What are Wisconsin Traffic Court Records?

Wisconsin traffic records refer to all legal documentation and case files created in traffic court proceedings in Wisconsin. Under the Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Code, documents pertaining to moving violations, non-moving violations, and civil and criminal traffic offenses may be included in this designation.

Are Wisconsin Traffic Court Records Public Records?

As is the case with proceedings in courts of public record, Wisconsin traffic court records are covered by the Wisconsin Public Records Law and, as such, are available to members of the public. The only exemptions are confidential records, either by law or court order.

Wisconsin Traffic Ticket Lookup

Traffic citations in Wisconsin are issued by municipal police departments, county sheriff's offices, and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Once a ticket is issued, it is filed with the appropriate municipal or circuit court in the county where the violation occurred. The primary resource for performing a traffic ticket lookup in Wisconsin is the Wisconsin Court System's Circuit Court Access (CCAP). This public database allows searches by name, citation number, or case number and provides access to information on traffic forfeitures and related court proceedings.

Details typically available include the citation type, violation date, case status, court location, and financial obligations such as fines or surcharges. In addition, the portal may indicate whether the offense requires a mandatory appearance or if it can be resolved through payment alone. Some municipal courts not fully integrated into CCAP maintain their case search portals or require direct contact with the court clerk to confirm ticket details.

Which Courts in Wisconsin Have Jurisdiction to Hear Traffic Violation Matters?

Wisconsin traffic violations and infractions are tried in Wisconsin Municipal and Circuit Courts. This depends on the circumstances, such as the location of the violation and the statute/ordinance deemed to have been violated. State statutes may be heard in Wisconsin Circuit Courts, while violations of local ordinances may be heard in municipal courts.

Getting a Traffic Ticket in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, motor vehicle operators deemed to have violated rules of the motor vehicle code by a law enforcement officer are issued a ticket to cite for the violation. The ticket, referred to as a Uniform Traffic Citation (UTC) form, is a computer-generated long form that represents the officer's sworn statement about the incident as observed by the officer. Each citation may be resolved by court action. The officer completes the citation and may detail the alleged offender's information, including full name, date of birth, address, height, weight, and sex. Information about the offender's license and details of the vehicle involved in the alleged incident may be contained. The location of the incident, along with the time and date, may also be on the citation. The officer may add a description of the violation and the law/statute/ordinance deemed to have been violated. The officer may include his name and ID number. The officer may also indicate if a court appearance may be required to respond to the citation, the date and time of appearance, the location of the designated court, the fine amount due for the violation, and the estimated number of demerit points that come with a conviction. Other relevant court and demerit point information can be found on the ticket's reverse side.

Traffic tickets in Wisconsin are considered strict liability offenses. Strict liability is a standard where the offender is legally responsible for the consequences resulting from the offense, regardless of fault or criminal intent. This means that if there is proof you committed an act, such as a citation from a law enforcement officer, the law can be enforced without further process.

Wisconsin traffic violations can be criminal or civil. Criminal offenses are typically misdemeanor offenses (except where a felony was committed) and could include jail time and fines. In some cases, excessive speeding may rise to felony overspeeding in Wisconsin, resulting in harsher penalties than ordinary speeding violations. Civil offenses are forfeitures that generally come with only fines. Wisconsin considers DUI/OWIs, for the first offense, to be civil forfeiture and not a criminal offense. All traffic violations can be classified as moving and non-moving violations. Moving violations refer to offenses committed by a vehicle in motion. Non-moving violations generally happen with vehicles not in motion or with faulty or broken equipment. Moving vehicles can be cited for Non-moving violations. This may, however, be treated differently in the courts. Non-moving violations are not reported to the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles and may not appear on your driving record.

All traffic violations come with a fine and demerit points on the offender's driving record; some may come with jail time. Fines may differ by location and court. You may also be assessed with ticket fees depending on the violation and license type. Wisconsin operates a demerit points system, and points stay on your record for five years or longer, depending on offense type. Accumulating 12 points or more in 12 months may lead to losing driving privileges for up to 6 months. Accumulating 30 points or more may result in a 1-year suspension.

What to Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket in Wisconsin?

If you receive a traffic citation in Wisconsin, a response is required and may be made by the court date indicated on the ticket. Failure to respond to a citation results in a guilty verdict against you and the imposition of applicable maximum fines and penalties. You can choose to either:

• Pay the traffic ticket
• Dispute the ticket

Opting to pay the fine represents a guilty plea in the eyes of the law. This may represent your acceptance of the charges against you. It also indicates an agreement on your part to accept and cover all fines, fees, and penalties. A report may be sent to the DMV, and demerit points may be issued to your driver's record. You have also waived your right to contest the ticket in court.

