Jurisdiction over traffic, boating, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, and utility terrain vehicle violations and over civil law and ordinance violations
Wis. Stat. § 938.17
in effect(1) Traffic, boating, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, utility terrain vehicle, and limited use off-highway motorcycle violations. Except for violations of ss. 342.06 (2) and 344.48 (1), and violations of ss. 30.67 (1) and 346.67 (1) when death or injury occurs, courts of criminal and civil jurisdiction have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings against juveniles 16 years of age or older for violations of ss. 23.33 and 23.335, of ss. 30.50 to 30.80, of chs. 341 to 351, and of traffic regulations, as defined in s. 345.20, and nonmoving traffic violations, as defined in s. 345.28 (1). A juvenile charged with a traffic, boating, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, utility terrain vehicle, or limited use off-highway motorcycle offense in a court of criminal or civil jurisdiction shall be treated as an adult before the trial of the proceeding except that the juvenile may be held in secure custody only in a juvenile detention facility. A juvenile convicted of a traffic, boating, snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, utility terrain vehicle, or limited use off-highway motorcycle offense in a court of criminal or civil jurisdiction shall be treated as an adult for sentencing purposes except as follows:
(a) The court may disregard any minimum period of incarceration specified for the offense.
(b) If the court orders the juvenile to serve a period of incarceration of less than 6 months, the juvenile may serve that period of incarceration only in a juvenile detention facility.
(c) If the court of civil or criminal jurisdiction orders the juvenile to serve a period of incarceration of 6 months or more, that court shall petition the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 to order one or more of the dispositions under s. 938.34, including placement of the juvenile in a juvenile correctional facility or a secured residential care center for children and youth, if appropriate.
(2) Civil law and ordinance violations.
(a) Concurrent municipal and juvenile court jurisdiction; ordinance violations.
1. Except as provided in subd. 1m. and sub. (1), municipal courts have concurrent jurisdiction with the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 in proceedings against juveniles 12 years of age or over for violations of county, town, or other municipal ordinances. If evidence is provided by the school attendance officer that the activities under s. 118.16 (5) have been completed or were not required to be completed as provided in s. 118.16 (5m), the municipal court specified in subd. 2. may exercise jurisdiction in proceedings against a juvenile for a violation of an ordinance enacted under s. 118.163 (2) regardless of the juvenile’s age and regardless of whether the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 has jurisdiction under s. 938.13 (6).
1m. Except as provided in sub. (1), municipal courts have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings against juveniles 12 years of age or over for violations of municipal ordinances enacted under ch. 349 that are in conformity with chs. 341 to 349. When a juvenile 12 years of age or over is alleged to have violated a municipal ordinance enacted under ch. 349 that is in conformity with chs. 341 to 349, the juvenile may be issued a citation directing the juvenile to appear in municipal court or make a deposit or stipulation and deposit in lieu of appearance or, if there is no municipal court in the municipality that enacted the ordinance, the juvenile may be issued a citation or referred to intake as provided in par. (b). If a municipal court finds that a juvenile has violated a municipal ordinance enacted under ch. 349 that is in conformity with chs. 341 to 349, the court shall enter any of the dispositional orders permitted under s. 938.343 that are authorized under sub. (2) (cm).
2.
a. In this subdivision, “administrative center” means the main administrative offices of a school district.
b. The municipal court that may exercise jurisdiction under subd. 1. is the municipal court that is located in the same municipality as the administrative center of the school district in which the juvenile is enrolled, if that municipality has adopted an ordinance under s. 118.163.
c. If the municipality specified under subd. 2. b. has not adopted an ordinance under s. 118.163, the municipal court that may exercise jurisdiction under subd. 1. is the municipal court that is located in the municipality where the school in which the juvenile is enrolled is located, if that municipality has adopted an ordinance under s. 118.163.
d. If the municipality specified under subd. 2. b. or c. has not adopted an ordinance under s. 118.163, the municipal court that may exercise jurisdiction under subd. 1. is the municipal court that is located in the municipality where the juvenile resides, if that municipality has adopted an ordinance under s. 118.163.
3. Except as provided in subd. 1m., when a juvenile is alleged to have violated a municipal ordinance, one of the following may occur:
a. The juvenile may be issued a citation directing the juvenile to appear in municipal court or make a deposit or stipulation and deposit in lieu of appearance.
b. The juvenile may be issued a citation directing the juvenile to appear in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 or make a deposit or stipulation and deposit in lieu of appearance as provided in s. 938.237.
c. The juvenile may be referred to intake for a determination whether a petition should be filed in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 under s. 938.125.
