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Rights & Responsibilities
This information has been provided to save you time and trouble without
jeopardizing your rights if you have received a citation.
Court Appearance on Citation Date
If you appear in court on the date indicated on your citation you will be heard as to your plea only.
Where to Appear
Court is held on the lower level in the Council Chambers.
Signing In & Making Your Plea
There will be a sign-in sheet for you to print your name. When your name is called, you will be asked how you wish to plea. If it is your intent to enter a not guilty plea, please re-read the section on entering your plea by mail. This could save you time.
Guilty or No Contest Pleas
If you enter a plea of Guilty or No Contest, the Judge will hear information presented by the City Attorney and may ask you if you have anything to say. The judge will then impose appropriate sentence and forfeiture amounts.
If you appear in court on the date indicated on your citation you will be heard as to your plea only.
Where to Appear
Court is held on the lower level in the Council Chambers.
Signing In & Making Your Plea
There will be a sign-in sheet for you to print your name. When your name is called, you will be asked how you wish to plea. If it is your intent to enter a not guilty plea, please re-read the section on entering your plea by mail. This could save you time.
Guilty or No Contest Pleas
If you enter a plea of Guilty or No Contest, the Judge will hear information presented by the City Attorney and may ask you if you have anything to say. The judge will then impose appropriate sentence and forfeiture amounts.
Not Guilty plea
Write a letter to the Municipal court indicating you would like to enter a not guilty plea. by entering a not guilty plea you are given an opportunity to have a private conference with the Assistant City Attorney, at a later date. Do not appear in court on the date on the citation. A notice will be sent to you the following week indicating when you should appear for the pretrial conference. If you choose to appear in court and enter a not guilty plea, the matter will be scheduled for a pretrial conference at a later date, which means you have made an unnecessary trip.
Resolution
The court does not resolve cases by mail. If you want to talk to someone privately, you should enter a not guilty plea. In all likelihood, the matter will be resolved at a pretrial conference.
Adjournments
If you are unable to appear on the date on your citation, a 10-day adjournment may be granted. Please review the information under Court Appearance before requesting an adjournment.
Making an Adjournment Request
The request must be in writing and received by the court prior to the court date on your citation. The court will notify you by mail on when to return to enter your plea.
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation will be notified of the conviction and will assess points to your driving record. In some cases additional penalties are automatically imposed by the Department of Transportation as required by State Statutes. It may be in your best interest to contact the Department of Transportation to determine the impact on your license before mailing the payment in.
Point System
The laws are constantly changing with regards to the point system. For the most current information contact the Department of Transportation.
The Department of Transportation will be notified of the conviction and will assess points to your driving record. In some cases additional penalties are automatically imposed by the Department of Transportation as required by State Statutes. It may be in your best interest to contact the Department of Transportation to determine the impact on your license before mailing the payment in.
Point System
The laws are constantly changing with regards to the point system. For the most current information contact the Department of Transportation.
- If you are found guilty of a moving traffic violation, points will be assessed against your driver's record if applicable.
- Those holding a Graduated Driver's License (probationary) will be assessed the points indicated on the citation for their 1st moving violation.
- Any subsequent violations will have the demerit points doubled.
- These points remain on your driving record for 1 year from the date of violation. If you accumulate 12 points within a 12 month period your driving privilege will be suspended by the Department of Transportation.
- Any questions regarding your specific driving record should be directed to the Department of Transportation.
Enter a Not Guilty Plea By Mail
Write a letter to the Municipal Court indicating you would like to enter a not guilty plea. By entering a not guilty plea you are given an opportunity to have a private conference with the Assistant City Attorney, at a later date.
Paying a Citation
You can be granted up to 60 days to pay the citation. Partial payments are accepted and if there is a continued effort in trying to make regular monthly payments, additional time to pay may be granted.
Mailing the Bond Amount
If you do not wish to appear in court you may mail in the bond amount indicated on your citation. On your court date, the court will accept this as a plea of no contest and the matter will be resolved.
Making the Payment
Payments are accepted Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We accept cash, checks, money orders and credit cards.
