Village of Theresa, WI Article V Enforcement

[Amended 8-1-2005 by Ord. No. 1-10; 9-11-2006]

§ 337-34 Violations and forfeitures.

A. Forfeiture. The penalty for violation of any provision of this chapter shall be a forfeiture as hereafter provided, together with court costs and fees prescribed by § 814.63(1) and (2) or 814.65(1), Wis. Stats., the forfeiture assessment for moving traffic violations and the driver improvement surcharge imposed by §§ 757.05 and 346.655, Wis. Stats., where applicable. Payment of the judgment and applicable court costs, fees, assessments and surcharges may be suspended by the sentencing court for not more than 60 days. Any person 17 years of age or older who shall fail to pay the amount of the forfeiture, court costs, any penalty assessment or driver surcharge or other penalty imposed for violation of any provision of this chapter may, upon order of the court entering judgment therefor and having jurisdiction of the case, be imprisoned until such forfeiture, costs and assessment are paid, but not exceeding 90 days.

B. Other sanctions.

(1) By court. Nothing herein shall preclude or affect the power of the sentencing court to exercise additional authorities granted by the Wisconsin Statutes to suspend or revoke the operating privileges of the defendant or to order the defendant to submit to assessment and rehabilitation programs or to attend traffic safety school in addition to payment of a monetary forfeiture or in lieu or imprisonment.

(2) By municipality. Any person who has been convicted of a violation of any provision of this chapter and has not paid the forfeiture shall not be issued a license or permit by the Village, except a dog license, until the forfeiture imposed for such violation and any penalty assessment, court costs and fees or surcharge are paid.

C. Forfeitures for violation of uniform moving traffic regulations. Forfeitures for violations of any moving traffic regulation set forth in the Wisconsin Statutes adopted by reference in § 337-1 shall conform to the forfeiture permitted to be imposed for violations of the comparable Wisconsin Statute, including any variations or increases for subsequent offenses; provided, however, that this subsection shall not be construed to permit prosecution under this chapter for any offense described in Chs. 341 to 349, Wis. Stats., for which an imprisonment penalty or fine may be imposed upon the defendant.

D. Forfeitures for parking violations.

(1) Forfeitures for uniform statewide parking, stopping and standing offenses. Minimum and maximum forfeitures for violation of nonmoving traffic regulations adopted by reference in § 337-1 as described in Chs. 341 to 349, Wis. Stats., shall be as found in the current edition of the Revised Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule.

(2) Parking citations should be paid in a time line basis:

[Amended 3-7-2011; 12-2-2019]

(a) If paid within one to five days, a fine of $40.

(b) After five days, a fine of $65.

(c) After 30 days, a letter may be sent to the registered owner giving notice that registration may be suspended or revoked.

(d) After 90 days of nonpayment, a referral will be made to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation notifying them of the unpaid parking citation with a request for the suspension of the vehicle's registration until such time that it is paid.

E. Other violations. Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter for which a penalty is not otherwise established by this section may be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $20 nor more than $600.

§ 337-35 Enforcement.

A. Enforcement procedures.

(1) How enforced. This chapter shall be enforced in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Wisconsin Statutes and this section.

(2) Applicable court procedures. Except where otherwise specifically provided by the laws of the State of Wisconsin or this Code, the traffic regulations in this Code shall be enforced in accordance with the provisions of § 345.20(2)(b) and Ch. 800, Wis. Stats.

B. Citations.

(1) Uniform citation and complaint. The Wisconsin Uniform Traffic Citation and Complaint described and defined in the Wisconsin Statutes may be used for enforcement of all provisions of this chapter except those provisions which describe or define nonmoving traffic violations and violations of §§ 346.71 through 346.73, Wis. Stats. Violations of §§ 346.71 through 346.73, Wis. Stats., shall be reported to the District Attorney and the Wisconsin Uniform Traffic Citation shall not be used in such cases except upon written request of the District Attorney.

[Amended 3-7-2011]

(2) Parking citations. The Chief of Police shall recommend to the Village Board a citation for use in enforcing the nonmoving traffic offenses in this chapter. Such citation shall be used for enforcement of nonmoving traffic regulations created or adopted by this chapter, including violations of nonmoving traffic regulations defined and described in the Wisconsin Statutes adopted by reference in § 337-1 and all provisions regarding nonmoving traffic violations in this chapter. The citation for nonmoving traffic violations shall contain a notice that the person cited may discharge the forfeiture for violation of a nonmoving traffic regulation and penalty thereof by complying with Subsection C(2) of this section. Nonmoving traffic citations may be issued by law enforcement officers or by civilian employees of the Police Department.

