Chapter 345

345.26 Annotation Judges may not reduce the amounts of the deposit schedule established under sub. (2) (a). 61 Atty. Gen. 401.

345.27 345.27 Information to persons charged.

345.27(1) (1) Whenever a person is charged with a violation of a traffic regulation, the law enforcement officer shall inform the person of the following:

345.27(1)(a) (a) That certain convictions may result in revocation or suspension of his or her operating privilege if the conviction will have that effect.

345.27(1)(b) (b) That demerit points may be assessed against his or her driving record for the offense. The law enforcement officer may estimate the number of demerit points for the particular offense and list it on the traffic citation form.

345.27(1)(c) (c) The number of demerit points that is cause for revocation or suspension.

345.27(2) (2) Before taking the plea of a person charged with a violation of law the judge shall inform the violator of the following:

345.27(2)(a) (a) That conviction of the charge may result in the revocation or suspension of his or her operating privilege.

345.27(2)(b) (b) The number of demerit points that may be assessed against the violator upon conviction of the violation, based on the available information.

345.27(3) (3) Whenever a person has been convicted in this state on the basis of a forfeiture of deposit or a plea of guilty or no contest and the person was not informed as required under subs. (1) and (2), the person may, within 60 days after being notified of the revocation or suspension of the operating privilege, petition the court to reopen the judgment and grant him or her an opportunity to defend on the merits. If the court finds that the petitioner was not informed as required under subs. (1) and (2), the court shall order the judgment reopened. The court order reopening the judgment automatically reinstates the revoked or suspended operating privilege.

345.27 History History: 1989 a. 170.

345.28 345.28 Nonmoving violations.

345.28(1) (1) As used in this section:

345.28(1)(a) (a) “Authority” means a local authority, a state agency, any campus of the University of Wisconsin System or any technical college district.

345.28(1)(b) (b) “Forfeiture” includes a fine established under s. 36.11 (8) or 38.14 (13).

345.28(1)(c) (c) “Nonmoving traffic violation” is any parking of a vehicle in violation of a statute, an ordinance, a rule under s. 36.11 (8) or a resolution under s. 38.14 (13).

345.28(2) (2) 

345.28(2)(a) (a) A person charged with a nonmoving traffic violation may mail the amount of the forfeiture to any of the places specified in s. 345.26 (1) or to a violations bureau, or to the city, town or county clerk or treasurer if the traffic citation so provides. In that case, the citation shall not be filed with or transmitted to court.

345.28(2)(b) (b) If the person appears in response to a citation for a nonmoving traffic violation, the procedures under ss. 345.34 to 345.47 apply, except as provided in par. (c).

345.28(2)(c) (c) Subject to par. (d), if the appearance date specified in the citation is inconvenient for the person, he or she may contact the clerk of circuit court or the municipal court, whichever is applicable, to schedule a more convenient time. The revised date may provide for an appearance during an evening session, as required under s. 753.23 or authorized by a court. Subject to par. (d), the court may revise the appearance date. The date specified in the citation applies unless the person receives written confirmation of the revised appearance date from the court.

345.28(2)(d) (d) A city of the 1st class may enact an ordinance establishing the period within which a person charged with a nonmoving violation shall pay the forfeiture or appear in court. An ordinance under this paragraph shall require that a citation issued for a nonmoving violation include the date on which the court may act under s. 345.37 unless the person has paid the forfeiture or appeared in court prior to that date.

345.28(3) (3) 

345.28(3)(a) (a) If the person does not pay the forfeiture or appear in court in response to the citation for a nonmoving traffic violation on the date specified in the citation or, if no date is specified in the citation, within 28 days after the citation is issued, the authority that issued the citation may issue a summons under s. 968.04 (3) (b) to the person and, in lieu of or in addition to issuing the summons, may proceed under sub. (4) or (5) but, except as provided in this section, no warrant may be issued for the person. If the person does not pay towing and storage charges associated with a citation for a nonmoving traffic violation, the authority that issued the citation may proceed under sub. (4).

345.28(3)(b) (b) If the person appears in response to a summons for a nonmoving traffic violation, the procedures under ss. 345.34 to 345.47 apply.

345.28(4) (4) 

345.28(4)(a) (a)

345.28(4)(a)1. 1. If the person does not pay the forfeiture or appear in court in response to the citation for a nonmoving traffic violation on the date specified in the citation or, if no date is specified in the citation, within 28 days after the citation is issued, the authority may notify the department in the form and manner prescribed by the department that a citation has been issued to the person and the citation remains unpaid.

