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Lost Traffic Ticket in Wisconsin
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.
Pay Ticket
(Plead Guilty or No Contest)- Pay the fine
- Option to plea bargain penalties
- Incur points on your driving record (could lead to license suspension/revocation)
- Possibly incur increase on auto insurance rates
- Possibly have points reduced by attending traffic school
Learn more about
Pay Traffic Ticket »Fight Ticket
(Plead Not Guilty)- Contest traffic ticket via trial
- Choose to represent yourself or hire an attorney
- Possibly lose option to plea bargain for lesser penalties
- No penalties if found not guilty, but must pay court/attorney fees
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