Citation procedure for certain limited violations
Wis. Stat. § 778.25
in effect(1)
(a) The citation procedures established by this section may be used only in an action to recover a forfeiture:
1. Under s. 125.07 (4) (a) or (b), 125.085 (3) (b), or 125.09 (2) or under a local ordinance strictly conforming to one of those statutes brought against an adult in circuit court or against a minor in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938.
1m. Under s. 961.573 (2), 961.574 (2), or 961.575 (2) brought against a minor in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938 or under a local ordinance enacted under s. 59.54 (25m) or 66.0107 (1) (bp) brought against an adult in circuit court or against a minor in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938.
2. Under s. 947.013 (1m) or a local ordinance strictly conforming to s. 947.013 (1m) brought against an adult in circuit court.
3. Under s. 167.32 or under a local ordinance strictly conforming to s. 167.32 brought against an adult in circuit court.
4. Under s. 254.92 or under a local ordinance strictly conforming to s. 254.92 brought against an adult in circuit court or against a minor in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938.
5. Under administrative rules promulgated by the board of regents under s. 36.11 (1) (c) brought against an adult in circuit court or against a minor in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938.
6. Under an administrative rule promulgated by the department of administration under s. 16.846 brought against an adult in circuit court or against a minor in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938.
8. Under s. 173.41 (15) (b).
(b) The citation form provided by this section may serve as the initial pleading for the action and is adequate process to give a court jurisdiction over the person if the citation is filed with the court.
(2) A citation under this section shall be signed by the issuing agent or officer or by an officer who has authority to make arrests for the violation and shall contain substantially the following information:
(a) The name, address and date of birth of the defendant and the name and address of the defendant’s parents or guardian, if a minor.
(b) The name and department of the issuing agent or officer.
(c) The violation alleged, the time and place of occurrence, a statement that the defendant committed the violation, the statute, rule or ordinance violated and a designation of the violation in language which can be readily understood.
(d) A date, time and place for the court appearance, and a notice to appear.
(f) Provisions for deposit in lieu of a court appearance.
(g) Notice that if the defendant makes a deposit and fails to appear in court at the time fixed in the citation, the failure to appear will be considered tender of a plea of no contest and submission to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit. The notice shall also state that the court may decide to summon the defendant or, if the defendant is an adult, issue an arrest warrant for the defendant rather than accept the deposit and plea.
(i) Notice that the defendant may by mail prior to the court appearance enter a plea of not guilty and request another date for a court appearance.
(j) Notice that if the defendant does not make a deposit and fails to appear in court at the time fixed in the citation, the court may consider the nonappearance to be a plea of no contest and enter judgment accordingly or the court may issue a summons or an arrest warrant.
(k) Any other pertinent information.
(3) If a person is issued a citation under this section, the person may deposit the amount of money that the issuing agent or officer directs by mailing or delivering the deposit and a copy of the citation to the clerk of court of the county where the violation occurred or the office or headquarters of the agent or officer who issued the citation prior to the court appearance date. The basic amount of the deposit shall be determined under a deposit schedule established by the judicial conference. The judicial conference shall annually review and revise the schedule. In addition to the basic amount determined by the schedule, the deposit shall include costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814.
(5) A person receiving a deposit shall prepare a receipt in triplicate showing the purpose for which the deposit is made, stating that the defendant may inquire at the office of the clerk of court regarding the disposition of the deposit, and notifying the defendant that if he or she fails to appear in court at the time fixed in the citation he or she will be deemed to have tendered a plea of no contest and submitted to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit which the court may accept. The original of the receipt shall be delivered to the defendant in person or by mail. If the defendant pays by check, the check is the receipt.
(7) If a citation is issued to a minor the issuing agency shall, within 7 days, mail or deliver a copy of the citation to the child’s parent or guardian.
(8) If a defendant issued a citation under this section fails to appear in court at the time fixed in the citation or by subsequent postponement, the following procedure applies:
(a)
1. If the defendant has not made a deposit, the court may consider the nonappearance to be a plea of no contest and enter judgment accordingly or the court may issue a summons or an arrest warrant, except if the defendant is a minor the court shall proceed under s. 938.28. Chapter 938 governs taking and holding a minor in custody.
2. If the court considers the nonappearance to be a plea of no contest and enters judgment accordingly, the court shall promptly mail a copy or notice of the judgment to the defendant. The judgment shall allow the defendant not less than 20 working days from the date the judgment copy or notice is mailed to pay the forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814.
(b) If the defendant has made a deposit, the citation may serve as the initial pleading and the defendant shall be considered to have tendered a plea of no contest and submitted to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not exceeding the amount of the deposit. The court may either accept the plea of no contest and enter judgment accordingly, or reject the plea and issue a summons or arrest warrant, except that if the defendant is a minor the court shall proceed under s. 938.28. Chapter 938 governs taking and holding a minor in custody.
(c) If the court accepts a plea of no contest, the defendant may move within 90 days after the date set for appearance to withdraw the plea of no contest, open the judgment, and enter a plea of not guilty if the defendant shows to the satisfaction of the court that failure to appear was due to mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. If a party is relieved from the plea of no contest, the court or judge may order a written complaint or petition to be filed. If on reopening the defendant is found not guilty, the court shall delete the record of conviction and shall order the defendant’s deposit returned.
(9) If a citation or summons is issued to a defendant under this section and he or she is unable to appear in court on the day specified, the defendant may enter a plea of not guilty by mailing a letter stating that inability to the court at the address indicated on the citation. The letter must show the defendant’s return address. The letter may include a request for trial during normal daytime business hours. Upon receipt of the letter, the court shall reply by notice to the defendant’s address setting forth a time and place for trial, and the time shall be during normal business hours if so requested. The date of the trial shall be at least 10 days after the date on which the court sent the notice. Nothing in this subsection forbids the setting of the trial at any time convenient to all parties concerned.
(10) An officer collecting moneys for a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, under this section shall pay the same to the appropriate municipal or county treasurer within 20 days after their receipt by the officer, except that all jail surcharges imposed under ch. 814 shall be paid to the county treasurer. If the officer fails to make timely payment, the municipal or county treasurer may collect the payment from the officer by an action in the treasurer’s name of office and upon the official bond of the officer, with interest at the rate of 12 percent per year from the time when it should have been paid.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/778.25Fetched: 10/7/2026