345.28(4)(a)1m. 1m. If the person does not pay the outstanding towing and storage charges associated with a nonmoving traffic violation, the authority may notify the department in the form and manner prescribed by the department that towing and storage charges remain unpaid. Outstanding storage charges under this subdivision may not exceed 20 days of such storage.

345.28(4)(a)2. 2. The authority shall specify whether the department is to suspend the registration of the vehicle involved under s. 341.63 (1) (c) or refuse registration of any vehicle owned by the person under s. 341.10 (7m) or both.

345.28(4)(b) (b)

345.28(4)(b)1. 1. The notice to the department under par. (a) 1. shall include the name and last-known address of the person against whom the citation was issued, the date the citation was issued, the license number of the vehicle involved, certification that 2 notices which meet the requirements under par. (c) 1. or sub. (5m) (d) have been mailed to the last-known address of the person against whom the citation was issued and that the citation remains unpaid on the date specified in the citation or, if no date is specified in the citation, 28 days after the citation was issued, the place that the citation may be paid, the means by which the citation may be contested and the action the department is to take.

345.28(4)(b)2. 2. The notice to the department under par. (a) 1m. shall include the name and last-known address of the person against whom the outstanding towing and storage charges apply, the license number of the vehicle involved, certification that 2 notices which meet the requirements under par. (c) 2. have been mailed to the last-known address of the person against whom the towing and storage charges apply and that the towing and storage charges remain unpaid, the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges, the place where the towing and storage charges may be paid, and the action that the department is to take.

345.28(4)(c) (c)

345.28(4)(c)1. 1. The notices to the person required under par. (b) 1. shall be mailed on 2 separate days to the last-known address of the person to whom the citation was issued and shall include the date the citation was issued, the license number of the vehicle involved, the place the citation may be paid, the means by which the citation may be contested and the date by which the person must pay or contest the citation to avoid further action by the authority. The notice shall inform the person of the specific actions which the authority and the courts are authorized to take under this section if the person fails to pay the forfeiture or appear in court in response to the citation by the date specified in the notice.

345.28(4)(c)2. 2. The notices to the person required under par. (b) 2. shall be mailed on 2 separate days to the last-known address of the person to whom the outstanding towing and storage charges apply and shall include the license number of the vehicle involved, the place where the towing and storage charges may be paid, and the date by which the person must pay the towing and storage charges to avoid further action by the authority. The notice shall inform the person of the specific actions that the authority and the courts are authorized to take under this section if the person fails to pay the towing and storage charges by the date specified in the notice. A notice under this subdivision may be included in a notice mailed to a person under subd. 1. with respect to the nonmoving traffic violation associated with the towing and storage charges.

345.28(4)(d) (d) The authority may assess the person for the cost of using the traffic violation and registration program as established by the department under s. 85.13.

345.28(4)(e) (e)

345.28(4)(e)1. 1. If the person subsequently pays the amount of the forfeiture and the costs, if any, under par. (d) or appears in court in response to the citation or a notice by the authority who issued the citation or the department, the department shall be immediately notified in the form and manner prescribed by the department. If the vehicle involved in the nonmoving traffic violation is owned by a person engaged in the business of renting or leasing motor vehicles and the owner pays the costs, if any, under par. (d) and the forfeiture or, if applicable, the amount required under sub. (5w) (b), the authority shall immediately notify the department in the form and manner prescribed by the department.

345.28(4)(e)2. 2. If the person subsequently pays the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges specified in the notice to the department under par. (a) 1m. and the costs, if any, under par. (d), the department shall be immediately notified in the form and manner prescribed by the department. If the vehicle to which the towing and storage charges apply is owned by a person engaged in the business of renting or leasing motor vehicles and the owner pays the costs, if any, under par. (d) and the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges specified in the notice to the department under par. (a) 1m. or, if applicable, the amount required under sub. (5w) (b), the authority shall immediately notify the department in the form and manner prescribed by the department.

345.28(4)(f) (f) Upon the person’s appearance in court in response to a notice by the authority who issued the citation or the department, the procedures under ss. 345.34 to 345.47 apply.

345.28(4)(h) (h)

345.28(4)(h)1. 1. If an authority receives payment of a forfeiture or, if applicable, the amount required under sub. (5w) (b), from the owner of a leased or rented vehicle involved in a nonmoving traffic violation and receives payment of the forfeiture from the lessee or renter of the vehicle charged with the violation, the authority shall refund to the owner the payment received from the owner.

345.28(4)(h)2. 2. If an authority receives payment of the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges specified in the notice to the department under par. (a) 1m. or, if applicable, the amount required under sub. (5w) (b), from the owner of a leased or rented vehicle to which the towing and storage charges apply and receives payment of the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges specified in the notice to the department under par. (a) 1m. from the lessee or renter of the vehicle to which the towing and storage charges apply, the authority shall refund to the owner the payment received from the owner.

