What a Wisconsin speeding ticket is

This page quotes the Wisconsin Statutes (docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026): section 346.57 on speed restrictions, section 346.60 on forfeitures, subsection (1n) of section 343.30 on a court suspension, and subsection (3) of section 349.02 on photo radar speed detection. It also quotes section Trans 101.02 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code (docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026) and rows of the 2026 Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule (wicourts.gov, retrieved 29 Oct 2026). It does not apply them to any notice. Read any court, charge, speed limit, alleged speed, section number, and amount shown on your notice. Confirm what your notice says.

The Wisconsin Statutes text below is quoted from docs.legis.wisconsin.gov as shown when retrieved on 29 Oct 2026. The statutes site states: “2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes updated through 2025 Wis. Act 247 and through all Supreme Court Orders and Controlled Substances Board Orders filed before and in effect on October 1, 2026.” Schedule rows are quoted cell by cell as printed, for the columns shown.

What Wis. Stat. § 346.57 says about speed limits

Wis. Stat. § 346.57 is headed “Speed restrictions.”

§ 346.57(2): “Reasonable and prudent limit. No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing. The speed of a vehicle shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and using due care.”

§ 346.57(4): “Fixed limits. In addition to complying with the speed restrictions imposed by subs. (2) and (3), no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed in excess of the following limits unless different limits are indicated by official traffic signs:”

(a) “Fifteen miles per hour when passing a schoolhouse at those times when children are going to or from school or are playing within the sidewalk area at or about the school.”
(b) “Fifteen miles per hour when passing an intersection or other location properly marked with a “school crossing” sign of a type approved by the department when any of the following conditions exists:”
- 1. “Any child is present.”
- 2. “A school crossing guard is within a crosswalk at the intersection or the other location or, if no crosswalk exists, is in the roadway at the intersection or the other location.”
- 3. “A school crossing guard is placing in or removing from the roadway at or near the intersection or the other location a temporary sign or device that guides, warns, or regulates traffic.”
(c) “Fifteen miles per hour when passing a safety zone occupied by pedestrians and at which a public passenger vehicle has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging passengers.”
(d) “Fifteen miles per hour in any alley.”
(e) “Twenty-five miles per hour on any highway within the corporate limits of a city or village, other than on highways in outlying districts in such city or village.”
(em) “Twenty-five miles per hour on any service road within the corporate limits of a city or village unless modified by the authority in charge of the highway.”
(f) “Thirty-five miles per hour in any outlying district within the corporate limits of a city or village.”
(g) “Thirty-five miles per hour on any highway in a semiurban district outside the corporate limits of a city or village.”
(gm)1. “Except as provided in subd. 2., 65 miles per hour on any expressway.”
(gm)2. “Seventy miles per hour on any freeway, including freeways that are a part of the national system of interstate and defense highways, and on any portion of an expressway that gives preference to through traffic by utilizing interchanges only.”
(h) “In the absence of any other fixed limits or the posting of limits as required or authorized by law, 55 miles per hour.”
(i) “Fifteen miles per hour on any street or town road, except a state trunk highway or connecting highway, within, contiguous to or adjacent to a public park or recreation area when children are going to or from or are playing within such area, when the local authority has enacted an ordinance regulating such traffic and has properly marked such area with official traffic control devices erected at such points as said authority deems necessary and at those points on the streets or town roads concerned where persons traversing the same would enter such area from an area where a different speed limit is in effect.”
(j) “Thirty-five miles per hour on any town road where on either side of the highway within any 1,000 feet along such highway the buildings in use for business, industrial or residential purposes fronting thereon average less than 150 feet apart, provided the town board has adopted an ordinance determining such speed limit and has posted signs at such points as the town board deems necessary to give adequate warning to users of the town road.”
(k) “Forty-five miles per hour on any highway designated as a rustic road under s. 83.42.”

§ 346.57(5): “Zoned and posted limits. In addition to complying with the speed restrictions imposed by subs. (2) and (3), no person shall drive a vehicle in excess of any speed limit established pursuant to law by state or local authorities and indicated by official signs.”

§ 346.57(6) is headed “Certain statutory limits to be posted.”

§ 346.57(6)(a): “On state trunk highways and connecting highways and on county trunk highways or highways marked and signed as county trunks, the speed limits specified in sub. (4) (e) and (f) are not effective unless official signs giving notice thereof have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question. The speed limit specified in sub. (4) (g) and (k) is not effective on any highway unless official signs giving notice thereof have been erected by the authority in charge of maintenance of the highway in question. The signs shall be erected at such points as the authority in charge of maintenance deems necessary to give adequate warning to users of the highway in question, but an alleged failure to post a highway as required by this paragraph is not a defense to a prosecution for violation of the speed limits specified in sub. (4) (e), (f), (g) or (k), or in an ordinance enacted in conformity therewith, if official signs giving notice of the speed limit have been erected at those points on the highway in question where a person traversing such highway would enter it from an area where a different speed limit is in effect.”

