Chapter 800

800.095(2) (2) At any time prior to imprisonment under sub. (1) (b), the defendant may request a review of any findings made under sub. (1) (b) 2.

800.095(3) (3) Subsection (1) (a) and (b) does not apply to any of the following:

800.095(3)(a) (a) Orders for restitution under s. 800.093.

800.095(3)(b) (b) Cases where service of the summons and complaint or citation is made by mail as authorized in s. 800.01 (2) (e), unless the defendant subsequently appeared in the action or was personally served with a copy of the judgment and notice of the right to request review of the findings under sub. (1) (b) 2.

800.095(3)(c) (c) Failure to pay a monetary judgment within 60 days of the judgment under s. 800.09 (1b), unless the court finds good cause and orders otherwise.

800.095(4) (4) The court may, at any time, authorize payment of the monetary judgment by installment payments, or may modify, suspend, or permanently stay the monetary judgment, or order that the judgment be satisfied by community service.

800.095(5) (5) The court may employ a collection company to collect the judgment under s. 755.21.

800.095(6) (6) The court or collection company may obtain payment through a setoff under s. 71.935.

800.095(7) (7) In addition to the procedures under this section, the court or a municipality may enforce the judgment in the same manner as for a judgment in an ordinary civil action, including entry into the judgment and lien docket as provided under s. 806.12.

800.095(8) (8) In addition to the procedures under this section, a municipal court may order the transfer of any of the defendant’s money or property that the municipality is holding and that is unclaimed by the defendant for more than one year to pay any forfeitures, fees, costs, or surcharges that the defendant failed to pay the municipality.

800.095 History History: 1987 a. 389; 1987 a. 399 s. 494u; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 40; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 84, 250; 1999 a. 9 ss. 3083m, 3263; 1999 a. 185; 2005 a. 192; 2009 a. 17, 402; 2013 a. 376; 2015 a. 55, 234; 2019 a. 70.

800.095 Annotation Section 343.30 (5) does not preclude the suspension of operating privileges under s. 800.09 or this section. Suspension of operating privileges for failure to pay non-traffic forfeitures is not an unconstitutional exercise of the police power or an unconstitutionally excessive fine. City of Milwaukee v. Kilgore, 193 Wis. 2d 168, 532 N.W.2d 690 (1995).

800.095 Annotation This section authorizes incarceration of defendants for noncompliance with default judgments entered by the municipal court. The power is not restricted to ordinance violations with statutory counterparts. Incarceration under this section is not imprisonment for debt or involuntary servitude. Haas v. Wisconsin, 241 F. Supp. 2d 922 (2003).

800.10 800.10 Fees and costs in municipal court.

800.10(1) (1) Fees and costs in municipal court are prescribed in ch. 814.

800.10(2) (2) All forfeitures, fees, surcharges, and costs paid to a municipal court under a judgment before a municipal judge shall be reported and paid to the municipal treasurer within 30 days after receipt of the money by the municipal court. The treasurer shall disburse the fees as provided in ch. 814.

800.10 History History: 1981 c. 317; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 139; 2009 a. 402.

800.11 800.11 Municipal court record and transcript entries.

800.11(1) (1) Every municipal court shall keep a court record in which the court shall enter, in actions to which they relate:

800.11(1)(a) (a) The title of every action commenced before the municipal court, including the name and address of the defendant;

800.11(1)(b) (b) The process issued, date and place where it issued, when returnable and the return of the officer;

800.11(1)(c) (c) A brief statement of the charges, including the nature and time of the offense and the section of law violated;

800.11(1)(d) (d) Every adjournment, stating at whose request and to what time;

800.11(1)(e) (e) The date and time trial was held;

800.11(1)(f) (f) The names of witnesses sworn, stating at whose request;

800.11(1)(g) (g) The judgment rendered by the municipal court, including the penalties imposed, the date of rendering judgment and the costs assessed in the action;

800.11(1)(h) (h) The record of contempt convictions under s. 800.12;

800.11(1)(i) (i) The amount of bail and names and addresses of sureties, if any;

800.11(1)(j) (j) The time of ordering any stay of execution;

800.11(1)(k) (k) The time of issuing execution and the name of the officer to whom delivered;

800.11(1)(m) (m) The return of every execution and when made and every renewal of an execution, with the date thereof;

800.11(1)(n) (n) The date and reason of removal of the action to another court;

800.11(1)(o) (o) The date of giving transcript of judgment;

800.11(1)(p) (p) The date of an appeal made from judgment; and

800.11(1)(q) (q) All motions made in the action, the decision thereon and all other proceedings in the action which the municipal court may think useful.