345.28(4)(i) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection or ss. 341.10 (7m) and 341.63 (1) (c), the department may permit an authority to send a single notice to the department under par. (a) 1. with respect to 2 or more citations that have been issued to a person and remain unpaid and, if an authority sends a notice specified in this paragraph to the department, the authority and department shall treat any such notice for purposes of any other provision of this section or ss. 341.10 (7m) and 341.63 (1) (c) in the same manner as a notice to the department under par. (a) 1. with respect to a single citation.

345.28(5) (5) 

345.28(5)(a) (a) In lieu of the procedure under sub. (4), if the person does not pay the forfeiture or appear in court in response to the citation for a nonmoving traffic violation on the date specified in the citation or, if no date is specified in the citation, within 28 days after the citation was issued, the authority, after sending 2 notices which meet the requirements under sub. (4) (c) 1., may issue a warrant under par. (b) for the person.

345.28(5)(b) (b)

345.28(5)(b)1. 1. If a person fails to respond to the notices under par. (a) within the time specified in the notice, a warrant that substantially complies with the mandatory provisions under s. 968.04 (3) (a) may be issued for the person, except that the warrant shall direct the officer to accept the person’s deposit of money or his or her valid Wisconsin operator’s license, as provided under subd. 2. a., in lieu of serving the warrant and arresting the person.

345.28(5)(b)2. 2. If an officer contacts a person for whom a warrant for a nonmoving traffic violation has been issued under subd. 1.:

345.28(5)(b)2.a. a. The officer shall accept a deposit of money or a deposit of the person’s valid Wisconsin operator’s license in lieu of serving the warrant and arresting the person. If the license is deposited with the officer, the officer shall issue to the licensee a receipt, on a form provided by the department, which is valid as an operator’s license through a date specified on the receipt, not to exceed 30 days from the date of contact, which shall be the same as the court appearance date and the officer shall at the earliest possible time prior to the court appearance date deposit the license with the court. If a deposit of money is made, s. 345.26 (1) (a) and (2) to (5) applies. The officer shall notify the person who deposits money or his or her license, in writing, of the specific actions which the authority and the courts are authorized to take under this section if the person fails to appear in court at the time specified by the officer, not to exceed 30 days from the date of contact, or at any subsequent court appearance for the nonmoving traffic violation citation. If the person makes a deposit of money or deposits his or her valid Wisconsin operator’s license, the officer shall return the warrant to the court or judge who issued the warrant and the court or judge shall vacate the warrant.

345.28(5)(b)2.b. b. The officer may serve the warrant and arrest any person who refuses to make a deposit of money or deposit his or her operator’s license. If the officer arrests the person, the officer shall bring the arrested person before a court having jurisdiction to try the action or a judge without unreasonable delay.

345.28(5)(c) (c)

345.28(5)(c)1. 1. If the person who was contacted under par. (b) 2. and who has made a deposit of money fails to appear in court at the date specified by the officer under par. (b) 2. a. or set under s. 345.32, 345.34 or 345.36 or at any subsequent court appearance for the nonmoving traffic violation, the person shall be deemed to have entered a plea of no contest. The court shall accept the plea of no contest, find the defendant guilty and proceed under s. 345.47, except that the deposit shall be forfeited and serve as payment of the judgment. The court shall give notice of the entry of judgment to the defendant by mailing a copy of the judgment to the defendant’s last-known address.

345.28(5)(c)2. 2. If the person who was contacted under par. (b) 2. and who has deposited his or her operator’s license fails to appear in court at the date specified by the officer under par. (b) 2. a. or set under s. 345.32, 345.34 or 345.36 or at any subsequent court appearance for the nonmoving traffic violation, the person may be deemed to have entered a plea of no contest. The court may accept the plea of no contest, find the defendant guilty and, except as limited by sub. (6), proceed under s. 345.47. If the court enters judgment under s. 345.47 (1), the court shall give notice of the entry of judgment to the defendant by mailing a copy of the judgment to the defendant’s last-known address. The court shall also mail to the defendant’s last-known address a statement setting forth the actions the court may take under s. 345.47 if the judgment is not paid. In lieu of accepting the plea of no contest, the court may issue a warrant commanding that the person be arrested and brought before the court. Unless the case is tried immediately with the person’s consent, any person who is arrested on a warrant issued under this subdivision may be released on his or her own recognizance or on posting bond or may be released without bail and shall be released if the person posts cash bail for his or her appearance. The court may retain the person’s license, but the person’s operating privilege may not be suspended until after judgment is entered under s. 345.47 and the judgment is not paid.

