Court Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to appear in court?
If your citation says a court appearance is mandatory then you must appear.
If not, you should appear if you haven’t paid your ticket or made a written “Not Guilty” plea before your scheduled court date. You can make a written “Not Guilty” by mail or email to court@caledonia-wi.gov Please make sure to give us the citation number or a copy of the citation and give us your current address and telephone number. If you do not appear, a default judgement will be entered against you and would have 60 days to pay your fine.
If I plead “Not Guilty” what happens?
You will receive a notice of a pretrial conference where you and the village prosecutor will discuss your case. Pretrials will be conducted one-on-one with the Village Attorney in the Caledonia Courtroom. Appearance in mandatory and if you fail to appear, the court will deem your non-appearance as a plea of Guilty by Default to the charge and enter judgement accordingly.
Do I get a lawyer?
The Village of Caledonia Municipal Court only handles traffic and municipal ordinance voilations. These are not criminal offenses, therefore the court will not appoint an attorney to represent you. Whether you choose to hire a lawyer is entirely up to you.
What happens if I don’t (or didn’t) show up on my court date?
The court will enter a default judgement of Guilty by Default and you will be convicted as charged. You are given 60 days to pay your fine. If the fine is not paid in those 60 days, the Village may suspend your driver’s license for up to one year AND/OR issue a commitment for one day in custody in the Racine County Jail for every $50 that remains unpaid AND/OR refer your debt to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for collection.
If you wish to reopen a citation after being found Guilty by Default you must complete a Motion to Reopen Form and return it to the Court Office. Requests made more than six months after the missed appearance will be approved only in extraordinary situations. There may be a reopen fee assessed and you will be notified once your hearing is granted/scheduled.
How do I rectify a 10 Day Warning?
10 Day Warnings are to be satisfied by completing the form provided during your traffic stop within the 10 days at the Caledonia Police Department located at 6900 Nicholson Road or another Police Department or Sheriffs Office. This form should be returned to the Caledonia Police Department. If your warning is not satisfied within the specified 10 days you may appear in court on the date specified on your citation. If you do not appear, a finding of Guilty By Default will be found and you will be given 60 days to pay the citation in full.
How do I pay a ticket?
There are several options (WE DO NOT TAKE PAYMENTS BY PHONE):
BY MAIL:
Mail your check or money order payable to CALEDONIA MUNICIPAL COURT to the Caledonia Municipal Court at 5043 Chester Ln, Racine, WI 53402. Please put the citation number on your check or money order or enclose a copy of the citation. PLEASE DO NOT SEND CASH.
ONLINE: CLICK HERE to make a payment online. (Convenience charge applies)
DROP BOX: Drop payment in the mail slot outside Village Hall. Be sure to include your name, citation number if available and a current phone number in case of questions.
My debt has been sent to the Department of Revenue, how can I make a payment?
Once your debt has been referred to the Department of Revenue for collection, the Village of Caledonia can no longer accept payments on your forfieture. You may contact them at 608-264-0345. IF YOU ARE SUSPENDED and your debt has been paid through the Department of Revenue for collections, your license will not be released until your debt is satisfied in full. The Court receives and applies State Debt Collection payments once a month. If you are suspended and the debt is PAID IN FULL, you will need to wait 48 hours after payment to contact the court. We may then review your status online and potentially release your driver's license.
What if I can't afford to pay a ticket?
You are given 60 days to pay after your conviction date. If you need additional time to pay, you may contact the Court Office prior to the end of the 60 days. Exentions of payment due dates and/or installment payment plans are frequently granted. To receive an Indigency Hearing with the Judge, you must contact the Court Office. YOU MUST appear in front of the Judge to be considered.
What happens if I don't pay a citation by the due date? If you haven't recieved additional time to pay your citation, the Village may suspend your driver's license for up to one year AND/OR issue a commitment for one day in custody at the Racine County Jail for every $50 that remains unpaid AND/OR refer your debt to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for collections.
I called the Police Department and they wouldn't help me?
The Police Department is not the Municipal Court and Police Personnel have no control over the court's proceedings. Court questions and corresponsence should be directed to the Court Office.
What do I do if my license has been suspended for a Right-of-Way or Failure to Yield infraction?
If your operating privilege is suspended by the Department of Transportation, you will not be eligible to reinstate until you have successfully completed the Right-of-Way course. This course has been designed to reacquaint you with vehicle right-of-way rules and provide awareness of keeping motorcyclists, pedestrians and bicyclists safe. List of instructors and locations can be found on the Department of Transportation website.
I didn't know I had to pay. I moved but I updated my address with the Department of Transportation?
The court will send all correspondence to the last address provided. It is the defendants responsibility to inform the court of an address change. The court is not connected to the DOT.
My license is suspended and I would like to get it reinstated. What do I do next?
Your license will remain suspended until your citations are paid in full. If you have paid your citations in full, the court will notify the Department of Transportation electronically. Your license will remain suspended until processed by the DOT and until you pay the reinstatement fee. The DOT may take 7-10 business days to process. If you have satisfied your fine you CAN NOT drive until your status has changed. Contact the DOT or check their website for information on reinstatement eligibility.
My debt has been sent to the Department of Revenue how can I make a payment?
Once your debt has been referred to the Department of Revenue for collection, the Village of Caledonia can NO LONGER ACCEPT PAYMENTS on your forfieture. Contact the Department of Revenue at 608-264-0345.
Questions? Contact the Court Office court@caledonia-wi.gov
Court Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 8am-4:30pm and Friday 8am-noon
Staff cannot offer legal advice, make recommendations about your case or recommend an attorney.