Frequently Asked Questions

The City Attorney represents the City of Sun Prairie and its departments acting as the City’s legal counsel by providing legal advice and aid. The City Attorney represents the City in municipal court by representing the City’s interests in citizens adherence to city ordinances and thus pursues citations against those found to be in violation of City ordinance. 

A City Attorney represents the City in a “civil” citation such as a fee/fine against a citizen for a violation of city ordinance. A District Attorney represents a county in a “criminal” offense against a citizen for a violation of state law. In sum, a municipal citation is not criminal and usually involves the payment of a fee/fine. 

No. The City Attorney cannot represent or give legal advice to private citizens. The City Attorney represents the City and because of this cannot protect your legal interests. 

If you wish to contest a citation you may schedule a pre-trial conference with the City Attorney’s Office by entering a not guilty plea online or at your initial appearance (i.e. the scheduled court date on your citation). 

To file a claim against the city you must follow the instructions outlined in Wisconsin Statute § 893.80. For your convenience, there are general instructions for submitting a claim on the City Attorney’s Office webpage found on the City of Sun Prairie website. These do not constitute legal advice and you are encouraged to consult your own legal counsel. 

You may enter a plea online, and/or pay the fine, or appear on your scheduled court date. You may also choose not to appear if the appearance is not mandatory. If this is the case, you will be found guilty by default and must pay the fine. 

You may pay your citation online, via mail, or in person at 300 E Main St. You may pay in cash, card or check. Please do not mail cash.  

Yes, you may set up a payment plan to make payments on your citation. To do so you may contact the Court Clerk at 608-837-9541 or speak to the Court Clerk at your initial appearance (i.e. the scheduled court date on your citation) after making a plea. 

No municipal citations are not criminal. Municipal citations are civil matters pursued by cities for a violation of city ordinance and usually involve a fine/fee as a penalty. 

The Wisconsin Driver’s License point system is a system where each citation issued by a city or municipality in Wisconsin results in a point penalty on the cited person’s license. If an individual has reached twelve points on their license, their license will be suspended as a result.

An Ignition Interlock Device (IID) is a device that is installed in an individual’s car to prevent the start of the vehicle when the user blows more than the legal limit allowable to operate the vehicle. An IID is used as part of the Ignition Interlock Device program in Wisconsin which prevents those with more than one OWI offense or an OWI offense where the individual had a blood alcohol content of .15 and higher from driving their registered vehicle unless they have installed the device. You may obtain one from any provider as long as it is in compliance with state statute, see Wis. Stat. § 343.301. For more information please see the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/susp-or-rvkd/IID.aspx

On your citation it will state whether your appearance is required or not. If your appearance is required, then you must appear at the address listed on your citation. 

If your appearance is “mandatory” and you do not appear, the judge can find you guilty by default and/or issue a warrant for your arrest. 

If your appearance is not “mandatory” and you do not appear then you will be found guilty by default unless you have already contested your citation by entering a not guilty plea online and have a scheduled pre-trial conference with the City Attorney’s Office. 

No, you are not required to have a lawyer in Municipal Court, although you may obtain one at your own expense. 

No, you are not entitled to a court appointed lawyer for a municipal citation if you can’t afford one because a municipal citation is not a criminal offense. Only for a criminal offense are you entitled to constitutionally appointed counsel.