§ 346.57(6)(b): “The limit specified under sub. (4) (gm) is not effective unless official signs giving notice of the limit have been erected by the department.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page quotes all of subsections (2), (4), (5), and (6). Section 346.57 has other subsections, including subsection (1), headed “Definitions.”, and subsection (3), headed “Conditions requiring reduced speed.”, that this page does not cover. This page does not quote section 83.42, it does not list the speed limits posted on particular roads, and it does not say whether a sign is erected at a particular place.

What Wis. Stat. § 346.60 says about forfeitures for speeding

Wis. Stat. § 346.60 is headed “Penalty for violating sections 346.57 to 346.595.”

§ 346.60(2)(a): “Except as provided in sub. (3m) or (5), any person violating s. 346.57 (4) (d) to (g) or (h) or (5) or 346.58 may be required to forfeit not less than $30 nor more than $300.”

§ 346.60(2)(b): “Except as provided in sub. (3m) or (5), any person violating s. 346.57 (4) (gm) may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $300.”

§ 346.60(3): “Except as provided in sub. (3m) or (5), any person violating s. 346.57 (2), (3) or (4) (a) to (c) may be required to forfeit not less than $40 nor more than $300 for the first offense and may be required to forfeit not less than $80 nor more than $600 for the 2nd or subsequent conviction within a year.”

§ 346.60(3m)(a)1.: “Except as provided in subd. 2., if an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.57 (2), (3), (4) (d) to (h), or (5) where persons engaged in work in a highway maintenance or construction area, railroad maintenance or construction area, utility work area, or emergency or roadside response area are at risk from traffic or where sanitation workers are at risk from traffic and the operator knows or should know that sanitation workers are present, any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in sub. (2) or (3) for the violation shall be doubled.”

§ 346.60(3m)(b): “If an operator of a vehicle violates s. 346.57 (2) to (5) when children are present in a zone designated by “school” warning signs as provided in s. 118.08 (1), any applicable minimum and maximum forfeiture specified in sub. (2) or (3) for the violation shall be doubled.”

That is the statute’s statement. Section 346.60 has other subsections and subdivisions that this page does not cover, including subdivision (3m)(a)2., on violations in the areas named in subdivision (3m)(a)1. that result in bodily harm, and subsection (5), on bicycles, electric scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices. This page does not quote section 346.58 or section 118.08, and it does not calculate a forfeiture for any speed or any notice.

What Wis. Stat. § 343.30(1n) says about a 15-day suspension

Wis. Stat. § 343.30 is headed “Suspension and revocation by the courts.”

§ 343.30(1n): “A court shall suspend the operating privilege of a person for a period of 15 days upon the person’s conviction by the court of exceeding the applicable speed limit as established by s. 346.57 (4) (gm) or (h), by 25 or more miles per hour. If the conviction makes the person subject to suspension under s. 343.085 or 343.32, the court shall order the suspension of the person’s operating privilege and notify the secretary of the order. Upon receiving the notice, the secretary shall act as authorized under s. 343.32 or 343.085. Any suspension under this subsection shall date from the day the secretary acts on the order of suspension of the operating privilege.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page does not say how that statement applies to a particular citation, license, or insurance policy. Section 343.30 has other subsections that this page does not cover. This page does not quote section 343.085 or section 343.32.

What Wis. Admin. Code § Trans 101.02 says about demerit points

Wis. Admin. Code § Trans 101.02 is headed “Point schedule.” The Administrative Code page states: “Updated on the first day of each month. Entire code is always current.”

Trans 101.02 reads: “Pursuant to s. 343.32 (2), Stats., the department has established this demerit point system to identify habitually reckless or negligent operators or those who have repeatedly violated traffic laws. Upon receipt of a notice of conviction for an offense under the state traffic laws, a local ordinance, a tribal or federal traffic law, a violation of s. UWS 18.04, or a traffic regulation, the department shall assess demerit points against the driver record of the person convicted of the offense in the manner and to the extent required by this section and s. 343.32, Stats. The following scale lists violations according to the number of demerit points assessed, with higher point values being assessed for more severe offenses:”

(1) “Six demerit point violations. The department shall assess 6 demerit points for any of the following violations:” (j) “Speeding 20 miles per hour or more in excess of lawful or posted speed.”
(2) “Four demerit point violations. The department shall assess 4 demerit points for any of the following violations:” (c) “Driving too fast for conditions.” (g) “Imprudent speed.” (i) “Speeding more than 10 miles per hour but less than 20 miles per hour in excess of lawful or posted speed.”
(3) “Three demerit point violations. The department shall assess 3 demerit points for any of the following violations:” (n) “Speeding 10 miles per hour or less in excess of lawful or posted speed.”

That is the rule’s statement. This page does not say how that statement applies to a particular citation, license, or insurance policy. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) each have other items, for other violations, that this page does not cover, and section Trans 101.02 has other subsections that this page does not cover. This page does not quote section 343.32 or section UWS 18.04.

What the 2026 Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule lists for speeding

The Wisconsin court system’s fees page (wicourts.gov, retrieved 8 Nov 2026) lists an “Updated 2026 deposit/bail/bond schedule (reflecting Act 179 changes)” and a separate “2026 deposit/bail/bond schedule”. The fees page also lists “Circuit court fees (effective 11/1/2026)”. This page does not quote those circuit court fee tables, and it does not say how they relate to the schedule.

