Caledonia stretches across the northern half of Racine County between Milwaukee and downtown Racine, and its traffic volume reflects that. Three 55 mph state highways (WI-32, WI-38, and Interstate 94) run through the village, and the Caledonia Police Department works all three actively. We defend Caledonia traffic citations in the Village of Caledonia Municipal Court and criminal traffic matters at the Racine County Circuit Court.
If the traffic stop also involved suspected impairment, pair this page with the Caledonia OWI/DUI guide. For broader local criminal-defense context, see the Caledonia criminal-defense page on racinelaw.com.
Caledonia traffic court facts that affect the defense strategy
The first question is not just what you were cited for. It is who wrote the ticket, which court is printed on the citation, which prosecutor path applies, and whether the stop happened on a corridor where points, CDL reporting, or insurance exposure can get expensive quickly.
Village of Caledonia Municipal Court
Traffic and non-traffic ordinance violations inside the Village of Caledonia, which in practice means citations written by the Caledonia Police Department. A Racine County Sheriff or State Patrol citation, and every criminal traffic charge, goes to the Racine County Circuit Court in downtown Racine instead.
- Address
- 5043 Chester Lane, Caledonia, WI 53402
- Phone
- (262) 835-4451
Hon. Robert Keller
Municipal court handles forfeiture-level local ordinance citations. A municipal conviction can still create DOT points, insurance consequences, and license issues.
Municipal prosecutor path
Criminal traffic, sheriff citations, and State Patrol citations move through Tricia Hanson, Racine County District Attorney.
Do not let default judgment decide it
Court hearings are held Mondays at 3:30 pm. The court takes no payments by phone at all: payment goes online, by mail to the Chester Lane address, or into the drop box outside Village Hall. Miss a date and the court enters a guilty judgment by default, and reopening it means a Motion to Reopen, which after six months is granted only in extraordinary situations.
A not-guilty plea brings a notice of pretrial conference, held one-on-one with the Village Attorney in the Caledonia courtroom. Your appearance there is mandatory: the court treats a no-show as a guilty plea by default. Because this is an ordinance case rather than a criminal one, no attorney is appointed, so whether anyone is on your side of that conference is up to you. The court publishes its pretrial procedure handout in Spanish as well as English.
Unpaid forfeitures carry real teeth here: the village can suspend a driver license for up to a year, refer the debt to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, or seek a commitment of one day in the Racine County Jail for every $50 left unpaid.
- Interstate 94 Heavy State Patrol enforcement between the Seven Mile Road and Six Mile Road exits.
- Highway 32 (Douglas Avenue / Green Bay Road) Long 55 mph stretches that narrow to 35 mph through populated pockets, a speed-drop trap.
- Highway 38 (Erie Street) Connects Caledonia to Franksville and points north; local PD patrols frequently.
- Highway K / Four Mile Road Residential and school-zone enforcement.
Official sources: Village of Caledonia Municipal Court
Where your Caledonia ticket will be heard
Village of Caledonia Municipal Court hears civil traffic citations written by local Caledonia police, including ordinary speeding, stop-sign and stoplight violations, equipment tickets, and seat-belt citations.
Racine County Circuit Court (730 Wisconsin Avenue) hears all criminal traffic charges and civil citations written by the Racine County Sheriff or Wisconsin State Patrol.
Check the upper-right corner of your citation for the court name before assuming which rules apply. Fines, plea options, and collateral consequences differ between the two.
Law enforcement that commonly cites in Caledonia
- Caledonia Police Department
- Racine County Sheriff
- Wisconsin State Patrol
Common traffic stops in Caledonia
- Interstate 94, Heavy State Patrol enforcement between the Seven Mile Road and Six Mile Road exits.
- Highway 32 (Douglas Avenue / Green Bay Road), Long 55 mph stretches that narrow to 35 mph through populated pockets, a speed-drop trap.
- Highway 38 (Erie Street), Connects Caledonia to Franksville and points north; local PD patrols frequently.
- Highway K / Four Mile Road, Residential and school-zone enforcement.
Civil traffic offenses (ordinary speeding, stop-sign, equipment, and seat-belt tickets) issued by the Caledonia Police Department are heard in the Caledonia Municipal Court. Anything written by the State Patrol on I-94, or any criminal traffic charge such as reckless driving under Wis. Stat. § 346.62 or operating after revocation under § 343.44, is heard at the Racine County Circuit Court at 730 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Racine. If you are not sure which applies to your ticket, we will tell you during a free case review, and in almost every municipal case we appear on your behalf so you do not have to miss work.
Caledonia-area traffic enforcement by the numbers
Verified statistics from official state and county sources.
Caledonia traffic cases: who hears them
Criminal traffic charges from Caledonia are heard at the Racine County Circuit Court and prosecuted by the Racine County District Attorney's office.
Sitting Racine County circuit court judges
- Hon. Wynne P. Laufenberg · Branch 1 · Chief Judge
- Hon. Eugene A. Gasiorkiewicz · Branch 2
- Hon. Jessica E.H. Lynott · Branch 3
- Hon. Scott P. Craig · Branch 4
- Hon. David W. Paulson · Branch 6
- Hon. Jamie M. McClendon · Branch 7
- Hon. Faye M. Flancher · Branch 8
- Hon. Robert S. Repischak · Branch 9
- Hon. Timothy D. Boyle · Branch 10
Caledonia traffic defense services
Every practice area below is flat-fee. If your citation lists an offense not shown here, call. We defend the full Wisconsin Vehicle Code.