Citation and Traffic Court Information for WALWORTH COUNTY

You have been issued a forfeiture citation by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Police Services.

Please read the following court information carefully.

Court Date: Citation Number: Name: Bond Deposit $

APPEARANCE:

  • The appearance date on your citation is to enter a plea and have a pre-trial conference, if necessary. IT IS NOT A TRIALDATE. The arresting officer will not be present. If you so choose, prior to your appearance date, you may meet with the Court Officer, on Monday, ______anytime between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m at the University Police Department, located on the 1st floor of Goodhue Hall. This meeting may be in lieu of an appearance at Walworth County Court.
  • Initial appearance dates listed on your citation are held in Room 2040 of the Walworth County Judicial Center, 1800 County Hwy NN, Elkhorn, Wisconsin.
  • Failure to appear in court will result in a finding of “guilty” and forfeiture of the bond deposit. A traffic conviction will be reported to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. If you are a non-resident, the conviction will be reported to your home state.

MANDATORY APPEARANCE:

  • If the citation states “MANDATORY APPEARANCE”, you must appear in court on the date and time shown on the citation.

PAYMENT OF CITATION:

  • If an appearance is not required and you do not wish to contest the citation, mail this form along with the bond deposit amount payable to: Clerk of Circuit Court, P.O. Box 1001, Elkhorn, WI 53121.
  • Personal checks accepted. MasterCard or Visa is accepted by appearing in person at the Clerk of Courts Office.
  • If the bond has not been posted by the court date, a default judgement will be entered and the bond will be due in 30 days.

CONTINUANCES:

  • If you are unable to appear on the date/time stated on your citation, or the optional appearance date at University Police Services listed above, you must contact the University Police Services Court Officer at least three (3) working days prior to the court date to discuss a possible continuance. To request a continuance, you must speak DIRECTLY to the court officer. Leaving a telephone message will NOT automatically grant you a continuance.

YOUR RIGHT TO PLEAD “NOT GUILTY”:

  • If you wish to contest the citation, you MUST appear at the Police Department or on the court date for a pre-trial conference.
  • You or your attorney may appear and plead not guilty. You will then have a pre-trial conference to see if an agreement can be reached. If no agreement is reached, you will be asked if you are requesting a court trial or a jury trial. This trial will be scheduled at a later date and notice will be sent to you or your attorney.
  • If a jury trial is requested, a nonrefundable $36.00 fee must be paid within ten (10) days upon entry of the plea. Failure to post the jury fee in a timely manner will result in a trial before the court.
  • If the citation does proceed to either a court trial or jury trial, additional costs may be assessed, if found guilty, due to officers/witnesses being subpoenaed to testify, etc.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  • A mandatory suspension/revocation will result, upon conviction, of the following:
  • Speeding (25 mph or more over the established 55 or 65 mph speed zone)
  • Operating while under the influence of an intoxicant
  • Operating after revocation/operating while suspended (if OWI related)
  • The State of Wisconsin does not have court supervision. The State of Wisconsin has a demerit point system where upon accumulation of twelve (12) points within any consecutive twelve month period will result in the loss of driving privileges for 2-6 months. For information regarding point assessment, please visit the following website:
  • If you are convicted of operating while intoxicated, in addition to the forfeiture and mandatory suspension, you will be ordered to complete an alcohol assessment and perform community service work for a non-profit organization.

Failure to pay fine/forfeiture will result in a commitment being issued for your arrest to serve the appropriate alternate jail time and/or suspension of your driving privileges in Wisconsin for a period up to five (5) years or until the citation is paid in full.

UW-Whitewater Police Services Court Officer: Officer Mike Sacco (262) 949-0840

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