Citation procedure; violation of land trespass laws
Wis. Stat. § 778.26
in effect(1) The citation procedures established by this section may be used only in an action to recover a forfeiture under s. 943.13. 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 circuit court.
(2) A citation under this section shall be signed 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.
(b) The name and department of the issuing officer.
(c) The violation alleged, the time and place of occurrence, a statement that the defendant committed the violation, the statute violated and a designation of the violation in language which can be readily understood by a person making a reasonable effort to do so.
(d) A date, time and place for the court appearance, and a notice to appear.
(e) The maximum forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, for which the defendant is liable.
(f) Provisions for deposit and stipulation in lieu of a court appearance.
(g) Notice that, if the defendant makes a deposit and fails to appear in court at the time specified 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, instead of accepting the deposit and plea, may decide to summon the defendant or may issue an arrest warrant for the defendant upon failure to respond to a summons.
(h) Notice that, if the defendant makes a deposit and signs the stipulation, the stipulation will be treated as 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, instead of accepting the deposit and stipulation, may decide to summon the defendant or issue an arrest warrant for the defendant upon failure to respond to a summons, and that the defendant may, at any time prior to or at the time of the court appearance date, move the court for relief from the effect of the stipulation.
(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 specified in the citation, the court may issue a summons or an arrest warrant.
(3) A defendant issued a citation under this section may deposit the amount of money that the issuing officer directs by mailing or delivering the deposit and a copy of the citation prior to the court appearance date to the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the violation occurred or to the sheriff’s office or police headquarters of the officer who issued the citation. 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 the costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814.
(4) A defendant may make a stipulation of no contest by submitting a deposit and a stipulation in the manner provided by sub. (3) prior to the court appearance date. The signed stipulation is a plea of no contest and submission to a forfeiture, plus the costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit.
(5) Except as provided by sub. (6), 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 the circuit court regarding the disposition of the deposit, and notifying the defendant that if he or she fails to appear in court at the time specified in the citation he or she 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 to exceed the amount of the deposit and that the court may accept the plea. The original of the receipt shall be delivered to the defendant in person or by mail. If the defendant pays by check, the canceled check is the receipt.
(6) The person receiving a deposit and stipulation of no contest 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 the circuit court regarding the disposition of the deposit, and notifying the defendant that if the stipulation of no contest is accepted by the court the defendant will be considered to have submitted to a forfeiture, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, not to exceed the amount of the deposit. Delivery of the receipt shall be made in the same manner as provided in sub. (5).
(7) If a defendant issued a citation under this section fails to appear in court at the time specified in the citation or by subsequent postponement, the following procedure applies:
(a) If the defendant has not made a deposit, the court may issue a summons or an arrest warrant.
(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 to exceed 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. If the defendant fails to appear in response to the summons, the court shall issue an arrest warrant. If the court accepts the plea of no contest, the defendant may, within 90 days after the date set for appearance, move 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 defendant is relieved from the plea of no contest, the court 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.
(c) If the defendant has made a deposit and stipulation of no contest, the citation serves 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 to exceed 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 an arrest warrant. After signing a stipulation of no contest, the defendant may, at any time prior to or at the time of the court appearance date, move the court for relief from the effect of the stipulation. The court may act on the motion, with or without notice, for cause shown by affidavit and upon just terms, and relieve the defendant from the stipulation and the effects of the stipulation.
(8) 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 judge 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 judge shall reply by letter to the defendant’s address setting a time and place for trial. The time shall be during normal business hours if so requested. The date of the trial shall be at least 10 days from the date the letter was mailed by the judge. Nothing in this subsection forbids the setting of the trial at any time convenient to all parties concerned.
(9) An officer who collects a forfeiture, and costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, under this section shall pay the money to the county treasurer within 20 days after its receipt. If the officer fails to make timely payment, the 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/778.26Fetched: 10/7/2026