Failure to Pay Forfeitures

Failure to pay the assessed forfeiture by the due date provided will trigger the alternative or back-end sentence indicated on the Defendant’s Notice of Judgment, which is given to the defendant at their initial appearance or alternatively mailed.  Failure to pay the assessed forfeiture may result in the court imposing jail time and/or suspending driving privileges for up to 2 years.  

The ability to reinstate one’s driving privileges shall not occur until the forfeiture is paid in full.  Once paid, the court notifies the DMV to lift the suspension.  It is then the defendant’s responsibility to reinstate driving privileges with the DMV, either in person or online at: http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/online-srvcs/external/dmv.aspx. 
 
If the alternative sentence for non-payment is jail, the defendant shall be summoned by mail to appear at a Non-Compliance Hearing.  Appearance at this hearing may result in the defendant being placed on a payment plan.  Failure to appear will result in a Writ of Commitment being issued for the defendant’s arrest.

In addition to enforcing the alternative or back-end sentence, the court will also attempt to tax intercept the debt from the defendant’s State taxes via the Tax Refund Intercept Program (TRIP) and/or SDC (State Debt Collection) program.  These programs allow the court to certify the debt with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.  The debt remains certified to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue until it is paid in full.