C. Deposits and stipulations.

(1) Uniform traffic offenses.

(a) Who may make. Persons arrested or cited for violation of moving traffic offenses created by this chapter shall be permitted to make deposits and stipulations of no contest or released by the arresting officer in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Wisconsin Statutes. Stipulations of guilt or no contest may be made by persons arrested for violations of this chapter in accordance with § 66.0114(1)(b), Wis. Stats., whenever the provisions of § 345.27, Wis. Stats., are inapplicable to such violations. Stipulations shall conform to the form contained in the uniform traffic citation and complaint under § 345.11, Wis. Stats.

(b) Delivery or mailing of deposit and stipulation. Any person stipulating guilt or no contest under the preceding subsection must make the deposit required under § 345.26, Wis. Stats., as established under such statute. Deposits may be brought or mailed to the Dodge County Clerk of Courts' office within five days of the issuance of the citation in lieu of court appearance.

(2) Nonmoving traffic offenses.

(a) Direct payment of forfeiture permitted. Persons cited (summons not issued) for violation of nonmoving traffic regulations described and defined in this chapter may discharge the forfeiture thereof and avoid court prosecution by mailing or forwarding within five days of the issuance of the citation to the Dodge County Clerk of Courts the minimum forfeiture specified for the violation. When payment is made as provided in this subsection, no court costs shall be charged.

(b) Court prosecution. Copies of citations will be forwarded to the Clerk of Courts' office in a timely manner for processing and handled according to its policies and procedures.

(c) Registration suspension. If the alleged violator 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 on the citation, within 28 days after the citation is issued, the Dodge County Clerk of Courts may ask the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to suspend the registration of the vehicle involved or refuse registration of any vehicle owned by the person pursuant to the provisions of § 345.28(4), Wis. Stats., and Subsection C(3) below.

(d) Oath. Any official authorized to accept deposits under § 345.26, Wis. Stats., or this section shall qualify by taking the oath prescribed by § 19.01, Wis. Stats.

(3) Notice of demerit points and receipt. Every officer accepting a forfeited penalty or money deposit under this section shall receipt therefor in triplicate as provided in § 345.26(3)(b), Wis. Stats. Every officer accepting a stipulation under the provisions of this section shall comply with the provisions of §§ 343.28, 345.26(1)(a) and 345.27(2), Wis. Stats., and shall require the alleged violator to sign a statement of notice in substantially the form contained on the uniform traffic citation and complaint promulgated under § 345.11, Wis. Stats.

(4) Registration suspension program.

(a) The Village shall participate in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Traffic Violation and Registration Program as set forth in § 345.28, Wis. Stats., and Ch. TRANS 128, Wis. Adm. Code, and all amendments or changes thereto.

(b) The Chief of Police is hereby designated as a delegated authority for purposes of §§ 85.13 and 345.28, Wis. Stats., and Ch. TRANS 128, Wis. Adm. Code. The Chief of Police and/or municipal prosecuting attorney is authorized to perform, on behalf of the Village, all functions required of a local authority under said statutes and code, including but not limited to:

[1] Preparing and completing all forms and notices, notifying the Wisconsin Department of Transportation of unpaid citations for nonmoving traffic violations;

[2] Specifying whether the registration of vehicles involved in unpaid citations for nonmoving traffic violations should be suspended and/or whether registration should be refused for any vehicle owned by persons with unpaid citations for nonmoving traffic violations;

[3] Determining the method by which the Village will pay the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for administration of the program and establishing the effective date for participation; and

[4] Taking such other action as is necessary to institute and continue participation in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Traffic Violation and Registration Program.

(c) The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to assign a member of the Police Department to perform such acts as are necessary to effectuate this Subsection C(4).

(d) In addition to all applicable fines and court costs, the cost of using the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Traffic Violation and Registration Program shall be assessed as permitted by § 345.28(4)(d), Wis. Stats. The Police Department may refuse to notify the Wisconsin Department of Transportation of payment on a citation until all applicable fines and costs, including costs assessed under the preceding sentence, are paid.

(e) This Subsection C(4) shall not be interpreted as requiring that all unpaid citations for nonmoving traffic violations be processed through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Traffic Violation and Registration Program. The Village's participation in such program shall be in addition to any and all other means legally available to enforce such citations.