345.28(5)(c)3. 3. A default judgment entered under this paragraph may be reopened as provided under s. 345.51.

345.28(5m) (5m) 

345.28(5m)(a) (a) No notice under sub. (4) (a) 1. may be sent to the department, or if the notice has already been sent the notice shall be canceled, and no further action may be taken against the owner under sub. (4) or (5) or s. 341.10 (7m) or 341.63 (1) (c) if:

345.28(5m)(a)1. 1. The vehicle involved in a nonmoving traffic violation is owned by a person engaged in the business of renting or leasing motor vehicles;

345.28(5m)(a)2. 2. At the time of the violation the vehicle was in the possession of a renter or lessee;

345.28(5m)(a)3. 3. The owner of the vehicle provides the information required under s. 343.46 (3) for such renter or lessee to the authority who issued the citation within 10 days after the 2nd notice was sent to the owner under sub. (4) (c) 1.; and

345.28(5m)(a)4. 4. After being notified by the authority, the renter or lessee identified under subd. 3. pays the forfeiture or appears in court in response to the citation for the nonmoving traffic violation within 30 days after the 2nd notice from the authority is mailed.

345.28(5m)(b) (b) If the renter or lessee does not pay the forfeiture or appear in court in response to the citation for a nonmoving traffic violation, the authority may notify the department under sub. (4) (a) 1. that a citation has been issued to the person and the citation remains unpaid. The action which the authority shall specify that the department take under sub. (4) (a) 2. is limited to refusal of the registration of any vehicle owned by the renter or lessee.

345.28(5m)(c) (c)

345.28(5m)(c)1. 1. Except as otherwise provided in sub. (5w) (b), if the renter or lessee does not pay the forfeiture or appear in court in response to the citation for a nonmoving traffic violation within 30 days after the 2nd notice from the authority is mailed to the renter or lessee, the owner shall pay the authority the forfeiture applicable to the nonmoving traffic violation. The authority shall notify the owner in writing of its responsibility for this payment.

345.28(5m)(c)2. 2. Except as otherwise provided in sub. (5w) (b), if the owner does not pay the forfeiture applicable to the citation within 30 days after notice under subd. 1. has been mailed to the owner, the authority may send a notice to the department under sub. (4) (a) 1. The action which the authority shall specify that the department take under sub. (4) (a) 2. is limited to suspension of the registration of the vehicle involved in the nonmoving traffic violation.

345.28(5m)(d) (d) The notices to the renter or lessee required under sub. (4) (b) 1. shall be mailed on 2 separate days to the last-known address of the renter or lessee and shall include the information specified in sub. (4) (c) 1. and the name of the owner of the vehicle.

345.28(5r) (5r) 

345.28(5r)(a) (a) No notice under sub. (4) (a) 2. may be sent to the department, or if the notice has already been sent the notice shall be canceled, and no further action may be taken against the owner under sub. (4) or (5) or s. 341.10 (7m) or 341.63 (1) (c) if:

345.28(5r)(a)1. 1. The vehicle to which towing and storage charges apply is owned by a person engaged in the business of renting or leasing motor vehicles;

345.28(5r)(a)2. 2. At the time of its towing and storage the vehicle was in the possession of a renter or lessee;

345.28(5r)(a)3. 3. The owner of the vehicle provides the information required under s. 343.46 (3) for such renter or lessee to the authority who issued the citation within 10 days after the 2nd notice was sent to the owner under sub. (4) (c) 2.; and

345.28(5r)(a)4. 4. After being notified by the authority, the renter or lessee identified under subd. 3. pays the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges within 30 days after the 2nd notice from the authority is mailed.

345.28(5r)(b) (b) If the renter or lessee does not pay the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges, the authority may notify the department under sub. (4) (a) 1m. that towing and storage charges remain unpaid. The action which the authority shall specify that the department take under sub. (4) (a) 2. is limited to refusal of the registration of any vehicle owned by the renter or lessee.

345.28(5r)(c) (c)

345.28(5r)(c)1. 1. Except as otherwise provided in sub. (5w) (b), if the renter or lessee does not pay the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges within 30 days after the 2nd notice from the authority is mailed to the renter or lessee, the owner shall pay the authority the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges. The authority shall notify the owner in writing of its responsibility for this payment.