800.11(2) (2) Failure of the municipal court to keep a court record properly shall not affect the jurisdiction of the municipal court or render the judgment void.

800.11(3) (3) The transcript of judgment shall contain the following:

800.11(3)(a) (a) The name and location of the court.

800.11(3)(b) (b) The title of action.

800.11(3)(c) (c) The name and address of the defendant.

800.11(3)(d) (d) The date of judgment.

800.11(3)(e) (e) The amount of judgment, costs and fees.

800.11(3)(f) (f) The certification that it is a true copy of the judgment.

800.11(4) (4) If the municipal judge is elected under s. 755.01 (4), the court shall keep separate court records for each municipality.

800.11 History History: 1977 c. 305; 1979 c. 32 ss. 68, 92 (17); Stats. 1979 s. 800.11; 1985 a. 89; 1995 a. 224; 2009 a. 402.

800.115 800.115 Relief from judgment.

800.115(1) (1) A defendant may within 6 months after the judgment is entered move for relief from the judgment because of mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.

800.115(2) (2) Any party, including the court on its own motion, may at any time move to reopen the judgment under s. 806.07 (1) (c), (d), (g), or (h).

800.115(3) (3) Nothing in this section shall prevent the parties from stipulating and the court approving the reopening of a judgment for any other reason justifying relief from operation of the judgment.

800.115(4) (4) The court may impose costs on the motion as allowed under s. 814.07, except that any costs shall be based on the expense associated with the motion and the court shall consider the defendant’s ability to pay the costs using the factors in s. 814.29 (1) (d) 1. to 3. No costs may be imposed as a requirement of filing the motion.

800.115(5) (5) Upon making a motion under this section, the court shall provide notice to all parties and schedule a hearing on the motion. Upon receiving a motion under this section, the court may enter an order denying the motion for failure to state grounds upon which relief may be granted, schedule a hearing on the motion, or enter an order based on written submissions from the parties.

800.115 History History: 1987 a. 389; 2009 a. 402; 2019 a. 70.

800.115 Annotation Only a defendant may seek relief under this section. However a municipal court has the inherent authority to vacate a void judgment irrespective of the statute’s requirements for reopening a judgment. City of Kenosha v. Jensen, 184 Wis. 2d 91, 516 N.W.2d 4 (Ct. App. 1994).

800.12 800.12 Municipal court contempt procedure.

800.12(1) (1) In this section, “contempt of court” means any of the following intentional acts:

800.12(1)(a) (a) Misconduct in the presence of the court that interferes with the court proceeding or with the administration of justice, or that impairs the respect due the court.

800.12(1)(b) (b) Refusal of a witness to appear without reasonable excuse.

800.12(2) (2) A judge may impose a forfeiture in an amount not to exceed $200 for a contempt of court.

800.12(3) (3) For a contempt of court described in sub. (1) (a), the judge may impose imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 7 days and impose a forfeiture. These penalties shall be imposed immediately after the contempt of court has occurred and only under the following conditions:

800.12(3)(a) (a) For the purpose of preserving order in the court and protecting the authority and dignity of the court.

800.12(3)(b) (b) After allowing the person who committed the contempt of court an opportunity to address the court.

800.12(4) (4) For a contempt of court described in sub. (1) (b), the judge may do any of the following:

800.12(4)(a) (a) Issue a warrant to bring the witness before the court for the contempt and to testify.

800.12(4)(b) (b) In addition to ordering the witness to pay a forfeiture under sub. (2), the judge may order the witness to pay all costs of the witness’s apprehension.

800.12 History History: 1977 c. 305; 1979 c. 32 s. 68; 1979 c. 257; Stats. 1979 s. 800.12; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 107; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 139; 2009 a. 402.

800.13 800.13 Recording in municipal court.

800.13(1) (1) Every proceeding in which testimony is taken under oath or affirmation, hearing on a motion under s. 800.115, and hearing regarding whether the defendant is unable to pay the judgment because of poverty, as that term is used in s. 814.29 (1) (d), in a municipal court shall be recorded by electronic means for purposes of appeal.

800.13(2) (2) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a municipal court is not a court of record.

800.13 History History: 1977 c. 305; 1979 c. 32 s. 68; 1979 c. 237; Stats. 1979 s. 800.13; 2009 a. 402; 2019 a. 70.

800.14 800.14 Appeal from municipal court decision.

