Home Page: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions for the Police Department

What should I do if I am stopped by a police officer while in my car?

Pull your vehicle over to the right as soon as you notice the emergency lights AND as soon as it is safe to pull over. Pull over as quickly as possible even if you do not know why you are being stopped. There are many reasons that you might be pulled over. There could be a mechanical problem with your care that you are not aware of OR you may have committed a minor traffic violation without even realizing it.

Stay in your vehicle while the officer approaches. Exiting your vehicle does not assist the officer and may be perceived as a threat. If it is night, then turn on your interior light. This helps the officer determine if there is any weapons or other threats inside the vehicle.

Keep your hands in an area where they can be seen easily, preferably on the steering wheel. Reaching under the seat or glove box or keeping your hands out of site will cause the officer concern that you may have a weapon.

Give your driver's license and any other information the officer asks for when asked. Some officers may not explain the reason they have stopped you until you provide the identification. This is to avoid debate over the reason of stop before getting the needed information. If you wish to inquire as to why you were stopped or offer an explanation, do so AFTER you give identification and before the officer returns to their squad.

It is the policy of the Town of Summit Police Department to photograph all people who are given a citation or written warning that can not provide photographic identification.
Answer all questions honestly. Information about prior arrests or traffic violations is easily verified during normal record checks done on stops.

If you are asked to step out of the vehicle, do so without any sudden or threatening movements. Touching or threatening a police officer or acting in a disorderly manner can result in the filing of additional charges and you will be arrested.

If a citation is issued, it is best not to argue about it on the side of the road. If you feel that you did not commit the violation your best option is to appear in court on the date indicated on the citation.

Who decides if I am going to get a ticket?

Whether an officer issues you a ticket or gives you a warning is entirely up to the officer's discretion. Your conduct during the stop may influence the officer's decision.

What should I do if an officer approaches me on the street?

There are many reasons an officer may directly approach you on the street. Here are some of the reasons:

The officer may be stopping to see if you are in need of assistance of some kind.

• You might be one of only a few people walking around in the area of a crime that just occurred.
• Your clothing might be similar or identical to that worn by a suspect in a crime.
• Someone may have called the police complaining that your activities or presence looked "suspicious" to them.
• You might be acting in a manner that the officer considers "suspicious".\

The following general advice applies to all direct encounters:

• Do not carry weapons (real or otherwise) or even joke about having a weapon on your person.
• Do not touch the officer or violate his or her "personal" safety zone, approximately 3 feet.
• Remain calm and avoid being argumentative. If you are uncooperative and refuse to answer reasonable questions, the officer is likely to become more suspicious and the encounter will probably last much longer then needed.
• Comply with the officer then ask for a explanation from the officer later.
• Avoid making sudden movements (for your wallet, into your coat, toward your waistband, etc.) until you have informed the officer of your intention to do so and the officer has said it's okay.

What if I feel frustrated or dissatisfied after an encounter with an officer?

There are times when people have left a encounter with a police officer feeling frustrated or dissatisfied. Many times this is because the you may not have understood why you were stopped or do not feel you have committed the violation. The Town of Summit Police Department does not condone police misconduct of any type. All complaints of misconduct are investigated and appropriate action is taken. If you have a complaint that you would like to make the Police Department aware of, please call the department, using the non-emergency phone number, and speak with the Chief of Police directly during the day. During the evening, call and speak directly to the Lieutenant. Your concern will be discussed and procedures for further action will be addressed.

What if I want to let the police department know that an officer was very helpful to me?

If you would like to let the Police Department know when an officer has been very helpful or has done something which warrants a compliment, we would be happy to hear from you. You can handle this in two ways:

1. Call or email either the Chief or Lieutenant, and they will notify the officer of the positive feedback.

2. Write a letter to the Police Department that states the date and time of the incident and, if known, the officer’s name. The officer’s supervisor will then give the officer a copy of the letter and also place the letter in the Officer’s personnel file.

Feedback is always welcome and appreciate from the community which we serve.

What is the proper use of 9-1-1?

All of Waukesha County, including the Town of Summit, is covered by enhanced 911. This is a very important tool to help people, however, it must be used the proper way.

• When you dial 911 on your phone, the dispatch center has a screen that will display the name, address, and telephone number associated with the phone you are calling from.
• If a 911 operator does not get a response when the phone rings, a police officer will be sent to the address to check on the situation. The dispatcher can also attempt a call back to the phone the 911 call originated from, hopefully to get an idea of what is happening before the officer arrives.
• When you call 911 you will need to stay on the line with the dispatcher until they tell you to hang up. The dispatcher will need to get information from you about the incident that you are reporting.
• Please do not call 911 to test the system to see how it works. There are only so many lines to the dispatch center and if you are tying up a line, someone who has an emergency may not be able to get through.

