Manitowoc Municipal Court

Manitowoc Municipal Court cases in Manitowoc County, Manitowoc, WI

The City of Manitowoc Municipal Court is a municipal court with limited jurisdiction under Wisconsin law. It serves as the local forum for enforcing City of Manitowoc ordinances and non-criminal forfeiture actions. The court handles traffic and parking citations; first-offense operating while intoxicated (OWI) and other non-criminal traffic matters; building, housing, and zoning code violations; animal control violations; underage alcohol or tobacco, curfew, and truancy cases; and other municipal code offenses. It does not hear criminal misdemeanors or felonies, small-claims or other civil lawsuits, probate, or family law matters. Typical outcomes are forfeitures and costs. Appeals from this court go to the Manitowoc County Circuit Court for a trial de novo.

Manitowoc Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Manitowoc Municipal Court

City of Manitowoc Municipal Court handles non-criminal municipal ordinance matters arising within the city, including traffic and parking citations, building/property code violations, animal control, public health/nuisance, alcohol/tobacco violations, and truancy/curfew and other juvenile ordinance cases.

Primary services:
- Intake/processing of citations and complaints filed by police and code officials
- Scheduling and conducting initial appearances, pretrials with the City Attorney, and bench trials
- Judgments (forfeitures), payment plans, community service options, and compliance reviews
- Enforcement for noncompliance (e.g., license suspensions and commitments as authorized)
- Case information, records/certified copies, and payment processing (online, mail, in person)

Not handled: protective/restraining orders and most criminal matters (file with Manitowoc County Circuit Court). Jury services: municipal court does not conduct jury trials; a jury demand transfers the case to circuit court. The court's role is to provide accessible, efficient resolution of city ordinance cases.