Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 345.31

  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Municipality: includes cities and villages; it may be construed to include towns. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

Section 971.19 on place of trial in criminal actions applies to actions for the violation of traffic regulations and nonmoving traffic violations except that, in the case of a violation of an ordinance of a municipality which is located in more than one county, the action may be brought in any court sitting in that municipality even though in another county. As an alternative, the plaintiff may bring the action in the county where the defendant resides.