345.11(1u)
(1u) The uniform traffic citation may be used by an officer of a law enforcement agency of a municipality or county or a traffic officer employed under
s. 110.07 for a violation of
s. 287.81.
345.11(2)
(2) The uniform traffic citation shall be on a form or in an automated format recommended by the council on uniformity of traffic citations and complaints and shall consist of a court report, a report of conviction for the department, a police record and report of action on the case and a traffic citation. The form or automated format shall provide for the name, address, birth date, operator's license number of the alleged violator if known, the license number of the vehicle, the offense alleged, the time and place of the offense, the section of the statute or ordinance violated, the amount of deposit or bail for the offense, a designation of the offense in such manner as can be readily understood by a person making a reasonable effort to do so, and any other information as may be pertinent to the offense.
345.11(2m)
(2m) In addition, the uniform traffic citation shall include all of the following:
345.11(2m)(a)
(a) A full description of the class and type of vehicle, as provided in
s. 343.04, including each special operating characteristic under
s. 343.04 (2) that requires an endorsement.
345.11(2m)(b)
(b) Whether the vehicle was transporting hazardous materials.
345.11(2m)(c)
(c) Whether the operator holds a commercial driver license regardless of the type or class of vehicle used at the time of the alleged offense.
345.11(2m)(d)
(d) Whether any specific waiver provision in
s. 343.055 may apply to operation of the vehicle at the time of the alleged offense.
345.11(4)
(4) Upon recommendation of a form or automated format for the uniform traffic citation by the council on uniformity of traffic citations and complaints, the secretary shall under
s. 85.16 (1) promulgate the form or automated format as an administrative rule, and with the advice of the council shall make any other rules as are necessary for the implementation and operation of this section.
345.11(5)
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of the statutes, the use of the uniform traffic citation promulgated under
sub. (4) by any peace officer in connection with the enforcement of any state traffic laws, any local traffic ordinances in strict conformity with the state traffic laws or
s. 218.01 (2) (a) or
218.205 (1) shall be deemed adequate process to give the appropriate court jurisdiction over the person upon the filing with or transmitting to the court of the uniform traffic citation.
345.11(6)
(6) The secretary shall cause to be printed and sold to all law enforcement agencies in this state with authority to enforce state traffic laws or local laws adopted under authority of
s. 349.06 serially numbered uniform traffic citations or provide a sequence of assigned numbers for uniform traffic citations in an automated format.
345.11(7)
(7) Each law enforcement agency issuing uniform traffic citations shall be responsible for the disposition of all citations issued under its authority, and all law enforcement agencies shall prepare and submit records and reports relating to the uniform traffic citations in the manner and at the time prescribed by the secretary.
345.11(8)
(8) Any person who, with criminal intent, solicits or aids in the disposition or attempted disposition of a uniform traffic citation in any unauthorized manner is in contempt of the court having original jurisdiction of the cause of action.
345.11 History
History: 1971 c. 164 s.
81;
1971 c. 277;
1973 c. 218;
1975 c. 41;
1977 c. 29 ss.
1468,
1654 (7) (a), (c);
1977 c. 273;
1979 c. 34,
257;
1985 a. 29,
36,
145,
309;
1989 a. 31,
105,
170,
335;
1993 a. 436,
437;
1995 a. 227;
1997 a. 120.
345.11 Annotation
If uniform traffic citation and complaint is used in criminal cases, it must satisfy the 5 requirements of stating probable cause. State v. White, 97 W (2d) 193, 295 NW (2d) 346 (1980).
345.11 Annotation
Where state used traffic citation to initiate legal proceedings and subsequently decided to prosecute action as crime, trial court erred in not giving defendant 10 days from date of amended charge to object to sufficiency of complaint. State v. Mudgett, 99 W (2d) 525, 299 NW (2d) 621 (Ct. App. 1980).
345.11 Annotation
Uniform traffic citation is not "complaint" under 968.02 (3). State v. Folk, 117 W (2d) 42, 342 NW (2d) 761 (Ct. App. 1983).
