a few feet away.
To create a safety zone for workers on the side of highways, Wisconsin’s Move Over Law requires drivers to shift lanes if possible or at least slow down when encountering a law enforcement vehicle, ambulance, fire truck, tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle that is stopped on the side of a road with its warning lights flashing.
“On interstate highways and other divided roads with multiple directional lanes, you must move over to vacate the lane closest to the law enforcement or other emergency vehicle if you can safely switch lanes,” says State Patrol Superintendent Stephen Fitzgerald. “If the road has a single directional lane or you can’t safely move over because of traffic, you must reduce your speed until safely past the vehicle.”
A citation for a Move Over Law violation costs $263.50 with three demerit points added to your license. But the greatest danger of a violation is not an expensive fine. In 2013, passing vehicles hit 10 State Patrol vehicles parked on the side of a roadway. In four of those crashes, the officers were inside their vehicles. There were many more near misses of officers. A recent dash cam video from a State Patrol cruiser shows a Move Over Law violation that came shockingly close to seriously injuring a trooper during a traffic stop. The video is available on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s You Tube channel. (youtube.com/wisdot)
“Law enforcement officers are well trained and equipped to protect themselves. But they are at serious risk of being hit by passing vehicles nearly every time they stop or assist a motorist. Failure of drivers to create a safety zone by moving over or slowing down is one of the major reasons that motor vehicle crashes kill more law enforcement officers on duty than any other cause. Tow truck operators, highway maintenance workers and emergency responders also are killed and injured when drivers don’t move over or slow down,” says Superintendent Fitzgerald “By obeying the Move Over Law, drivers can protect themselves, their passengers, our officers and others who work on highways from serious injuries and deaths.”
346.072 Passing stopped emergency or roadside service vehicles.
10-12-13:
The Tomah Police Department will be working to educate the citizens of our great community on different ordinances. As of late, we have focused on buildings within the City of Tomah that don't have building numbers ...displayed as described in the ordinance below. If contact is not made with the property owner a warning/notice will be placed in a mailbox or other conspicuous location. Whether contact is made or not a warning will be issued for tracking purposes and enforcement action, if necessary. The property owner will have 15 days to correct the violation. If a property owner needs additional time they need to contact the Tomah Police Department.
Please go to www.tomahonline.com and at the top of the page there is a link for ‘MUNICIPAL CODE.' This is a very handy tool to quickly locate ordinances concerning the City of Tomah. Enter a key word into the search bar and you’ll get results that should allow you to quickly locate the desired information.
I will be overseeing this project and any questions or concerns can be directed to me at 608-374-7512 or by email at epedersen@tomahpolice.com. Let’s all work together to make this community better than it already is. We thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
(a) Generally. All buildings in the city shall be assigned a building number by the public works department. The assigned number shall be displayed on the front of the building. The assigned number shall be displayed in contrasting colors. The number shall be four inches or larger.
(b) Commercial buildings. Any commercial building with a public entrance fronting an alley shall display the building number at that location. The number shall be four inches or larger.
Respectfully,
Sergeant Eric Pedersen
MARCH 23, 2013
CELL PHONE LAW FOR PROBATIONARY DRIVERS
FEBRUARY 2, 2012
Car Seat Recommendations for
Children
(PDF FILE)
JANUARY 25, 2011
The Tomah Police Department has a permanent medication drop box located in the Police Department lobby. During normal business hours medications can be dropped off in the lobby of the Police Department, no questions asked and free of charge.
NOVEMBER 1, 2011
Night restricted parking. After the hour of 2:00 a.m. and before 6:00 a.m., motor vehicles or any other type of vehicle shall be parked on even-numbered calendar dates on the side of the street where the dwellings are even-numbered and on days having odd-numbered calendar dates on the side of the street having odd-numbered dwellings. This provision shall be effective between November 1 and April 1 following each year. The effective calendar date shall be determined as of the date at 2:00 a.m. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to all streets in the city except as otherwise specified herein.
AUGUST 18, 2011
WISCONSIN’S NEW CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON LAW
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(For Civilians)
POSTED: AUGUST 10, 2011
NEW FINGER PRINTING FEES
The Tomah City Council has approved a fee for fingerprinting. The fee will be $10.00 for City of Tomah residents and $15.00 for non City of Tomah residents. The person must have photo identification to show residency. The money (cash only) will be collected and a receipt shall be provided. The times previously established for fingerprinting will remain in effect. Those times are Tuesdays and Fridays from 8a to 9a and 3p to 4p. An Officer may be available for fingerprinting outside of this time frame as time permits.
POSTED: JULY 9, 2011
FIREARMS RECORDS
Each year, thousands of firearms are reported lost or stolen. The owners’ ability to adequately identify these firearms is central to law enforcement’s ability to investigate these crimes and losses. Insurance claims and reacquisition of recovered firearms will also hinge on the ability to correctly identify these firearms. By completing this record and maintaining it in a safe location, separate from your firearms, you will be taking an important first step in the effort to prevent thefts and to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.
HERE IS THE PERSONAL FIREARMS RECORD FORM
POSTED: JULY 5, 2010
Indoor Public Smoking Ban Went Into Effect !!
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
JULY 1, 2010
New Wisconsin OWI Laws Changed
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
JUNE 16, 2010
TO SUBMITT AN ORDINANCE VIOLATION
CLICK HERE
ARPIL 5, 2010
REMEMBER TO SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE SAFE IN SCHOOL ZONES !
July 3, 2009
July 2, 2009
Wisconsin
adopts primary safety belt enforcement to save lives and prevent
injuries
Law enforcement officers in Wisconsin may now stop and ticket drivers and passengers who are not wearing safety belts even if the officers do not observe another traffic or vehicle equipment violation. The state budget, signed recently by Governor Jim Doyle, strengthens Wisconsin’s mandatory safety belt law by adopting what is known as primary enforcement.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE FROM WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
TOMAH DRUG TIP LINE: (608)374-7510
The Tomah Police Department
has created a "Drug
Tip Line"
as a means
for citizens to provide information anonymously regarding the
possession or sale of
illegal drugs in
or around the City of Tomah. Drugs include
prescription narcotics, marijuana, cocaine, or any other illegal
drug. The caller may remain
anonymous if they wish. Anyone with information is to call the
number provided an leave a detailed voicemail. The voicemail will be
maintained by the Tomah Police Department Investigator, who will be
conducting an appropriate investigation into the matter.
TOMAH DRUG TIP LINE: (608)374-7510
Link to Monroe County Resource Guide
Includes phone numbers and contact information to resources in Monroe County.
INFORMATION ON JUNK VEHICLES
Link includes information as it related to Junk Vehicles within the City of Tomah
GENERAL PARKING
- State law requires that vehicles have disabled/vet plates or a state decal before using handicap parking.
- No vehicle can be left unattended with the keys in it on any public street or any parking lot.
- If your vehicle becomes disabled, it must be removed from the roadway as soon as possible. Also, please notify the Police Department.
NEW
CHILD SEAT / BOOSTER SEAT
LAWS / QUESTIONS & ANSWERS -
FACT SHEET