(b) Juvenile court jurisdiction; civil law and ordinance violations. When a juvenile 12 years of age or older is alleged to have violated a civil law punishable by a forfeiture or to have violated a municipal ordinance but there is no municipal court in the municipality, one of the following may occur:
1. The juvenile may be issued a citation directing the juvenile to appear in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 or make a deposit or stipulation and deposit in lieu of appearance as provided in s. 938.237.
2. The juvenile may be referred to intake for a determination whether a petition under s. 938.125 should be filed in the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48.
(c) Citation procedures. The citation procedures described in ch. 800 govern proceedings involving juveniles in municipal court, except that this chapter governs the taking and holding of a juvenile in custody and par. (cg) governs the issuing of a summons to the juvenile’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian. When a juvenile is before the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 upon a citation alleging that the juvenile violated a civil law or municipal ordinance, the procedures specified in s. 938.237 apply. If a citation is issued to a juvenile, the issuing agency shall notify the juvenile’s parent, guardian, and legal custodian within 7 days. The agency issuing a citation to a juvenile who is 12 to 15 years of age for a violation of s. 125.07 (4) (a) or (b), 125.085 (3) (b), 125.09 (2), 961.573 (2), 961.574 (2), or 961.575 (2) or an ordinance conforming to one of those statutes shall send a copy to an intake worker under s. 938.24 for informational purposes only.
(cg) Summons procedures. After a citation is issued, unless the juvenile and his or her parent, guardian, and legal custodian voluntarily appear, the municipal court may issue a summons requiring the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the juvenile to appear personally at any hearing involving the juvenile and, if the court so orders, to bring the juvenile before the court at a time and place stated. Section 938.273 governs the service of a summons under this paragraph, except that the expense of service or publication of a summons and of the travelling expenses and fees of a person summoned allowed in ch. 885 shall be a charge on the municipality of the court issuing the summons when approved by the court. If any person summoned under this paragraph fails without reasonable cause to appear, he or she may be proceeded against for contempt of court under s. 785.06. If a summons cannot be served or if the person served fails to obey the summons or if it appears to the court that the service will be ineffectual, a capias may be issued for the juvenile and for the parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
(cm) Authorization for dispositions and sanctions. A city, village, or town may adopt an ordinance or bylaw specifying which of the dispositions under ss. 938.343 and 938.344 and sanctions under s. 938.355 (6) (d) and (6m) the municipal court of that city, village, or town is authorized to impose or to petition the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 to impose. The use by the court of those dispositions and sanctions is subject to any ordinance or bylaw adopted under this paragraph.
(d) Disposition; ordinance violations generally.
1. If a municipal court finds that the juvenile violated a municipal ordinance other than an ordinance enacted under s. 118.163 or an ordinance that conforms to s. 125.07 (4) (a) or (b), 125.085 (3) (b), 125.09 (2), 961.573 (2), 961.574 (2), or 961.575 (2), the court shall enter any of the dispositional orders permitted under s. 938.343 that are authorized under par. (cm). If a juvenile fails to pay the forfeiture imposed by the municipal court, the court may not impose a jail sentence but may suspend any license issued under ch. 29 for not less than 30 days nor more than 5 years, or suspend the juvenile’s operating privilege, as defined in s. 340.01 (40), for not more than 2 years.
2. If a court suspends a license or privilege under subd. 1., the court shall immediately take possession of the applicable license if issued under ch. 29 or, if the license is issued under ch. 343, the court may take possession of, and if possession is taken, shall destroy, the license. The court shall forward to the department that issued the license the notice of suspension stating that the suspension is for failure to pay a forfeiture imposed by the court, together with any license issued under ch. 29 of which the court takes possession. If the forfeiture is paid during the period of suspension, the court shall immediately notify the department, which shall then, if the license is issued under ch. 29, return the license to the person.
(e) Disposition; alcohol and drug ordinance violations. If a municipal court finds that a juvenile violated a municipal ordinance that conforms to s. 125.07 (4) (a) or (b), 125.085 (3) (b), 125.09 (2), 961.573 (2), 961.574 (2) or 961.575 (2), the court shall enter a dispositional order under s. 938.344 that is authorized under par. (cm).
(f) Notice to victims. If the act the juvenile committed resulted in personal injury or damage to or loss of the property of another, the municipal court shall, to the extent possible, provide each known victim of the act with the information contained in the notice required under s. 938.346.
(g) Disposition; truancy or school dropout ordinance violations. If the municipal court finds that a juvenile violated a municipal ordinance enacted under s. 118.163 (1m), it shall enter a dispositional order under s. 938.342 (1d). If a municipal court finds that a juvenile violated a municipal ordinance enacted under s. 118.163 (2), it shall enter a dispositional order under s. 938.342 (1g), and may enter a dispositional order under s. 938.342 (1m) (a), that is consistent with the municipal ordinance. If a municipal court finds that a juvenile violated a municipal ordinance enacted under s. 118.163 (2m), it shall enter a dispositional order under s. 938.342 (2) that is consistent with the municipal ordinance.