345.11 Annotation
In general, sheriff, traffic officer or policeman who issues a uniform traffic citation where no warrant has been issued is not entitled to service or mileage fees for delivering citation. 63 Atty. Gen. 99.
345.17
345.17
Penalty for false statements. Unless another civil or criminal penalty is expressly prescribed by law, any person making a false statement to the department or secretary of said department on which such department or the secretary relies in performing an act, issuing a duplicate title, license or operating privilege, or administering any law which the department or secretary is required by law to administer or perform, shall, on the first offense be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $100; and, on the 2nd and each subsequent offense not less than $100 nor more than $500.
345.18
345.18
Sentencing of juveniles. A person under the age of 18 years shall be present at the imposition of sentence in cases for violation of
chs. 341 to
348 and
351 or ordinances enacted in conformity therewith under
ch. 349. This section does not apply to parking violations or to cases where a stipulation of guilt or no contest has been accepted for a violation of a local ordinance. A court may waive the requirement of personal appearance under this section in cases of exceptional hardship.
345.18 History
History: 1979 c. 110 s.
60 (6);
1979 c. 333 s.
5.
345.20
345.20
General provisions in traffic forfeiture actions. 345.20(1)(b)
(b) "Traffic regulation" means a provision of
chs. 194 or
341 to
349 for which the penalty for violation is a forfeiture or an ordinance enacted in accordance with
s. 349.06. Except as otherwise specifically provided, "traffic regulation" does not include a nonmoving traffic violation as defined in
s. 345.28 (1).
345.20(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), the apprehension of alleged violators of traffic regulations and the trial of forfeiture actions for the violation of traffic regulations shall be governed by
ss. 345.21 to
345.53. Where no specific procedure is provided in
ss. 345.21 to
345.53,
ch. 799 shall apply to such actions in circuit court.
345.20(2)(b)
(b) The trial of forfeiture actions in municipal court for the violation of traffic regulations shall be governed by
ch. 800. Provisions relating to the uniform traffic citation in
s. 345.11, to arrests in
ss. 345.21 to
345.24, to deposits and pleas of no contest under
s. 345.26, to the authority of the court under
ss. 345.37,
345.47,
345.48 and
345.50 and to guaranteed arrest bonds under
s. 345.61 apply to violations of ordinances to be tried in municipal court.
345.20(2)(d)
(d) A nonmoving traffic violation is governed by
s. 345.28. The trial of forfeiture actions for nonmoving traffic violations is governed by
ss. 345.28 and
345.34 to
345.47. Where no specific procedure is provided in
ss. 345.28 or
345.34 to
345.47,
ch. 799 applies to actions in circuit court and
ch. 800 applies to actions in municipal court.
345.20(2)(f)
(f) Sections 23.50 to
23.85 apply to actions in circuit court to recover forfeitures and weapons assessments for violations of
s. 167.31 (2) (b),
(c) or
(d). No points may be assessed against the driving record of a person convicted of a violation of
s. 167.31 (2) (b),
(c) or
(d). The report of conviction shall be forwarded to the department.
345.20(2)(g)
(g) Sections 23.50 to
23.85 apply to actions in circuit court to recover forfeitures for violations of
s. 287.81. No points may be assessed against the driving record of a person convicted of a violation of
s. 287.81. The report of conviction and abstract of court record copy of the citation form shall be forwarded to the department.
345.20 Annotation
Wisconsin's uniform traffic court procedure. Hough, 1972 WBB No. 4.
345.21
345.21
Authority to arrest with a warrant. 345.21(1)
(1) A person may be arrested for the violation of a traffic regulation with a warrant that substantially complies with
ch. 968. Except as provided in
sub. (2), the person arrested shall be brought without unreasonable delay before a court having jurisdiction to try the action or a judge.
