When your name is called, come forward promptly to a position in front of the judge’s table, facing the judge.

The judge will then inform you of the exact charge(s) against you and expect you to enter a plea. You will enter a plea of either guilty, not guilty, or no contest.

If you enter a plea of Guilty, you are admitting that you committed the offense and you will be found guilty and a fine imposed. If you enter a plea of No Contest, you are neither pleading guilty or not guilty, but merely want to get the matter over with and pay the fine. The effect of this plea is that you will be found guilty, but it cannot be used against you as an admission of fact in some other court proceeding. If you enter a plea of Not Guilty, you deny committing the offense. Your case will be scheduled for a pre-trial at a later date. Our Town Attorney, Chase A. Horne of DeWitt, Ross & Stevens 2 East Mifflin St., Suite 600, Madison, WI  53703-2865, telephone number 608.283.5616, will contact you to set up this appointment within 10 days after the scheduled court date. If the case cannot be resolved, it will be set up for a trial at a later date, set by the Town.

If you plead either guilty or no contest, the officer will then advise the Judge of the facts of the violation. You may make a brief statement, if you so choose. The judge will then review you’re past driving record, if any, and depending on the seriousness of the present charge and any past record, render his judgment accordingly. The judge may dismiss if there are insufficient legal grounds for conviction.

If you are found guilty, money forfeiture plus costs will be imposed. Forfeitures are payable immediately. However, the judge may deter payment for a reasonable amount of time. If you fail to pay within the allowed time, the court has two alternatives to enforce payment, to include the following:

You have a right to request a Jury Trial for all OWl cases only. You must pay a fee and post bond with the clerk within ten (10) days from the initial appearance. Your case will then be transferred to the Circuit Court for a Jury Trial, and you will be notified by that court of the trial date.

This is a court of law and the rules of evidence and proper decorum will be followed. Please remain quiet while the court is in session and give others the courtesy to be heard and present their cases. Persons who fail to conduct themselves in an orderly manner shall be cited for contempt.

If you do not understand your rights or the nature of the charge against you, please feel free to ask for an explanation. You should expect politeness and respect from court personnel, as we expect from you.