Chapter 973

973.055(4) (4) A court may waive part or all of the domestic abuse surcharge under this section if it determines that the imposition of the full surcharge would have a negative impact on the offender’s family.

973.055 History History: 1979 c. 111; 1979 c. 221 s. 2202 (20); 1979 c. 355; 1981 c. 20 s. 2202 (20) (s); 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (20); 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 262, 319; 1995 a. 27, 201, 343, 353; 1997 a. 27, 35, 143; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 1999 a. 185; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 33, 139, 225, 326, 327; 2007 a. 20, 97, 127; 2011 a. 35; 2013 a. 362.

973.057 973.057 Global positioning system tracking surcharge.

973.057(1) (1) If a court convicts a person under s. 813.12 or 813.125, or a conforming municipal ordinance, the court shall impose a global positioning system tracking surcharge under ch. 814 of $200 for each offense.

973.057(2) (2) 

973.057(2)(a) (a) If the surcharge is imposed by a court of record, after the court determines the amount due, the clerk of the court shall collect and transmit the amount to the county treasurer as provided in s. 59.40 (2) (m). The county treasurer shall then make payment to the secretary of administration as provided in s. 59.25 (3) (f) 2.

973.057(2)(b) (b) If the surcharge is imposed by a municipal court, after a determination by the court of the amount due, the court shall collect and transmit the amount to the treasurer of the county, city, town, or village, and that treasurer shall make payment to the secretary of administration as provided in s. 66.0114 (1) (bm).

973.057(3) (3) All moneys collected from global positioning system tracking surcharges shall be deposited by the secretary of administration in s. 20.410 (1) (gL) and utilized in accordance with s. 301.49.

973.057(4) (4) If the moneys collected under this section prove inadequate to fund the global positioning system tracking program under s. 301.49, the department may, by rule, increase the surcharge under sub. (1) by not more than 5 percent each year to cover the costs of the global positioning system tracking program.

973.057 History History: 2011 a. 266; 2013 a. 165 s. 115

973.06 973.06 Costs, fees, and surcharges.

973.06(1) (1) Except as provided in s. 93.20, the costs, fees, and surcharges taxable against the defendant shall consist of the following items and no others:

973.06(1)(a) (a) The necessary disbursements and fees of officers allowed by law and incurred in connection with the arrest, preliminary examination and trial of the defendant, including, in the discretion of the court, the fees and disbursements of the agent appointed to return a defendant from another state or country.

973.06(1)(am) (am) Moneys expended by a law enforcement agency under all of the following conditions:

973.06(1)(am)1. 1. The agency expended the moneys to purchase a controlled substance or controlled substance analog that was distributed in violation of ch. 961.

973.06(1)(am)2. 2. The moneys were expended in the course of an investigation that resulted in the defendant’s conviction.

973.06(1)(am)3. 3. The moneys were used to obtain evidence of the defendant’s violation of the law.

973.06(1)(am)4. 4. The agency has not previously been reimbursed or repaid for the expended moneys by the defendant.

973.06(1)(ar) (ar) If the defendant violated s. 947.017, the moneys expended by a state or local government agency for the following activities in connection with a threat under s. 947.017 (2):

973.06(1)(ar)1. 1. The response to the threat by emergency medical personnel, as defined in s. 941.37 (1) (c).

973.06(1)(ar)2. 2. The analysis of any substance alleged to be a harmful substance, as defined in s. 947.017 (1).

973.06(1)(ar)3. 3. The medical treatment of persons who are alleged to have been exposed to an alleged harmful substance, as defined in s. 947.017 (1).

973.06(1)(av) (av)

973.06(1)(av)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if the defendant violated s. 946.41 by obstructing an officer, the reasonable costs expended by a state or local law enforcement agency or emergency response agency to respond to or investigate the false information that the defendant provided or the physical evidence that the defendant placed. Costs allowable under this paragraph may include personnel costs and costs associated with the use of police or emergency response vehicles.

973.06(1)(av)2. 2. No costs may be taxable against a defendant under this paragraph if any of the following applies:

973.06(1)(av)2.a. a. The defendant was charged under s. 946.41 solely because he or she recanted a report of abusive conduct, including interspousal battery, as described under s. 940.19 or 940.20 (1m), domestic abuse, as defined in s. 49.165 (1) (a), 813.12 (1) (am), or 968.075 (1) (a), harassment, as defined in s. 813.125 (1) (am) 4., sexual exploitation by a therapist under s. 940.22, sexual assault under s. 940.225, child abuse, as defined under s. 813.122 (1) (a), or child abuse under ss. 948.02 to 948.11.