800.14(1) (1) Appeals from judgments, decisions on motions brought under s. 800.115, or determinations regarding whether the defendant is unable to pay the judgment because of poverty, as that term is used in s. 814.29 (1) (d), may be taken by either party to the circuit court of the county where the offense occurred. The appellant shall appeal by giving the municipal court and other party written notice of appeal and paying any required fees within 20 days after the judgment or decision. No appeals may be taken from default judgments.

800.14(2m) (2m) Upon receipt by the municipal court of the notice of appeal and any required fees and, if a trial has been held, after the 20 day time period under sub. (4) has passed, the appeal is perfected. Within 30 days after perfection, the municipal court shall transmit the case to the circuit court as provided under sub. (5) and shall comply with the requirements of s. 343.325, if applicable.

800.14(3) (3) Upon perfection of the appeal under sub. (2m), execution on the judgment of the municipal court or enforcement of the order of the municipal court shall be stayed until the final disposition of the appeal, unless otherwise ordered by the municipal court prior to transmittal to the circuit court or unless ordered by the circuit court thereafter. An order lifting a stay may be reviewed by the circuit court at any time following transmittal to the circuit court, upon motion and good cause shown.

800.14(4) (4) An appeal from a judgment where a trial has been held shall be on the record unless, within 20 days after notice of appeal has been filed with the municipal court under sub. (1), either party requests that a new trial be held in circuit court. The new trial shall be conducted by the court without a jury unless one of the following applies:

800.14(4)(a) (a) If the defendant is charged with a violation of an ordinance that is in conformity with s. 346.63 (1) or (5) and did not proceed under s. 800.035 (5) (c), the municipality requests a 6-person jury trial and posts the jury fee under s. 814.61 (4) within 10 days after the order for a new trial.

800.14(4)(b) (b) If par. (a) does not apply, either party requests a 6-person jury trial and posts the jury fee under s. 814.61 (4) within 10 days after the order for a new trial.

800.14(5) (5) If there is no request under sub. (4), or if the appeal is from a judgment or decision in which a trial has not been held, the appeal shall be based upon a review of the proceedings in the municipal court, and the municipal court shall transmit to the circuit court a copy of the entire record, including any electronic recording created under s. 800.13 (1). If there is a request under sub. (4), the municipal court shall transmit to the circuit court as much of the record as deemed appropriate by the municipal court, but the transmission shall include, at the minimum, a copy of the citation or complaint and the judgment. The municipal court may supplement the transmission upon request of either party or the circuit court. The circuit court may order the preparation of a transcript of the proceedings by any qualified court reporter at the cost of the appellant. The transcript shall be deemed accurate unless determined otherwise by the municipal court, by request of either party or the circuit court.

800.14(5m) (5m) A defendant claiming an inability to pay with regard to the transcript fee, the appeal fee, or the jury fee may petition the circuit court for a waiver.

800.14(6) (6) The disposition of the appeal shall be certified to the municipal court by the circuit court within 30 days of the judgment of the circuit court. If the disposition requires payment of a forfeiture by the defendant, the forfeiture and all costs, fees, and surcharges shall be payable to the municipality.

800.14 History History: 1977 c. 305; 1979 c. 32 ss. 68, 92 (17); 1979 c. 237; Stats. 1979 s. 800.14; 1981 c. 317 s. 2202; 1987 a. 389; 2005 a. 191; 2009 a. 402; 2019 a. 70; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

800.14 Annotation Review under sub. (5) is analogous to appellate review of a trial to the court under s. 805.17 (2). Village of Williams Bay v. Metzl, 124 Wis. 2d 356, 369 N.W.2d 186 (Ct. App. 1985).

800.14 Annotation When a municipal court found the defendant guilty of OWI and dismissed a blood alcohol count charge without finding guilt, the defendant’s appeal of the OWI conviction did not give the circuit court jurisdiction to hear the BAC charge absent an appeal of the dismissal. Town of Menasha v. Bastian, 178 Wis. 2d 191, 503 N.W.2d 382 (Ct. App. 1993).

800.14 Annotation There is no statutory or constitutional requirement that a circuit court must hold a hearing or request briefs when conducting a transcript review under sub. (5). This section, when considered as a whole, affords municipal court appellants a meaningful right to be heard. City of Middleton v. Hennen, 206 Wis. 2d 347, 557 N.W.2d 818 (Ct. App. 1996), 95-3054.

800.14 Annotation Appealing Municipal Court Judgments to Circuit Court. Anderegg. Wis. Law. Mar. 2006.