(1)    Operators waived.

      (a)    General. Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4) and notwithstanding s. 343.05 (2), operators of certain commercial motor vehicles specified in pars. (b) to (h) or any rule of the department promulgated under sub. (5) are not required to hold commercial driver licenses, if the operator holds a valid operator’s license not limited to “Class M” vehicles.

      (b)    Fire fighters. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle including, without limitation, fire trucks, hook and ladder trucks and foam or water transporters, is a person employed by a volunteer or paid fire organization and the person is operating emergency or fire fighting equipment necessary to the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency management functions and equipped with a siren and warning lamps as provided in ss. 347.25 (1) and 347.38 (4) and the operation is in the routine performance of other duties of the fire organization or in response to an emergency call under s. 346.03 or during the return from a fire or other emergency response.

      (c)    Farmers. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a farmer or a family member or employee of a farmer who is using the commercial motor vehicle to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or farm supplies, or a combination thereof to or from a farm and the commercial motor vehicle is controlled by a farmer and not used in the operations of a common motor carrier or contract motor carrier, as defined in s. 194.01 (1) and (2). If the operator of the commercial motor vehicle is transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding, the waiver under this paragraph applies only within 150 miles of a farm where the operator is a farmer or a family member or employee of a farmer. In this paragraph, “controlled” means leased or owned; and “farmer” and “leased” have the meanings given in s. 340.01 (18) (b).

      (d)    Recreational vehicle operators. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a person operating a motor home, or a vehicle towing a 5th-wheel recreational vehicle or single-unit recreational vehicle and the vehicle or combination, including both units of a combination towing vehicle and the 5th-wheel recreational vehicle or recreational vehicle, is both operated and controlled by the person and is transporting only members of the person’s family, guests or their personal property. This paragraph does not apply to any transportation for hire or the transportation of any property connected to a commercial activity. In this paragraph, “controlled” means leased or owned.

      (e)    Law enforcement officers. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a law enforcement officer who is operating an authorized emergency vehicle that is necessary to the preservation of life or property or the execution of emergency governmental functions and that is equipped with warning lamps and a siren as provided in ss. 347.25 and 347.38 (4).

      (h)    Rescue squad members. The operator of the commercial motor vehicle is a member of a legally organized rescue squad. This paragraph applies only to the operation of authorized emergency vehicles.

   (2)   Disqualifications not applicable. Notwithstanding s. 343.44, a person disqualified under s. 343.315 may operate a commercial motor vehicle as described in this section if the person holds a valid operator’s license issued to the person authorizing the operation of “Class D” vehicles.

   (3)   Vehicles transporting hazardous materials, carrying passengers or towing double or triple trailers not waived. Nothing in this section authorizes the operation of a combination vehicle with double or triple trailers, a vehicle transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding except as provided in sub. (1) (c), a vehicle transporting any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73, or a vehicle carrying or designed to transport the driver and 15 or more persons, by a person who does not hold a valid operator’s license properly endorsed to permit such operation.

   (4)   Effect of waivers. The waivers under this section shall apply to the extent permitted under federal law and shall exempt a person only from the requirement in s. 343.05 (2) to hold a commercial driver license to operate a commercial motor vehicle upon a highway in this state. A commercial motor vehicle operated under this waiver remains a commercial motor vehicle.

   (5)   Rules. As soon as possible after the federal commercial motor vehicle safety act, 49 U.S. Code § 31301 to 31317, or the regulations adopted under that act permit any commercial driver license waiver, the department shall promulgate rules governing eligibility for the waiver. This subsection applies to waivers not permitted by federal law on May 12, 1992.