The schedule’s cover reads “Revised Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule” and “2026”, and states: “Revised deposit schedules established pursuant to sections 345.26 (2)(a), 778.25 (3), 778.26 (3), and 969.065, Wis. Stats.” The schedule states: “The Wisconsin Judicial Conference is charged with the responsibility to annually review this schedule.” It also states: “The statute numbers listed in this booklet are intended to be a guide.” That is the schedule’s statement. That note has another sentence, on where a complete list can be found, that this page does not cover. This page does not quote sections 345.26, 778.25, 778.26, or 969.065.

The schedule’s abbreviation guide lists “DEP = Deposit” and “DP = Demerit Points”. The guide has other abbreviations, including those for the schedule’s other columns, that this page does not cover.

For section 346.57(4)(d), (e), (f), (g), or (h), the schedule lists these rows under “Speeding in excess of fixed limits (30-300):” and this page shows each row’s words, its “DEP” amount, and its “DP” number; the schedule’s other columns are columns that this page does not cover.

Row	DEP	DP
“1-10 MPH above limit”	“30.00”	“3”
“11-15 MPH above limit”	“30.00”	“4”
“16-19 MPH above limit”	“50.00”	“4”
“20-24 MPH above limit”	“70.00”	“6”
“25-29 MPH above limit”	“90.00”	“6”
“30-34 MPH above limit”	“125.00”	“6”
“35-39 MPH above limit”	“175.00”	“6”
“40-44 MPH above limit”	“250.00”	“6”
“45 MPH or more above limit”	“300.00”	“6”

For section 346.57(4)(gm)1, the schedule lists these rows under “Speeding in excess of 65 mph limit (50-300):” and this page shows the same three cells of each row; the schedule’s other columns are columns that this page does not cover.

Row	DEP	DP
“1-10 MPH above limit”	“50.00”	“3”
“11-15 MPH above limit”	“50.00”	“4”
“16-19 MPH above limit”	“90.00”	“4”
“20-24 MPH above limit”	“110.00”	“6”
“25-29 MPH above limit”	“130.00”	“6”
“30-34 MPH above limit”	“150.00”	“6”
“35 MPH or more above limit”	“300.00”	“6”

For section 346.57(4)(gm)2, the schedule lists these rows under “Speeding in excess of 70 mph limit (50-300):” and this page shows the same three cells of each row; the schedule’s other columns are columns that this page does not cover.

Row	DEP	DP
“1-10 MPH above limit”	“50.00”	“3”
“11-15 MPH above limit”	“50.00”	“4”
“16-19 MPH above limit”	“90.00”	“4”
“20-24 MPH above limit”	“110.00”	“6”
“25-29 MPH above limit”	“130.00”	“6”
“30-34 MPH above limit”	“150.00”	“6”
“35 MPH or more above limit”	“300.00”	“6”

Below each of those three sets of rows, the schedule lists rows for violations within the work areas it names, and it prints this note: “NOTE: 25 or more mph over 55, 65 or 70 speed limit is a required 15 day license suspension under s. 343.30(1n).” Above its speed rows, the schedule prints a note that begins: “NOTE: For violations of ss. 346.57 (2) to (5) if a child is present in a zone designated by "school" warning signs when the offense occurs, the deposit column is doubled.”

That is the schedule’s statement. That note has other sentences, on the schedule’s other columns, that this page does not cover. The schedule has other rows for speeding, including the rows for violations within the work areas it names and rows for section 346.57(2), (3), (4)(a) to (c), (4)(i) to (k), and (5), that this page does not cover. The “DP” numbers above are a column of the schedule; they are not the text of section Trans 101.02, and this page does not compare them with it. This page does not quote the schedule’s other columns or its notes on those columns, it does not say what amount a particular court sets, and it does not calculate an amount for any speed or any notice.

What Wis. Stat. § 349.02(3) says about photo radar speed detection

§ 349.02(3)(a): “In this subsection, “photo radar speed detection” means the detection of a vehicle’s speed by use of a radar device combined with photographic identification of the vehicle.”

§ 349.02(3)(b): “Notwithstanding sub. (1), the state and local authorities may not use photo radar speed detection to determine compliance with any speed restriction imposed by s. 346.57, 346.58, 346.59, 346.595 or 349.11 or a local ordinance in conformity therewith.”

That is the statute’s statement. This page quotes all of subsection (3). Section 349.02 has other subsections, including subsection (1), that this page does not cover. This page does not quote sections 346.58, 346.59, 346.595, or 349.11.

Paths the notice describes (not which to choose)

Read which law enforcement officer or agency issued your notice, the court named on it, the charge, the date, any amount, and the response instructions printed on it. We do not tell you which path to choose or what step to take.

Violation.com does not collect Wisconsin forfeitures or deposits. If you upload a speeding notice, we summarize what the notice shows. It is not legal advice.

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Sources retrieved 29 Oct 2026 and 8 Nov 2026:

Not legal advice. Not a law firm. Not affiliated with a government agency. Information Only.

Information on this page was last checked against official sources on October 29, 2026.