The date on your citation is the date of your initial appearance. This is when you will be required to enter a plea of “not guilty”, “guilty”’ or “no contest” to the citation. On this date, a prosecutor will be present to speak with you. If your case is settled at this time, no further appearances will be required of you. If you and the prosecutor do not come to an agreement to settle the case, the matter will be set for another court date, and you will receive notice of the date and time by mail. You may or may not receive another offer to resolve your citation prior to the trial date. 

The Rock County District Attorney’s Office recommends that you appear on your initial appearance date, unless:

• You have entered a plea of not guilty (in writing to Rock County Clerk of Court, 51 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545) prior to the court date listed on the citation; or

• You plan to be found guilty of the citation as issued.

PLEASE BE ADVISED, the court session may last 1-2 hours depending on the number of people who appear.

If you decide to plead "Guilty" or "No Contest"

If you fail to appear on a citation, the court official will consider your nonappearance and nonpayment a plea of no contest, make a finding that you are guilty as charged and impose a forfeiture in the amount listed on the citation issued to you. You will receive written notification of the conviction approximately ten (10) working days after the Initial Appearance. The penalty will be due within 60 days.

If you decide to plead "Not Guilty" or wish to negotiate your citation with a prosecutor

You may plead "Not Guilty" by mail without appearing in court. To plead "Not Guilty" by mail, send the following to the court:

• Your plea

• The charge

• The date you are scheduled to appear

• The name of the police agency that issued the citation

• The ticket number

• Your current mailing address & telephone number

You must provide this information to the Clerk of Court, 51 South Main Street, Janesville, WI  53545. This must be received by the court prior to the date/time listed on the citation. After the date on the citation, the court will schedule a trial and send you a written notice of the same to your current address as provided above. You may or may not have an opportunity to negotiate with a prosecutor if you choose this option prior to the initial appearance date. If you wish to have a Jury Trial, you must pay a non-refundable jury fee of thirty-six dollars ($36.00).

The Rock County District Attorney’s Office does not hold pretrial conferences in traffic cases and does not negotiate traffic cases by "drop-in" meetings with defendants due to resource and time constraints. The State will not negotiate on the date of trial.

If you enter a plea of "NOT GUILTY", a trial to the Court will be scheduled. If you wish to have a Jury Trial, you must pay a non-refundable jury fee of thirty-six dollars ($36.00). The jury fee MUST be received by the Clerk of Circuit Court no later than ten (10) days after your Initial Appearance hearing. Failure to request a jury trial and pay the required fee within that time limit acts as a waiver of the right to a jury trial.  Jury trial fees are non-refundable.

If your case is settled within 48 hours of the scheduled trial, you may be required to pay additional costs sought by the prosecutor. The State will not negotiate on the date of trial.

For information regarding the Wisconsin's Driver License Point System, visit the State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation website here. You could also contact the Drivers License Bureau in Madison, Wisconsin for information regarding the number of points currently assessed against your license:  (608) 266-2261.

 To obtain a copy of your own driving record, click here.