Civil law and ordinance proceedings initiated by citation in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48
Wis. Stat. § 938.237
in effect(1) Citation form. The citation forms under s. 23.54, 66.0113, 778.25, 778.26 or 800.02 may be used to commence an action for a violation of civil laws and ordinances in the court.
(2) Procedures. The procedures for issuance and filing of a citation, and for forfeitures, stipulations, and deposits in ss. 23.50 to 23.67, 23.75 (3) and (4), 66.0113, 778.25, 778.26, and 800.01 to 800.035 except s. 800.035 (7) (b), when the citation is issued by a law enforcement officer, shall be used as appropriate, except that this chapter shall govern taking and holding a juvenile in custody, s. 938.37 shall govern costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, and a capias shall be substituted for an arrest warrant. Sections 66.0113 (3) (c) and (d), 66.0114 (1), and 778.10 as they relate to collection of forfeitures do not apply.
(3) Disposition. If a juvenile to whom a citation has been issued does not submit a deposit or a stipulation and deposit, the juvenile shall appear in the court for a plea hearing under s. 938.30 at the date, time and place for the court appearance specified on the citation. If the juvenile does not submit a stipulation and deposit or if the court refuses to accept a deposit unaccompanied by a stipulation, the juvenile may be summoned to appear and the procedures that govern petitions for civil law or ordinance violations under s. 938.125 shall govern all proceedings initiated by a citation, except that the citation shall not be referred to the court intake worker for an intake inquiry. If the court finds that a juvenile violated a municipal ordinance or a civil law punishable by a forfeiture under this section, the court shall enter a dispositional order under s. 938.344, if applicable, or if s. 938.344 does not apply, the court may enter any of the dispositional orders under s. 938.343.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/938.237Fetched: 10/7/2026