973.06(1)(av)2.b. b. The defendant was a victim of abusive conduct, including interspousal battery, as described under s. 940.19 or 940.20 (1m), domestic abuse, as defined in s. 49.165 (1) (a), 813.12 (1) (am), or 968.075 (1) (a), harassment, as defined in s. 813.125 (1) (am) 4., sexual exploitation by a therapist under s. 940.22, sexual assault under s. 940.225, child abuse, as defined under s. 813.122 (1) (a), or child abuse under ss. 948.02 to 948.11, and he or she was charged under s. 946.41 based on information he or she omitted or false information he or she provided during the course of an investigation into the crime committed against him or her.

973.06(1)(av)2.c. c. The defendant was charged under s. 946.41 solely because his or her report did not lead to criminal charges against, or a conviction of, another person.

973.06(1)(b) (b) Fees and travel allowance of witnesses for the state at the preliminary examination and the trial.

973.06(1)(c) (c) Fees and disbursements allowed by the court to expert witnesses. Section 814.04 (2) shall not apply in criminal cases.

973.06(1)(d) (d) Fees and travel allowance of witnesses for the defense incurred by the county at the request of the defendant, at the preliminary hearing and the trial.

973.06(1)(e) (e) Attorney fees payable to the defense attorney by the county or the state. If the court determines at the time of sentencing that the defendant’s financial circumstances are changed, the court may adjust the amount in accordance with s. 977.07 (1) (a) and rules promulgated under s. 977.02 (3).

973.06(1)(g) (g) An amount equal to 10 percent of any restitution ordered under s. 973.20, payable to the county treasurer for use by the county.

973.06(1)(h) (h) The cost of performance of a test under s. 968.38, if ordered by the court.

973.06(1)(j) (j) If the defendant violated s. 23.33 (4c), 23.335 (12) (a) or (b), 30.681, 114.09, 346.63, 350.101, 940.09 (1), or 940.25, any costs charged to or paid by a law enforcement agency for the withdrawal of the defendant’s blood, except that the court may not impose on the defendant any cost for an alternative test provided free of charge as described in s. 343.305 (4). If at the time the court finds that the defendant committed the violation, the law enforcement agency has not paid or been charged with the costs of withdrawing the person’s blood, the court shall impose and collect the costs the law enforcement agency reasonably expects to be charged for the withdrawal, based on the current charges for this procedure. Notwithstanding sub. (2), the court may not remit these costs.

973.06(2) (2) The court may remit the taxable costs, in whole or in part.

973.06(3) (3) If the court orders payment of restitution, collection of costs shall be as provided under s. 973.20.

973.06 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 784 (1975); 1979 c. 356; 1981 c. 352; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 347, 398, 403; 1991 a. 39, 269; 1995 a. 27, 53, 448; 1999 a. 58, 69, 186; 2003 a. 104, 139; 2007 a. 84; 2009 a. 164; 2011 a. 32, 269; 2015 a. 55, 170, 253; 2021 a. 76.

973.06 Annotation An accused who cancels a jury trial at the last moment to accept a plea bargain risks both taxation of costs under this section and assessment of jury fees under s. 814.51. State v. Foster, 100 Wis. 2d 103, 301 N.W.2d 192 (1981).

973.06 Annotation A court may not order reimbursement of a law enforcement agency for routine investigative activities. State v. Peterson, 163 Wis. 2d 800, 472 N.W.2d 571 (Ct. App. 1991).

973.06 Annotation Contribution under sub. (1) (e) toward a defendant’s attorney fees payable by the county may not be taxed in an order separate from the sentence. State v. Grant, 168 Wis. 2d 682, 484 N.W.2d 370 (Ct. App. 1992).

973.06 Annotation Sub. (1) (c) does not limit recovery of expert witness fees to fees for court appointed witnesses. State v. Schmaling, 198 Wis. 2d 756, 543 N.W.2d 555 (Ct. App. 1995).

973.06 Annotation A court was authorized to order that a defendant pay the cost of DNA testing by a private laboratory as a cost under this section. State v. Beiersdorf, 208 Wis. 2d 492, 561 N.W.2d 749 (Ct. App. 1997), 95-1234.

973.06 Annotation Expenses incurred by a sheriff’s department in transporting a witness from a Florida corrections facility to testify at the defendant’s trial were chargeable to the defendant under sub. (1) (a). State v. Bender, 213 Wis. 2d 338, 570 N.W.2d 590 (Ct. App. 1997), 97-1095.

973.06 Annotation For costs to be imposed under sub. (1) (am), all the listed conditions must be met. State v. Neave, 220 Wis. 2d 786, 585 N.W.2d 169 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-3486.

973.06 Annotation Sub. (1) (c) authorized the taxation of the costs of an expert’s medical examination when the development of that evidence was used in the prosecution of the defendant although the examination was not done in contemplation of trial and the expert witness did not testify. State v. Rohe, 230 Wis. 2d 294, 602 N.W.2d 125 (Ct. App. 1999), 99-0233.