(h) Sanctions; dispositional order violations generally.
1. If a juvenile who has violated a municipal ordinance, other than an ordinance enacted under s. 118.163 (1m) or (2), violates a condition of his or her dispositional order, the municipal court may impose on the juvenile any of the sanctions specified in s. 938.355 (6) (d) 2. to 5. that are authorized under par. (cm) except for monitoring by an electronic monitoring system. The municipal court may also petition the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 to impose on the juvenile the sanction specified in s. 938.355 (6) (d) 1. or home detention with monitoring by an electronic monitoring system as specified in s. 938.355 (6) (d) 3., if authorized under par. (cm). A sanction may be imposed under this subdivision only if at the time of judgment the court explained the conditions to the juvenile and informed the juvenile of the possible sanctions under s. 938.355 (6) (d) that are authorized under par. (cm) for a violation or if before the violation the juvenile has acknowledged in writing that he or she has read, or has had read to him or her, those conditions and possible sanctions and that he or she understands those conditions and possible sanctions.
2. A motion requesting the municipal court to impose or petition for a sanction may be brought by the person or agency primarily responsible for the provision of dispositional services, the municipal attorney, or the court that entered the dispositional order. If the court initiates the motion, that court may not hold a hearing on the motion. Notice of the motion shall be given to the juvenile and the juvenile’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
3. Before imposing any sanction, the court shall hold a hearing, at which the juvenile may present evidence. Except as provided in s. 901.05, neither common law nor statutory rules of evidence are binding at a hearing under this subdivision.
4. If the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 imposes the sanction specified in s. 938.355 (6) (d) 1. or home detention with monitoring by an electronic monitoring system as specified in s. 938.355 (6) (d) 3., on a petition described in subd. 1., that court shall order the municipality of the municipal court that filed the petition to pay to the county the cost of providing the sanction imposed under s. 938.355 (6) (d) 1. or 3.
(i) Sanctions; truancy or school dropout dispositional order violations.
1. If a juvenile who has violated a municipal ordinance enacted under s. 118.163 (1m) violates a condition of his or her dispositional order, the municipal court may impose on the juvenile any of the sanctions specified in s. 938.355 (6m) (ag). A sanction may be imposed under this subdivision only if at the time of judgment the court explained the conditions to the juvenile and informed the juvenile of those possible sanctions or if before the violation the juvenile has acknowledged in writing that he or she has read, or has had read to him or her, those conditions and possible sanctions and that he or she understands those conditions and possible sanctions.
2m. If a juvenile who has violated a municipal ordinance enacted under s. 118.163 (2) violates a condition of his or her dispositional order, the municipal court may impose on the juvenile any of the sanctions specified in s. 938.355 (6m) (a) that are authorized under par. (cm) except for the sanction specified in s. 938.355 (6m) (a) 1g. The municipal court may also petition the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 to impose on the juvenile the sanction specified in s. 938.355 (6m) (a) 1g., if authorized under par. (cm). A sanction may be imposed under this subdivision only if at the time of judgment the court explained the conditions to the juvenile and informed the juvenile of the possible sanctions under s. 938.355 (6m) (a) that are authorized under par. (cm) for a violation or if before the violation the juvenile has acknowledged in writing that he or she has read, or has had read to him or her, those conditions and possible sanctions and that he or she understands those conditions and possible sanctions.
3g. A motion requesting the municipal court to impose or petition for a sanction may be brought by the person or agency primarily responsible for the provision of dispositional services, the municipal attorney, or the court that entered the dispositional order. If the court initiates the motion, that court may not hold a hearing on the motion. Notice of the motion shall be given to the juvenile and the juvenile’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
4. Before imposing any sanction, the court shall hold a hearing, at which the juvenile may present evidence. Except as provided in s. 901.05, neither common law nor statutory rules of evidence are binding at a hearing under this subdivision.
4m. If the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 imposes the sanction specified in s. 938.355 (6m) (a) 1g., on a petition described in subd. 2m., that court shall order the municipality of the municipal court that filed the petition to pay to the county the cost of providing the sanction imposed under s. 938.355 (6m) (a) 1g.
(3) Safety at sporting events. Notwithstanding sub. (2), courts of criminal or civil jurisdiction have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings against juveniles under s. 167.32 or under a local ordinance strictly conforming to s. 167.32. A juvenile convicted of a violation under s. 167.32 or under a local ordinance strictly conforming to s. 167.32 shall be treated as an adult for sentencing purposes.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/938.17Fetched: 10/7/2026