Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 345 - Vehicles — civil and criminal liability.
345.11 - Uniform traffic citation.

345.11 Uniform traffic citation.
(1) On and after July 1, 1969, the uniform traffic citation created by this section shall in the case of moving traffic violations and may in the case of parking violations and all violations of ch. 194 be used by all law enforcement agencies in this state which are authorized to enforce the state traffic laws and any local traffic laws enacted by any local authority in accordance with s. 349.06.
(1g) The uniform traffic citation may be used for violations of ss. 218.0114 (1) and 218.205 (1). The report of conviction shall be forwarded to the department.
(1j) The uniform traffic citation or the citation form under s. 23.54 may be used for violations of s. 30.07. When the uniform traffic citation is used, the report of conviction shall be forwarded to the department of natural resources. When the citation form under s. 23.54 is used, the procedure in ss. 23.50 to 23.85 applies.
(1m) The uniform traffic citation or the citation form under s. 23.54 shall be used for violations of ch. 350 relating to highway use or ordinances in conformity therewith when committed on the highway, but no points may be assessed against the driving record of the operator of a snowmobile. When the uniform traffic citation is used, the report of conviction shall be forwarded to the department. When the citation form under s. 23.54 is used, the procedure in ss. 23.50 to 23.85 applies.
(1r) The uniform traffic citation or the citation form under s. 23.54 shall be used for violations of s. 23.33 or 23.335 relating to highway use or ordinances enacted in accordance with that section if the violation is committed on a highway, but no points may be assessed against the driving record of the operator of an all-terrain vehicle, a utility terrain vehicle, or an off-highway motorcycle, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (q), operated off the highways, as defined in s. 23.335 (1) (y). When the uniform traffic citation is used, the report of conviction shall be forwarded to the department. When the citation form under s. 23.54 is used, the procedure in ss. 23.50 to 23.85 applies.
(1s) The uniform traffic citation shall be used by a traffic officer employed under s. 110.07 for a violation of s. 167.31 (2) (b), (c) or (d) when committed on a highway.
(1u) The uniform traffic citation may be used by an officer of a law enforcement agency of a municipality or county or a traffic officer employed under s. 110.07 for a violation of s. 287.81.
(2) The uniform traffic citation shall be on a form or in an automated format recommended by the council on uniformity of traffic citations and complaints and shall consist of a court report, a report of conviction for the department, a police record and report of action on the case and a traffic citation. The form or automated format shall provide for the name, address, birth date, operator's license number of the alleged violator if known, the license number of the vehicle, the offense alleged, the time and place of the offense, the section of the statute or ordinance violated, the amount of deposit or bail for the offense, a designation of the offense in such manner as can be readily understood by a person making a reasonable effort to do so, and any other information as may be pertinent to the offense.
(2m) In addition, the uniform traffic citation shall include all of the following:
(a) A full description of the class and type of vehicle, as provided in s. 343.04, including each special operating characteristic under s. 343.04 (2) that requires an endorsement.
(b) Whether the vehicle was transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin under 42 CFR 73.
(c) Whether the operator holds a commercial driver license regardless of the type or class of vehicle used at the time of the alleged offense.
(d) Whether any specific waiver provision in s. 343.055 may apply to operation of the vehicle at the time of the alleged offense.
(4) Upon recommendation of a form or automated format for the uniform traffic citation by the council on uniformity of traffic citations and complaints, the secretary shall under s. 85.16 (1) promulgate the form or automated format as an administrative rule, and with the advice of the council shall make any other rules as are necessary for the implementation and operation of this section.
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of the statutes, the use of the uniform traffic citation promulgated under sub. (4) by any peace officer in connection with the enforcement of any state traffic laws, any local traffic ordinances in strict conformity with the state traffic laws or s. 218.0114 (1) or 218.205 (1) shall be deemed adequate process to give the appropriate court jurisdiction over the person upon the filing with or transmitting to the court of the uniform traffic citation.
(6) The secretary shall cause to be printed and sold to all law enforcement agencies in this state with authority to enforce state traffic laws or local laws adopted under authority of s. 349.06 serially numbered uniform traffic citations or provide a sequence of assigned numbers for uniform traffic citations in an automated format.
(7)
(a) Each law enforcement agency issuing uniform traffic citations shall be responsible for the disposition of all citations issued under its authority, and all law enforcement agencies shall prepare and submit records and reports relating to the uniform traffic citations in the manner and at the time prescribed by the secretary.
(b) Whenever a law enforcement officer issues a uniform traffic citation to an operator who displays a driver's license issued by the federal department of state or otherwise claims immunities or privileges under 22 USC 254a to 258a with respect to the operator's violation of any state traffic law or any local traffic law enacted by any local authority in accordance with s. 349.06, the officer shall:
1. As soon as practicable, contact the diplomatic security command center of the office of foreign missions, diplomatic motor vehicle office, within the federal department of state, to verify the status and immunity, if any, of the operator.
2. Within 10 days after the citation is issued, forward a copy of the uniform traffic citation, at no charge, to the diplomatic security command center of the office of foreign missions, diplomatic motor vehicle office, within the federal department of state.
(8) Any person who, with criminal intent, solicits or aids in the disposition or attempted disposition of a uniform traffic citation in any unauthorized manner is in contempt of the court having original jurisdiction of the cause of action.
History: 1971 c. 164 s. 81; 1971 c. 277; 1973 c. 218; 1975 c. 41; 1977 c. 29 ss. 1468, 1654 (7) (a), (c); 1977 c. 273; 1979 c. 34, 257; 1985 a. 29, 36, 145, 309; 1989 a. 31, 105, 170, 335; 1993 a. 436, 437; 1995 a. 227; 1997 a. 120; 1999 a. 31, 140; 2001 a. 27; 2003 a. 33; 2009 a. 55, 367; 2011 a. 208; 2015 a. 170.
If a uniform traffic citation and complaint is used in a criminal case, it must satisfy the requirement of stating probable cause. State v. White, 97 Wis. 2d 193, 295 N.W.2d 346 (1980).
When the state used a traffic citation to initiate legal proceedings and subsequently decided to prosecute the action as a crime, the trial court erred in not giving the defendant 10 days from the date of the amended charge to object to the sufficiency of the complaint. State v. Mudgett, 99 Wis. 2d 525, 299 N.W.2d 621 (Ct. App. 1980).
The uniform traffic citation and complaint is not a “complaint" under s. 968.02 (3). State v. Folk, 117 Wis. 2d 42, 342 N.W.2d 761 (Ct. App. 1983).
“Process" in sub. (5) refers to invoking subject matter jurisdiction and not to acquiring personal jurisdiction. A citation is only a notice. It does not function as a summons and does not compel a court appearance. In general, an officer who issues a uniform traffic citation when no warrant has been issued is not entitled to service or mileage fees for delivering the citation. 63 Atty. Gen. 99.

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