Determine Where You Got Your WI Traffic Ticket

You will need to contact the court that was listed on your lost traffic ticket. This will either be a Municipal or a Circuit Court.

If you don't recall the court, you'll need to place where you were ticketed. This will give you a basis on which court to call.

Don't delay, however. All Wisconsin traffic citations require a plea response before or on the ticket's appearance date. Suspension of driving privileges and arrest are just a few penalties you will face. The court, nor the DMV, will accept "I lost my citation."

Call the Court

Call the court, Municipal or Circuit. If the Municipal Court has no record of your traffic ticket, call the Circuit Court. Or vise versa.

Determine How You Will Plead

Next, decide on your plea. In Wisconsin you have three options:

• Guilty―Requires paying the fine posted on the citation
• No contest―This too requires paying the fine listed on the traffic ticket
• Not guilty―This means you've accepted your right to a trial, with the intent of having the charges reduced or the ticket dismissed

Remember: move fast. The court must have your plea decision before the ticket's appearance date expires.