• Unless a court appearance is required, you can pay the fine before the court appearance date indicated on the ticket. Payment can be made in person at the court clerk's office before the appearance date or your court appearance, on the court's website, or by mailing the amount with citation details to the court. Your payment may be received by the court date to eliminate the need for a court appearance.
• If a court appearance is required, you may appear on the court date to enter your plea and settle your fines.

Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Wisconsin

Opting to dispute the ticket represents a not guilty plea and an affirmation of your right to contest the ticket in court.

• To dispute the ticket without having to make your court appearance, you can send a not guilty plea by mail to the court. It may be sent before the scheduled court date and included should be a copy of the citation (or the citation number), your name and mailing address. A pre-trial notice to appear may be sent to notify you of your new court date.
• If you have to make a court appearance, you may do so to enter your plea and set the pre-trial hearing. You can also meet with the prosecuting attorney to see if a plea bargain can be reached. If not, a trial date may be set, and you should consider retaining an attorney's services.

Wisconsin Driving Record Check

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Division of Motor Vehicles, manages the issuance of driving records. These records contain license status details, traffic convictions, demerit points, accidents, suspensions, and reinstatements. Wisconsin provides certified and non-certified versions, with certified records required for official use.

The fee for a Wisconsin driving record is $5.00. Requests may be made online through WisDOT's DMV portal, in person at a DMV customer service center, or by mail. Online access allows instant record retrieval, while mailed requests require a check or money order payment.

Mail requests should be addressed to:

WisDOT Division of Motor Vehicles
Driver Information Section
P.O. Box 7995
Madison, WI 53707-7995

The official form for mail requests is Form MV2896, Vehicle/Driver Record Information Request.

Obtaining Another Person's Driving Record

In Wisconsin, the Division of Motor Vehicles only releases another person's driving record when permitted under state law and federal privacy rules. A requester must complete Form MV2896, stating the permissible statutory purpose, which may include insurance, court proceedings, government verification, or employment in regulated positions. Written consent from the record holder may also be required.

Free DMV Driving Records in Wisconsin

Wisconsin does not provide official driving records free of charge.

What to Expect in Wisconsin Traffic Court

• If you are found not guilty at trial, the charges against you are dismissed, and you are released of all fines, fees, and demerits; however, court costs are still applicable.
• If you are found guilty at trial, you may be obligated to pay all fines, fees, and any other charges and penalties imposed by the court, including court costs. Demerit points may also be added to your record.

Taking a court-approved traffic safety course can reduce demerit points. Successful completion of the course may result in up to a 3-point reduction. You may be required to be eligible, under Wisconsin DMV requirements, to take the course, which can only be taken once every three years.

How Do I Find Wisconsin Traffic Court Records?

Traffic court records may be found on the court websites where the cases were heard. You can access the documents online by following the requisite instructions. Otherwise, you can visit the court clerk's office in person and make your request. Court charges may be applicable if you need copies of the record. Requests for records are subject to verification of the requesting party's identity.

Publicly available records are accessible from some third-party websites. These websites offer the benefit of not being limited by geographical record availability and can often serve as a starting point when researching specific or multiple records. To find a record using the search engines on these sites, interested parties may provide:

• The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile
• The assumed location of the record in question, such as a city, county, or state name

Third-party sites are not government-sponsored websites; record availability may differ from official channels.

What Information is Required to Obtain Wisconsin Traffic Court Records?

Information about the record being sought may be needed to obtain traffic court records. This may include the full name, date of birth, and the case number of the record. Other information might be required. The person requesting the record may also need to provide information, including a full name and a valid form of identification. Depending on the scope of the request, there might be applicable court fees, which may be paid before the release of records.

Can Wisconsin Traffic Records be Sealed or Expunged?

Wisconsin laws are stringent and allow for the expungement of adult criminal records in very limited circumstances. To be eligible for an expungement:

• You are required to have been under the age of 25 at the time of the conviction
• Offense convicted for carrying a maximum sentence of 6 years
• You have completed all the obligations of your conviction.

A request for expungement may have been made at the time of sentencing, and the court may have reached a decision. It may also be possible to expunge your records if you were arrested but released without charge or if the charges were dropped or dismissed. There is no authority to expunge traffic forfeitures or civil cases.

How to Prepare for Traffic Court in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, preparing for traffic court involves familiarizing yourself with the details of your citation and the relevant state statutes. It may involve:

• Understanding the potential penalties, including fines and license points
• Consulting with a traffic attorney who can provide legal advice and representation
• Collecting any evidence or documentation that supports your case, such as witness statements or photographs
• Possibly negotiating a plea bargain with the prosecutor if it is likely to impact potential penalties/sentences