Is it legal for an officer to give me a verbal warning instead of a ticket?

In Wisconsin, it is common for officers to issue verbal warnings in traffic cases instead of a ticket. A verbal warning is a warning given by an officer instead of a ticket. It is not considered a conviction and does not require the violator to pay a fine or appear in court. Verbal warnings are typically issued when an officer believes the violation is minor and that a warning is more appropriate than writing a ticket. Officers can also issue verbal warnings if the offender has a good driving record, acknowledges their mistake, and seems unlikely to repeat it in the future. In Wisconsin, officers are not legally obligated to issue verbal warnings for speeding or other traffic offenses. It is an officer’s discretion to decide whether to write a ticket or issue a verbal warning. However, officers will usually only issue a verbal warning when a violation is minor and when the violator agrees to take corrective action. Sometimes, an officer may also give an unofficial warning, which is similar to a verbal warning but it is not recorded in the enforcement system. Unofficial warnings do not require the violator to appear in court or to pay any fines. In summary, it is legal for an officer to give you a verbal warning instead of a ticket in Wisconsin. The officer has the discretion to decide whether to issue a ticket or a verbal warning. However, officers are more likely to issue a verbal warning when the violation is minor and when the violator agrees to take corrective action.

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Is it legal for an officer to give me a verbal warning instead of a ticket?

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