Wisconsin Open Records Discovery Demand (Wis. Stat. §19.35)
Wisconsin's Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§19.31-19.39) grants any requester access to government records. For parking citations, you can demand: (1) issuing officer's notes and shift log; (2) photographs taken; (3) sign-installation log; (4) meter calibration records; (5) sweeper / snow operation logs; (6) prior complaint history at the location. The agency must respond 'as soon as practicable and without delay.' If the agency cannot produce records supporting the citation, the burden of proof problem at hearing typically results in dismissal. The technique is especially powerful in Milwaukee and Madison where records of sign maintenance and meter calibration are spotty.
Legal basis
Wis. Stat. §§19.31, 19.35, 19.36, 19.37 (Public Records Law)
Sample appeal wording
[DATE] Records Custodian [CITY] Department of Public Works RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST UNDER WIS. STAT. §19.35 — Citation #[NUMBER] Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law, I request the following records related to Citation #[NUMBER] issued [DATE] at [LOCATION]: 1. Issuing officer/agent notes, log, or activity record for that shift 2. All photographs taken in connection with this citation 3. Sign installation and maintenance log for [STREET/BLOCK] for the prior 24 months 4. Meter calibration records for Meter #[NUMBER] for the prior 12 months 5. [Sweeper route log / Snow ordinance declaration log / permit zone records, as applicable] 6. Any complaints or service requests for this location in the prior 12 months I will pay reasonable copying fees up to $[X]. Please respond as soon as practicable per §19.35(4). [NAME / ADDRESS / EMAIL]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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- Wis. Stat. §§19.31-19.39 (docs.legis.wisconsin.gov)
- Wisconsin DOJ Public Records Compliance Guide