345.21(2)
(2) In traffic regulation actions, the judge or municipal judge who issues a warrant under
sub. (1) may indorse upon the warrant the amount of the deposit. If no indorsement is made the deposit schedule under
s. 345.26 (2) shall apply unless the court directs that the person be brought before the court.
345.22
345.22
Authority to arrest without a warrant. A person may be arrested without a warrant for the violation of a traffic regulation if the traffic officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is violating or has violated a traffic regulation.
345.22 History
History: 1971 c. 278.
345.22 Annotation
See note to 968.07, citing 61 Atty. Gen. 419.
345.23
345.23
Officer's action after arrest without a warrant. If a person is arrested without a warrant for the violation of a traffic regulation, the arresting officer shall issue a citation under
s. 345.11, and in addition:
345.23(2)
(2) Shall release the person when he or she:
345.23(2)(c)
(c) Deposits the person's valid Wisconsin operator's license with the officer. If the license is deposited with the officer, the officer shall issue to the licensee a receipt which shall be valid as a driver's license through the date specified on the receipt, which shall be the same as the court appearance date, and the officer shall, at the earliest possible time prior to the court appearance date, deposit the license with the court.
345.23(3)
(3) Shall, if the alleged violator is not released under
sub. (1) or
(2), bring him or her without unreasonable delay before a judge or, for ordinance violations, before a municipal judge in the county in which the violation was alleged to have been committed.
345.23(4)
(4) Shall, if the alleged violator is released under
sub. (1) or
(2), specify on the citation a return date which may not be more than 90 days after the issue date.
345.24
345.24
Officer's action after arrest for driving under influence of intoxicant. 345.24(1)
(1) A person arrested under
s. 346.63 (1) or
(5) or an ordinance in conformity therewith or
s. 346.63 (2) or
(6) or
940.25, or
s. 940.09 where the offense involved the use of a vehicle, may not be released until 12 hours have elapsed from the time of his or her arrest or unless a chemical test administered under
s. 343.305 shows that the person has an alcohol concentration of less than 0.04, but the person may be released to his or her attorney, spouse, relative or other responsible adult at any time after arrest.
345.24(2)
(2) If the person was issued an out-of-service order under
s. 343.305 (7) (b), the person may be released as provided under
sub. (1) but the person's license may be retained until the out-of-service period has expired.
345.255
345.255
Deposit after release. A person arrested under
s. 345.22 for the violation of a traffic regulation who is released under
s. 345.23 (1) shall be permitted to make a deposit any time prior to the court appearance date. The deposit shall be made in person or by mailing it to the clerk of the court of the county in which the alleged violation occurred.
345.255 History
History: 1973 c. 218.
345.26(1)(a)(a) A person arrested under
s. 345.22 or
345.28 (5) for the violation of a traffic regulation who is allowed to make a deposit under
s. 345.23 (2) (a) or
345.28 (5) shall deposit the money as the arresting officer directs by either mailing the deposit at a nearby mailbox to the office of the sheriff, headquarters of the county traffic patrol, district headquarters or station of the state traffic patrol, city, village or town police headquarters or a precinct station, the office of the municipal judge, the office of the clerk of court, or by going, in the custody of the arresting officer, to any of those places to make the deposit.
345.26(1)(b)
(b) The arresting officer or the person receiving the deposit shall notify the arrested person, orally or in writing, that:
345.26(1)(b)1.
1. If the person makes a deposit for a violation of a traffic regulation, the person need not appear in court at the time fixed in the citation, and the person will be deemed to have tendered a plea of no contest and submitted to a forfeiture and a penalty assessment, if required by
s. 165.87, a jail assessment, if required by
s. 302.46 (1), a railroad crossing improvement assessment, if required by
s. 346.177,
346.495 or
346.65 (4r), and a crime laboratories and drug law enforcement assessment, if required by
s. 165.755, plus any applicable fees prescribed in
ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit that the court may accept as provided in
s. 345.37; and
345.26(1)(b)2.
