344.579 Violations.
(1) Penalties. Whoever violates s. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) or (3) (a) or (b), 344.577 or 344.578 may be required to forfeit not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each violation.
(2) Enforcement. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall investigate violations of ss. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) and (3) (a) and (b), 344.577 and 344.578. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may on behalf of the state:
(a) Bring an action for temporary or permanent injunctive or other relief in any court of competent jurisdiction for any violation of s. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) or (3) (a) or (b), 344.577 or 344.578. The court may, upon entry of final judgment, award restitution when appropriate to any person suffering loss because of a violation of s. 344.574, 344.576 (1), (2) or (3) (a) or (b), 344.577 or 344.578 if proof of such loss is submitted to the satisfaction of the court.
(b) Bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for the recovery of forfeitures authorized under sub. (1).
(3) Defense. Proof by a rental company that the rental company began an action to impose liability upon a renter or authorized driver, even though the renter had purchased a damage waiver sold under s. 344.576, because of a good-faith mistake that an exception under s. 344.576 (2) (a) to (k) applied is a defense to a prosecution for a violation of the terms of the damage waiver under s. 344.576 (2).
History: 1989 a. 328; 1995 a. 27; 2005 a. 173.