Drop Box
There is a drop box on the building located on the lower level for after-hour payments.
Accident Reports & Vehicle Recovery
For more information about obtaining reports and getting your vehicle after it has been towed, visit our Accident Reports and Vehicle Recovery page.
Write a letter to the Municipal Court indicating you would like to enter a not guilty plea. By entering a not guilty plea you are given an opportunity to have a private conference with the Assistant City Attorney, at a later date.
Paying a Citation
You can be granted up to 60 days to pay the citation. Partial payments are accepted and if there is a continued effort in trying to make regular monthly payments, additional time to pay may be granted.
Mailing the Bond Amount
If you do not wish to appear in court you may mail in the bond amount indicated on your citation. On your court date, the court will accept this as a plea of no contest and the matter will be resolved.
Making the Payment
Payments are accepted Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We accept cash, checks, money orders and credit cards.
Drop Box
There is a drop box on the building located on the lower level for after-hour payments.
Accident Reports & Vehicle Recovery
For more information about obtaining reports and getting your vehicle after it has been towed, visit our Accident Reports and Vehicle Recovery page.
Operating While Intoxicated
If you have been issued a citation for Operating While Intoxicated, you have a right to a jury trial. Enter a not guilty plea and pay the $36 jury tender within 10 days of entering your plea.
Circuit Court
Upon receipt of the jury tender the matter will be transferred to the Circuit Court of Waukesha County. Further communication will come from the Circuit Court.
Missed Deadline
If the 10-day deadline is missed, the matter will be scheduled for a pretrial in this court. Pursuant to State Statutes, any monies posted for a jury trial are not refundable under any circumstances nor can the monies be applied to the forfeiture if you are found guilty of the offense.
Operating While Intoxicated/Other
If you have been charged with Operating While Intoxicated/Other, the Motor Vehicle Department will administratively suspend your driving privilege up to 6 months. This normally goes into effect approximately 30 days after the date violation. As soon as you receive information that you are administratively suspended, you are eligible for an Occupation License that you must get at the Motor Vehicle Department
Mandatory Revocation
Upon conviction a mandatory revocation is ordered. The revocation is retroactive to the date the administrative suspension was imposed by the Motor Vehicle Department, unless otherwise specified by the court. Contact the Motor Vehicle Department for more information.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
You may receive a 2nd citation for Operating With a BAC/PAC of 0.10% or more. The 2nd citation is mailed to you. Although you can be convicted of both, points and penalties will only be imposed on one.
Refusal
If this was a refusal you must refer to any information given to you pertaining to refusal hearing procedures.
If you have been issued a citation for Operating While Intoxicated, you have a right to a jury trial. Enter a not guilty plea and pay the $36 jury tender within 10 days of entering your plea.
Circuit Court
Upon receipt of the jury tender the matter will be transferred to the Circuit Court of Waukesha County. Further communication will come from the Circuit Court.
Missed Deadline
If the 10-day deadline is missed, the matter will be scheduled for a pretrial in this court. Pursuant to State Statutes, any monies posted for a jury trial are not refundable under any circumstances nor can the monies be applied to the forfeiture if you are found guilty of the offense.
Operating While Intoxicated/Other
If you have been charged with Operating While Intoxicated/Other, the Motor Vehicle Department will administratively suspend your driving privilege up to 6 months. This normally goes into effect approximately 30 days after the date violation. As soon as you receive information that you are administratively suspended, you are eligible for an Occupation License that you must get at the Motor Vehicle Department
Mandatory Revocation
Upon conviction a mandatory revocation is ordered. The revocation is retroactive to the date the administrative suspension was imposed by the Motor Vehicle Department, unless otherwise specified by the court. Contact the Motor Vehicle Department for more information.
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
You may receive a 2nd citation for Operating With a BAC/PAC of 0.10% or more. The 2nd citation is mailed to you. Although you can be convicted of both, points and penalties will only be imposed on one.
Refusal
If this was a refusal you must refer to any information given to you pertaining to refusal hearing procedures.