2. If the person fails to make a deposit for a violation of a traffic regulation or appear in court at the time fixed in the citation, the court may enter a default judgment finding the person guilty of the offense or issue a warrant for his or her arrest.
345.26(2)(a)(a) The basic amount of the deposit for the alleged violation of a traffic regulation shall be determined in accordance with a deposit schedule which the judicial conference shall establish. Annually, the judicial conference shall review and may revise the schedule.
345.26(2)(b)
(b) In addition to the amount in
par. (a), the deposit shall include court costs, including any applicable fees prescribed in
ch. 814, any applicable penalty assessment, any applicable jail assessment, any applicable railroad crossing improvement assessment and any applicable crime laboratories and drug law enforcement assessment.
345.26(3)(a)(a) The arresting officer or the person accepting the deposit may allow the alleged violator to submit a check for the amount of the deposit or make the deposit by use of a credit card, and the check or credit charge receipt shall be considered a receipt in lieu of
par. (b).
345.26(3)(b)
(b) The person receiving the deposit shall furnish a receipt on a serially numbered form, and shall deliver the original receipt to the alleged violator if requested, and shall state to the alleged violator that inquiry may be made at the office of the clerk of court or municipal judge regarding the disposition of the deposit.
345.26(4)
(4) An alleged violator in custody shall be released after making the deposit specified in this section.
345.26(5)
(5) Any person, other than the clerk of court or the municipal judge before whom the defendant is directed to appear, who accepts the deposit shall, before the time fixed for the appearance of the defendant, deliver the deposit and a copy of the receipt and of the citation issued to the defendant to the clerk of the court or the municipal judge. The clerk or municipal judge shall give a receipt therefor, specifying the serial number of the receipt accompanying the deposit.
345.26 Annotation
Judges may not reduce the amounts of the deposit schedule established under (2) (a). 61 Atty. Gen. 401.
345.27
345.27
Information to persons charged. 345.27(1)
(1) Whenever a person is charged with a violation of a traffic regulation, the law enforcement officer shall inform the person of the following:
345.27(1)(a)
(a) That certain convictions may result in revocation or suspension of his or her operating privilege if the conviction will have that effect.
345.27(1)(b)
(b) That demerit points may be assessed against his or her driving record for the offense. The law enforcement officer may estimate the number of demerit points for the particular offense and list it on the traffic citation form.
345.27(1)(c)
(c) The number of demerit points that is cause for revocation or suspension.
345.27(2)
(2) Before taking the plea of a person charged with a violation of law the judge shall inform the violator of the following:
345.27(2)(a)
(a) That conviction of the charge may result in the revocation or suspension of his or her operating privilege.
345.27(2)(b)
(b) The number of demerit points that may be assessed against the violator upon conviction of the violation, based on the available information.
345.27(3)
(3) Whenever a person has been convicted in this state on the basis of a forfeiture of deposit or a plea of guilty or no contest and the person was not informed as required under
subs. (1) and
(2), the person may, within 60 days after being notified of the revocation or suspension of the operating privilege, petition the court to reopen the judgment and grant him or her an opportunity to defend on the merits. If the court finds that the petitioner was not informed as required under
subs. (1) and
(2), the court shall order the judgment reopened. The court order reopening the judgment automatically reinstates the revoked or suspended operating privilege.
345.27 History
History: 1989 a. 170.
345.28
345.28
Nonmoving violations. 345.28(1)(a)
(a) "Authority" means a local authority, a state agency, any campus of the university of Wisconsin system or any technical college district.
345.28(1)(c)
(c) "Nonmoving traffic violation" is any parking of a vehicle in violation of a statute, an ordinance, a rule under
s. 36.11 (8) or a resolution under
s. 38.14 (13).
345.28(2)(a)(a) A person charged with a nonmoving traffic violation may mail the amount of the forfeiture to any of the places specified in
s. 345.26 (1) or to a violations bureau, or to the city, town or county clerk or treasurer if the traffic citation so provides. In that case, the citation shall not be filed with or transmitted to court.
