|
MANDATORY APPEARANCE: If your citation indicates that the court appearance is MANDATORY
or REQUIRED, you must appear in court in person. You may be represented by legal counsel on the assigned court
date.
APPEARANCE IN COURT IS NOT REQUIRED AND YOU
DO NOT WANT TO CONTEST THE CITATION: If
your citation is marked as NOT MANDATORY or NOT REQUIRED regarding a court appearance, you may select one of the
following options:
- Present a CREDIT CARD (Mastercard or Visa) to the
police officer who issued you the citation. You can post the required forfeiture by credit card in lieu of appearing
in court.
- Appear in person or telephone the Portage County
Clerk of Courts office (715) 346-1364. Post the required forfeiture with cash, personal check or credit card in
lieu of appearing in court.
- Appear in person at the Portage County Clerk of
Courts office to request that the Court grant you additional time (60 days) beyond the assigned court date to pay
the required forfeiture.
- A payment plan can be scheduled with the payment
officer at the Clerk of Courts office anytime AFTER THE INITIAL APPEARANCE.
TO CONTEST THE CITATION: If you desire to appear in Court to contest the charge, you may select
one of the following options:
- Appear in court in person, or be represented by
legal counsel, on the assigned court date and enter a plea of not guilty. The Court will assign a date for a pretrial
conference with the City Attorney. If the case is not settled at the pretrial conference, a trial date will be
scheduled.
- Contact the Portage County Clerk of Courts office
and inquire as to how you can enter a plea of not guilty, without you or your legal counsel having to appear in
court on the assigned court date. The Court will typically accept a written not guilty plea and then assign a date
for a pretrial conference with the City Attorney. If the case is not settled at the pre-trial conference, a date
for a trial date will be scheduled.
Note: The Court requires a special jury fee be paid
by the defendant prior to scheduling a Trial by Jury (inquire at Clerk of Courts office).
|
