Sound-Producing Devices: Impoundment, Seizure and Forfeiture.

Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 80-75

in effect

80-75. Sound-Producing Devices: Impoundment, Seizure and Forfeiture. 1. IMPOUNDMENT. a. A police officer shall, at the time of issuing a citation for a violation of s. 346.94(16), Wis. Stats., or ss. 80-63, 80-64 or 80-65, impound any radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device used in the commission of the violation if the person charged with the violation is the owner of the radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device and has 2 or more prior convictions within a 3-year period of s. 346.94(16), Wis. Stats., or ss. 80-63, 80-64 or 80-65. b. The police department may impound a vehicle for not more than 5 working days to permit the police department or its agent to remove a radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device if the vehicle is owned by the person charged with the violation and the sound-producing device may not be easily removed from the vehicle. Upon removal of the sound-producing device, an impounded vehicle shall be returned to its owner. c. Upon disposition of the forfeiture action for the violation of this section, the radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device shall be returned to its owner upon payment of the reasonable costs of impounding the vehicle and removing the sound-producing device. d. The police department may dispose of any impounded sound-producing device or, following the procedure for an abandoned vehicle under s. 342.40, Wis. Stats., any impounded vehicle which has remained unclaimed for a period of 90 days after disposition of the forfeiture action. 2. SEIZURE. a. A police officer shall, at the time of issuing a citation for a violation of s. 346.94(16), Wis. Stats., or ss. 80-63, 80-64 or 80-65, seize any radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device used in the commission of the violation if the person charged with the violation is the owner of the radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device and has 3 or more prior convictions within a 3-year period of s. 346.94(16), Wis. Stats., or ss. 80-63, 80-64 or 80-65. b. The police department may impound a vehicle for not more than 5 working days to permit the police department or its agent to remove a radio, electric sound amplification device or other sound-producing device if the vehicle is owned by the person charged with the violation and the sound-producing device may not be easily removed from the vehicle. Upon removal of the sound-producing device, an impounded vehicle shall be returned to its owner upon payment of the reasonable costs of impounding the vehicle and removing the sound-producing device. c. The seized sound-producing device shall remain in the custody of the police and the city attorney shall institute forfeiture proceedings. If the sound-producing device is sold by the police department, all proceeds of the sale shall be retained by the city. In all other respects, the seized sound-producing device shall be treated in substantially the manner provided in ss. 973.075(3) and 973.076, Wis. Stats., for property realized through the commission of any crime. d. The police department may, following the procedure for an abandoned vehicle under s. 342.40, Wis. Stats., dispose of any impounded vehicle which has remained unclaimed for a period of 90 days after disposition of the forfeiture action.

Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH80.pdf#page=28Fetched: 10/26/2026