BAIL IN VIOLATION CASES.
Madison General Ordinances § 12.154
in effect12.154 - BAIL IN VIOLATION CASES.
(1) Whenever a person is arrested for violating any provision of this chapter, the Chief of Police or clerk of the Municipal Court of the City of Madison is authorized to receive at their office, from the accused, a deposit in money not to exceed the amount of the maximum penalty which may be imposed if the accused is found guilty. Thereupon, the accused may be released from arrest until said court opens on the next succeeding day on which said court is in session or until such time as is fixed for the hearing of the case. The exact bail deposit amount required to be posted by an accused shall be determined in the following manner:
(a) Uniform Traffic Citations. Whenever an accused is issued a uniform traffic citation for any violation of this chapter the bail amount for that violation shall be as set forth in the Revised Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule as adopted by the Wisconsin Judicial Conference pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 345.26(2)(a), for the adopted state statute alleged to have been violated.
(b) City of Madison Parking Citations. Whenever an accused is issued a City of Madison Parking Citation for a non-moving violation of any provision of this chapter the bail amount for that violation shall be determined as follows:
For a violation of an ordinance adopted in strict conformity with Wis. Stats. §§ 346.51—346.55, the bail amount shall be as set forth in the Revised Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule as adopted by the Wisconsin Judicial Conference pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 345.26(2)(a), for the adopted state statute alleged to have been violated.
(2) If the person so arrested and released fails to appear, personally or by an authorized attorney or agent, before the court at the time fixed for the hearing of the case, the money deposited by the accused pursuant to subsection (1) shall be retained and used for the payment of the penalty which may be imposed, together with costs, after an ex parte hearing upon the accused. The excess, if any, shall be returned to the person who made the deposit upon their application therefore. If the accused is acquitted, the entire amount of the deposit shall be refunded to the depositor upon application therefore. (Am. by ORD-14-00012, 1-14-14)
(3) This section shall not be construed so as to make the City of Madison or Dane County in any case liable for the whole or any part of the money deposited pursuant to this section.
(4) This section shall not be construed so as to prevent the forfeiture of the bond or cash deposit made with the Chief of Police as provided by Wis. Stat. § 66.0111.
(5) Late Payment Charge for Unpaid Parking Violations. In the event any notice of parking violation or nonmoving traffic violation ("parking ticket") is not paid within fourteen (14) days from the date of the violation, an administrative charge of ten dollars ($10) shall be added to the total cost of the ticket. If said parking ticket remains unpaid after twenty-five (25) days from the date of the violation, a second administrative charge of ten dollars ($10) shall be added. Failure to pay after required notice(s) have been sent pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 345.28 shall result in an additional administrative charge of ten dollars ($10) to further cover the cost of using the traffic violation and registration program established by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation ("Department") under Wis. Stat. § 345.28, when the City notifies the Department in the form and manner prescribed by the Department that the parking ticket remains unpaid. The above charges represent the reasonable and necessary administrative costs associated with the collection of unpaid parking tickets and participation in the Department's traffic violation and registration program. The provisions of this paragraph shall in no way limit the City from utilizing any other methods of collecting and enforcing unpaid parking tickets under Wis. Stat. § 345.28, or as otherwise authorized by law. (Cr. by Ord. 13,470, 12-10-03; Am. by ORD-19-00034, 5-10-19)
(Am. by ORD-06-00173, 12-8-06) (Sec. 12.154 Am. by Ord. 11,810, Adopted 3-4-97)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH11--19_CH12VECO_ARBA_12.154BAVICAFetched: 11/1/2026