345.28(5r)(c)2. 2. Except as otherwise provided in sub. (5w) (b), if the owner does not pay the amount of the outstanding towing and storage charges within 30 days after notice under subd. 1. has been mailed to the owner, the authority may send a notice to the department under sub. (4) (a) 1m. The action which the authority shall specify that the department take under sub. (4) (a) 2. is limited to suspension of the registration of the vehicle to which the towing and storage charges apply.

345.28(5r)(d) (d) The notices to the renter or lessee required under sub. (4) (b) 2. shall be mailed on 2 separate days to the last-known address of the renter or lessee and shall include the information specified in sub. (4) (c) 2. and the name of the owner of the vehicle.

345.28(5w) (5w) 

345.28(5w)(a) (a) If the owner of a rental or leased vehicle has received written notice under sub. (5m) (c) 1. or (5r) (c) 1. and pays any forfeiture, costs, or towing and storage charges for nonmoving traffic violations under this section that occurred while the renter or lessee was in possession of the vehicle, the rental or leased vehicle owner may, within 30 days after receiving the notice, charge a credit card belonging to the renter or lessee as payment for the forfeiture, costs, and charges for which the renter or lessee is liable as well as charge the renter an administrative fee of not more than $30 for making those payments under this section, if the owner:

345.28(5w)(a)1. 1. Provided a written notice to the renter or lessee, prior to entering into the rental or lease agreement, that if the renter or lessee fails to pay any forfeitures, costs, or towing and storage charges for nonmoving traffic violations incurred while the renter or lessee is in possession of the rental or leased vehicle, the owner may pay those sums and charge the amount paid for such forfeitures, costs, or charges plus an administrative fee of not more than $30 to a credit card belonging to the renter or lessee.

345.28(5w)(a)2. 2. Provides the renter or lessee with a detailed itemization of all amounts charged to the renter’s or lessee’s credit card, within 30 days after charging that credit card, that includes the date that the charge was made and, for each nonmoving traffic violation forfeiture incurred by the renter or lessee that the owner paid, the name of the authority issuing the citation, the citation number, and the date of the citation.

345.28(5w)(b) (b) If the owner of a rental or leased vehicle has received written notice under sub. (5m) (c) 1. or (5r) (c) 1. and is required to pay any forfeiture or towing and storage charges for nonmoving traffic violations under this section that occurred while the renter or lessee was in possession of the vehicle and the renter or lessee did not pay the rental or lease fee with a credit card, or paid with a credit card for which payment of the forfeitures and charges under this section is being declined by the issuer of the credit card, the rental or leased vehicle owner shall pay the authority 50 percent of the amount of the forfeiture under sub. (2) (a) or towing and storage charges, provided that the owner advises the authority that the payment is made under this paragraph.

345.28(5x) (5x) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall promulgate rules specifying the form of the notice required under sub. (5w) (a) 1., including the type size and any highlighting of the information described in that paragraph and, if the notice is on a separate form, the size of the paper. The rules must require the notice to be in substantially the same form as the notice under s. 344.576 (3) (a) and may specify additional information to be included in the notice and the precise language that must be used.

345.28(6) (6) No person may be arrested or imprisoned under s. 345.47 (1) (a) or ch. 785 for failure to pay a judgment assessed under this section and s. 345.47.

345.28(7) (7) Nothing in this section prevents a court from issuing a warrant under s. 345.36 or 345.37 if the person appears in court in response to a citation for a nonmoving traffic violation or after notice by the authority who issued the citation or the department under sub. (4) with respect to the citation or on the date specified by the officer or the court under sub. (5) and then fails to appear in court at any time fixed by subsequent postponement. Unless the case is tried immediately with the person’s consent, any person who is arrested on a warrant issued under this subsection may be released on his or her own recognizance or on posting bond or may be released without bail and shall be released if the person posts cash bail for his or her appearance.

345.28 History History: 1981 c. 165; 1983 a. 103, 169; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (32); 1983 a. 330; 1983 a. 538 ss. 219, 269 (1), (2); 1989 a. 31, 105; 1991 a. 67; 1993 a. 399, 437; 1997 a. 237; 2003 a. 201; 2007 a. 207; 2015 a. 60.

345.285 345.285 Alternative traffic violation and registration pilot program.

345.285(1) (1) The department may administer an alternative traffic violation and registration pilot program. Any pilot program under this section shall provide alternative methods of suspending and refusing vehicle registrations for unpaid citations for nonmoving traffic violations in lieu of applicable requirements of s. 345.28.

345.285(2) (2) The department may contract with a city of the 1st class to permit the city to suspend vehicle registrations for unpaid citations for nonmoving traffic violations. The department may not enter into a contract under this subsection after June 30, 2001. A contract under this subsection shall include all of the following provisions: