Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 800.01 (2026)
Commencement of action
✓ current as of July 2026
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800.01(1)(1) In municipal court, ordinance violation cases are commenced when the complaint or citation is filed with or transmitted to the court.
800.01(2)(2) The municipal court has jurisdiction over a defendant when any of the following conditions is met:
800.01(2)(a)(a) The defendant is served with a citation or a summons and complaint as provided under s. 801.11 (1) (a) to (c), (5), and (6).
800.01(2)(b)(b) The defendant is arrested and brought before the court personally or through interactive video and audio transmission conducted in accordance with the rules of the supreme court.
800.01(2)(d)(d) The court finds that the defendant has acknowledged receipt of the citation or summons and complaint.
800.01(2m)(2m) The law enforcement officer or municipal employee who serves the summons shall indicate the method of service on the copy of the documents filed or transmitted to the court.
800.01(3)(3) If the action is commenced by a citation under s. 800.02 (2) (a), a deposit may be taken from the defendant. The defendant may be released on his or her own recognizance. A nonresident defendant who does not make a deposit may be detained in jail to be brought before the court at the earliest opportunity.
800.01 HistoryHistory: 1977 c. 305; 1979 c. 32 s. 68; Stats. 1979 s. 800.01; 1987 a. 389; 1989 a. 170, 261; 1993 a. 437; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 402.
800.01 AnnotationDue process does not require commencing a municipal ordinance action by a summons. Haas v. Wisconsin, 241 F. Supp. 2d 922 (2003).
800.01 AnnotationUniformity in Municipal Courts. Gramling. Wis. Law. Aug. 2010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5
cases (2 in the last 5 years), 2003–2024 · leading case: Haas v. Wisconsin, 109 F. App'x 107 (7th Cir. 2004).
Haas v. Wisconsin, 109 F. App'x 107 (7th Cir. 2004). “See Wis. Stat. §§ 800.01 (1), 800.01(2), 800.”
Hass v. Wisconsin, 241 F. Supp. 2d 922 (E.D. Wis. 2003). “Plaintiff cites Wis. Stat. § 800.01 (1) which governs the initiation of proceedings in municipal courts and states, “personal jurisdiction .”
Rex v. City of Milwaukee, 321 F. Supp. 2d 1008 (E.D. Wis. 2004). “Because the charge involved only an ordinance violation, the officers could have initiated it by issuing *1013 plaintiff a citation instead of arresting her, see Wis. Stat. § 800.01 (a), which is what they did after plaintiff was injured.”
City of Milton v. David Jacob Jackson (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 800.01(2)(a), in turn, provides that a “municipal court has jurisdiction over a defendant when … [t]he defendant is served with a citation or a summons and complaint as provided [by statute].”
Vill. of Greendale v. Stacey King (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 800.01(1). King was issued a citation for operating a vehicle while intoxicated on March 15, 2020.”
— Wis. Stat. § 800.01(1) — 2 cases
Hass v. Wisconsin, 241 F. Supp. 2d 922 (E.D. Wis. 2003). “Plaintiff cites Wis. Stat. § 800.01 (1) which governs the initiation of proceedings in municipal courts and states, “personal jurisdiction .”
Vill. of Greendale v. Stacey King (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 800.01(1). King was issued a citation for operating a vehicle while intoxicated on March 15, 2020.”
— Wis. Stat. § 800.01(2)(a) — 1 case
City of Milton v. David Jacob Jackson (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 800.01(2)(a), in turn, provides that a “municipal court has jurisdiction over a defendant when … [t]he defendant is served with a citation or a summons and complaint as provided [by statute].”
— Wis. Stat. § 800.01(3) — 1 case
Hass v. Wisconsin, 241 F. Supp. 2d 922 (E.D. Wis. 2003). “Plaintiff cites Wis. Stat. § 800.01 (1) which governs the initiation of proceedings in municipal courts and states, “personal jurisdiction .”
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