973.06 Annotation “Disbursements and fees” are given the same meaning in sub. (1) (a) and (c). Whether the expenses associated with orders to produce a defendant are taxable “fees of officers” under sub. (1) (a) depends upon whether they are ordinarily charged to and payable by another or are merely internal operating expenses of a governmental unit. State v. Dismuke, 2001 WI 75, 244 Wis. 2d 457, 628 N.W.2d 791, 99-1734.

973.06 Annotation The trial court has inherent authority to assess the cost of impaneling a jury against a party. The purpose of imposing jury costs is to deter disruptive practices that contribute to inefficiency in the court system. The trial court is not limited to imposing costs on parties, but may sanction an attorney whose conduct negligently disrupts the court’s orderly administration of justice. O’Neil v. Monroe County Circuit Court, 2003 WI App 149, 266 Wis. 2d 155, 667 N.W.2d 774, 02-2866.

973.06 Annotation When a defendant agrees to reimburse the county for the attorney fees of standby counsel or the circuit court informs the defendant of the defendant’s potential liability for the fees and standby counsel functions as traditional defense counsel, sub. (1) (e) and s. 973.09 (1g) give a circuit court the authority to impose the attorney fees of standby counsel as a condition of probation. If a defendant does not agree to reimburse the county or is not informed of the potential obligation to pay the fees of standby counsel, payment of attorney fees may not be a condition of probation, under sub. (1) (e). When standby counsel acts primarily for the benefit of the court rather than as defense counsel, attorney fees for standby counsel are inappropriate. State v. Campbell, 2006 WI 99, 294 Wis. 2d 100, 718 N.W.2d 649, 04-0803.

973.06 Annotation The obligation of a defendant under this section is not dischargeable in bankruptcy. In re Zarzynski, 771 F.2d 304 (1985).

973.06 Annotation Right to Counsel: Repayment of Cost of Court-Appointed Counsel as a Condition of Probation. Strattner. 56 MLR 551 (1973).

973.07 973.07 Failure to pay fine, fees, surcharges, or costs or to comply with certain community service work. If the fine, plus costs, fees, and surcharges imposed under ch. 814, are not paid or community service work under s. 943.017 (3) is not completed as required by the sentence, the defendant may be committed to the county jail until the fine, costs, fees, and surcharges are paid or discharged, or the community service work under s. 943.017 (3) is completed, for a period fixed by the court not to exceed 6 months.

973.07 History History: 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 34, 111; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 36; 1987 a. 27, 339; 1989 a. 64; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 24; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 139.

973.07 Annotation Section 973.05 (1), permitting a delay of 60 days for payment of a fine, and this section, allowing commitment to jail for nonpayment, are constitutional since the court may stay the sentence and put the defendant on probation. The burden of proving inability to pay is on the defendant. State ex rel. Pedersen v. Blessinger, 56 Wis. 2d 286, 201 N.W.2d 778 (1972).

973.07 Annotation When a fine and payment schedule are reasonably suited to an offender’s means, the offender carries a heavy burden of showing inability to pay. Will v. State, 84 Wis. 2d 397, 267 N.W.2d 357 (1978).

973.07 Annotation Commitment under this section may be consecutive to another term of incarceration. State v. Way, 113 Wis. 2d 82, 334 N.W.2d 918 (Ct. App. 1983).

973.07 Annotation The six-month limit on commitments under this section is the aggregate amount of time a defendant may be jailed for nonpayment of a fine. State v. Schuman, 173 Wis. 2d 743, 496 N.W.2d 684 (Ct. App. 1993).

973.07 Annotation Incarceration as a means of collecting a fine is limited to six months by this section. It was error for a court to make payment of an old, unpaid fine a condition of probation for a new conviction when violation of probation exposed the defendant to incarceration of more than six months. State v. Oakley, 2000 WI 37, 234 Wis. 2d 528, 609 N.W.2d 786, 98-1099.

973.07 Annotation In the case of an order for commitment for failure to pay attorney fees, in order to be constitutional this section must require a finding of ability to pay prior to any commitment. The defendant must be given notice and an opportunity to be heard. State v. Helsper, 2006 WI App 243, 297 Wis. 2d 377, 724 N.W.2d 414, 06-0835.

973.075 973.075 Forfeiture of property derived from crime and certain vehicles.

973.075(1) (1) Subject to subs. (1g) and (1m), the following are subject to seizure and forfeiture under ss. 973.075 to 973.077:

973.075(1)(a) (a) All property, real or personal, including money, used in the course of, intended for use in the course of, or directly or indirectly derived from or realized through the commission of any crime.