Can I put 9-1-1 on “Speed Dial”?

There is nothing that says you can not program 911 as a speed dial on your phone. It was designed however, to be a quick and easy number to remember and dial. There are times when your speed dial may be pushed by accident and a squad will have to respond to your house. We would prefer that you program the non-emergency number of your local police and fire departments into your speed dial and dial 911 using the numbers on the phone.

If you have any more questions about 911, please contact any police agency using the non-emergency phone number.

How do I handle a citations issued by the Town of Summit Police Department?\

Parking Citations:

1. If you choose to pay the fine listed on the citation, make a check or money order payable to the Town of Summit Police Department and mail the citation using the envelope left with the citation. You may also pay the citation at the police department between 8am and 4pm Monday through Friday. The payment must be made within 15 days of the date the citation was issued.

2. If you choose to contest the citation, notify the police department within 15 days of the date the citation was issued. A court date will be assigned to you in Municipal court and you will be notified of the court date. Additional fees will be added to the citation per Wisconsin Statutes for this filing.

3. If you fail to pay the fine or request a court date, the Town of Summit Police Department will request that your registration plates be suspended by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Additional fees will be added per Wisconsin Statutes.

If you have any questions regarding the citation or these instructions, contact the Town of Summit Police Department at 262-567-1134.

Municipal Traffic and Ordinance Violations:

If the violation is indicated as a MANDATORY appearance, then you must appear at the City of Oconomowoc City Hall at 174 E. Wisconsin Ave and go to the court room on the second floor on the court date indicated on the citation.

If the violation is not a mandatory appearance then follow below.

1. If you choose to pay the fine before the court date listed on the citation, mail a check or money order to Lake Country Municipal Court - 174 E. Wisconsin Ave Oconomowoc, WI 53066. Provide a copy of the citation with your payment. You should have been given a envelope along with the citation you can use to mail in your payment.

2. If you choose to contest the citation: Appear in court on the date and time listed on the citation. After your appearance before the judge, a pre-trial conference will be conducted with the prosecutor the same day; or, Enter a plea of "not guilty" in writing and mail the plea to the court. Include a copy of the citation along with your plea. The "not guilty" plea must arrive at the clerk's office no later than the day before your court appearance date. You will receive a date for a pre-trial conference by mail a few weeks after your court date. Be sure your correct address is on the citation.

3. If you fail to pay the fine or contest the citation, you will be found guilty and given 60 days to pay your fine. A notice of judgment will be mailed to you. Be sure your correct address is on the citation. If you fail to pay after the 60 days your drivers license could be suspended or a warrant could be issued for your arrest.

Click for map to Oconomowoc City Hall.
Please see the Lake Country Municipal Court Web Page for more information.

For State Traffic Citations:

You must appear at the Waukesha County Courthouse, 515 W. Moreland Blvd, on the date and time indicated on your citation. You will be notified by the Waukesha County District Attorney's office of any changes in your court date.
Click for map to Waukesha County Courthouse

Can I really get cash for helping solve crimes? (Crime Stoppers Program)

Yes you can! We pay cash for information which leads to the arrest of people for crimes in Waukesha County.

Will Anyone be able to find out I gave the information?
No! You are not required to give your name. Should you decide to give that information, your name remains anonymous. You will be given a tipster number which will be your only identification.

Who do I call with my information?
You call our special toll free Crime Stoppers phone number: 1-888-441-5505, which is answered 24 hours a day.

I don't have information, but I am interested in this program and want to help. How can I get involved?

Crime Stoppers is a citizen based organization. Any interested citizen can become involved in Crime Stoppers and volunteer their help in the program.
Just write Crime Stoppers at: Crime Stoppers, P.O. Box 1826, Waukesha, WI 53187-1826

If you would like to contribute to this worthwhile crime fighting organization, you can make a cash donation to Crime Stoppers of Waukesha County at the address listed above. Your donation is fully tax deductible as Crime Stoppers is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization.

What about children who are missing or exploited?

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

What can I do to use the internet safely?

The internet is a excellent tool for education, entertainment and research. Like anything else, there can be dangers on-line. We would like to provide you with some information to try and make the internet experience safer for everyone.

• Keep your computer in a place accessible by ALL family members.
• Talk to you children about what they do on-line and where they go.
• Stay involved with your children both on and off line. Being with them while they are online, at least when they are starting out, is a great way to spend time together and to make sure they understand what is safe.
• Use filtering software.
• Do not let the children have a e-mail account that you can not access.
• Do not give your password to ANYONE, either in person or over internet.
• Only use your credit card on web sites where you are comfortable that the number will be secure.

How do I renew my license for myself or my vehicle?

Visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website.  Using this website allows you to change your address, check the status of your license, find out about license reinstatement and more. For your vehicle, you can renew your license or check on your vehicle title!