973.075(1)(b) (b) All vehicles, as defined in s. 939.22 (44), which are used in any of the following ways:

973.075(1)(b)1. 1. To transport any property or weapon used or to be used or received in the commission of any felony.

973.075(1)(b)2. 2. In the commission of a crime under s. 946.70.

973.075(1)(b)3. 3. In the commission of a crime in violation of s. 940.302, 944.30 (1m), 944.31, 944.32, 944.33, 944.34, 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.051, 948.055, 948.06, 948.07, 948.08, 948.081, 948.09, 948.10, 948.12, or 948.14.

973.075(1)(b)4. 4. In the commission of a crime relating to a submerged cultural resource in violation of s. 44.47.

973.075(1)(b)5. 5. To cause more than $2,500 worth of criminal damage to cemetery property in violation of s. 943.01 (2) (d) or 943.012.

973.075(1)(b)6. 6. In the commission of a crime under s. 813.12 (8), 813.122 (11), 813.123 (10), 813.125 (7), 813.128 (4) or 940.32.

973.075(1)(b)7. 7. In the commission of a crime under s. 943.75 (2) or (2m).

973.075(1)(b)8. 8. In the commission of a crime under s. 948.07.

973.075(1)(bg) (bg) Any property used or to be used in the commission of a crime under s. 943.74, 943.75 (2) or (2m), or 948.07.

973.075(1)(bm) (bm) Any property used in the commission of a crime under s. 813.12 (8), 813.122 (11), 813.123 (10), 813.125 (7), 813.128 (4) or 940.32.

973.075(1)(c) (c) All remote sensing equipment, navigational devices, survey equipment and scuba gear and any other equipment or device used in the commission of a crime relating to a submerged cultural resource in violation of s. 44.47.

973.075(1)(d) (d) A tank vessel that violates s. 299.62 (2) that is owned by a person who, within 5 years before the commission of the current violation, was previously convicted of violating s. 299.62 (2).

973.075(1)(e) (e) Any recording, as defined in s. 943.206 (5), created, advertised, offered for sale or rent, sold, rented, transported or possessed in violation of ss. 943.207 to 943.209 or s. 943.49 and any electronic, mechanical or other device for making a recording or for manufacturing, reproducing, packaging or assembling a recording that was used to facilitate a violation of ss. 943.207 to 943.209 or s. 943.49, regardless of the knowledge or intent of the person from whom the recording or device is seized.

973.075(1g) (1g) A judgment of forfeiture may not be entered under ss. 973.075 to 973.077 unless a person is convicted of the criminal offense that was the basis for the seizure of the item or that is related to the action for forfeiture.

973.075(1k) (1k) A person who has been subject to a seizure of property has a right to a pretrial hearing under s. 968.20.

973.075(1m) (1m) The property of an innocent owner may not be forfeited. A person who claims to be an innocent owner may follow the procedures under s. 973.076 (5).

973.075(1r) (1r) If a law enforcement officer or agency or state or local employee or agency refers seized property to a federal agency directly, indirectly, by adoption, through an intergovernmental joint task force, or by other means, for the purposes of forfeiture litigation, the agency shall produce an itemized report of actual forfeiture expenses, including administrative expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, advertising, and court costs and the costs of investigation and prosecution reasonably incurred, and submit the report to the department of administration to make it available on the department’s website. If there is a federal or state criminal conviction for the crime that was the basis for the seizure, the agency may accept all proceeds. If there is no federal or state criminal conviction, the agency may not accept any proceeds, except that the agency may accept all proceeds if one of the following circumstances applies and is explained in the report submitted under this subsection:

973.075(1r)(a) (a) The defendant has died.

973.075(1r)(b) (b) The defendant was deported by the U.S. government.

973.075(1r)(c) (c) The defendant has been granted immunity in exchange for testifying or otherwise assisting a law enforcement investigation or prosecution.

973.075(1r)(d) (d) The defendant fled the jurisdiction.

973.075(1r)(e) (e) The property has been unclaimed for a period of at least 9 months.

973.075(2) (2) A law enforcement officer may seize property subject to this section upon process issued by any court of record having jurisdiction over the property. Except for vehicles used in the commission of a crime in violation of s. 940.302, 944.30 (1m), 944.31, 944.32, 944.33, 944.34, 948.02, 948.025, 948.05, 948.051, 948.055, 948.06, 948.07, 948.08, 948.081, 948.09, 948.10, 948.12, or 948.14, seizure without process may be made under any of the following circumstances:

973.075(2)(a) (a) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a search warrant or an inspection under any administrative or special inspection warrant.

973.075(2)(b) (b) The property subject to seizure has been the subject of a prior judgment in favor of the state.

973.075(2)(c) (c) The officer has probable cause to believe that the property is directly or indirectly dangerous to health or safety.