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Police Department

Show All Answers

1. What should I do if I am involved in a traffic accident?

Remain calm. Check for immediate hazards, such as fire, electrical wires down or leaking fuel. Check for injuries. Summon police and advise on injuries. Do not move vehicles unless your vehicle is likely to cause more crashes and your crash is minor. Exchange driver and vehicle information, verify license plate numbers and driver license data. Obtain the full name of the other operator's insurance company. Obtain the name and phone number of witnesses. Leaving an accident scene may result in loss of driving privileges and future insurability.

If law enforcement does not investigate the crash or file the report and the crash occurred in 2017, you will need to complete the Wisconsin Driver Report of Crash DT4002. For a copy of this form go to this site: https://trust.dot.state.wi.us/droc/

2. How do I obtain a copy of a traffic accident?

Reports taken by officers are available for copying three to five business days after the accident. Please call the Police Department at 262.342.1100 to obtain a copy. Copies are $.50 per page.

3. How do I obtain a copy of a police report?

Police reports can be obtained by making an open records request at the Police Department:
224 E. Jefferson St.
Burlington, WI 53105

Copies are $0.50 per page.

4. Will the Police Department serve a summons, subpoena or other legal document for me?

No. Please contact the Racine County Sheriff's Department civil process office at 262.636.3210 or a private process server.

5. How do I visit or contact someone in jail?

The Burlington Police Department has a 72-hour holding facility for persons in custody awaiting transportation to the Racine County Jail or other jails. Please call 262.342.1100 to make local arrangements. To visit or contact persons in the Racine County Jail, please call 262.636.3929. To visit or contact persons in the Walworth County Jail, please call 262.741.4540.

6. Can I park on street all night?

City ordinance prohibits parking on all downtown streets between the hours of 2 - 5 a.m. Parking is permitted in the city residential areas between 2 - 5 a.m. in accordance with the alternate side parking regulations. On even-numbered calendar date, vehicles may be parked on the side of the street adjacent to lots and houses which have been assigned even-numbers. On odd-numbered calendar dates, vehicles may be parked on the side of the street adjacent to lots and houses which have been assigned odd numbers. Alternate-side parking rules are determined on the calendar date after 12 a.m. midnight; e.g.: It is December 3, at 10 p.m., and a person does not plan to move his or her vehicle until the next morning; that person would park on the even side of the street because it will be December 4 after midnight, and alternate-side parking is in effect from 2 - 5 a.m. Where alternate-side parking is not available, including, but not limited to, a cul-de-sac or a block where no parking is allowed on one side of the street at any time, parking during the specified hours shall be allowed on the only available side of the street. For more information on city parking regulations refer to municipal code 293-3(e)(3).

7. What type of parking permits are available?

Permits for long-term parking in the downtown area can be purchased for $10 per month. These permits allow a resident of the immediate downtown area to park in a municipal lot for more than 24 hours. The Police Department is required to make a determination, upon the presentation of a motor vehicle registration slip showing a qualifying address, that there is no other parking available for such downtown resident. For visitors or special circumstances that require a vehicle to be left on the street all day or overnight, such as a moving van or construction crew, please call the Police Department. Normally there is no charge for this permit, but without prior notification, vehicles will be ticketed. Large Trucks & Semis requiring special overnight or weekend parking may park in the lot off Maryland Avenue. There is no charge for this service, but permission in advance by the Police Department is required. For any vehicle disabled and unable to be moved in a timely matter you must contact the police department and obtain permission to leave your vehicle parked until it can be moved.

8. What are the parking restrictions during snowstorms?

Basic winter parking restrictions take effect automatically when three or more inches of snow accumulates in 24 hours or less, or the snow has blown in such a manner as to cause traffic congestion or a traffic hazard. To aid the Street Department in plowing or removing snow, these restrictions prohibit parking on streets, alleys and parking lots between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. for 48 hours or until plowing is completed. When severe weather conditions exist, the Mayor or his designee can make an Emergency Declaration, which is broadcast to the general public (see below). Under an Emergency Declaration, parking is totally prohibited on streets, alleys and in parking lots for the duration of the emergency. By ordinance, the police have the authority to ticket and tow illegally parked vehicles, day or night.

9. I received a parking ticket that I believe was unfair. How do I contest it?

Bring your parking ticket to the police department and request a review of the citation. You will have to fill out a form stating your reason why you believe the ticket was unfair. The Operations Lieutenant reviews all requests submitted and will contact you for further discussion of your concerns in this matter. Parking Review Form

10. I received a traffic/ordinance citation that I believe was unfair. How do I contest it?

For ordinance violations, the court appearance date will be provided on the front of the citation. If you wish to change a court date, please call the Municipal Court clerk at 342.1129 prior to the scheduled appearance date.

11. How do I find out if I have outstanding fines to pay?

The Police Department and Municipal Court Clerk will be able to tell if you have outstanding fines with the City of Burlington. For incidents in other jurisdictions, you must contact the court clerk of the jurisdiction in which the incident/arrest occurred. The Wisconsin Circuit Court web site may help you determine the jurisdiction of cases involving the Circuit Courts but it will not have data from municipal courts.

12. Where do I pay my fines?

The City of Burlington Police Department will only take payments on fines issued by this department (unless there is a warrant). Payments prior to the initial court date can be made at the City of Burlington Police Department, 224 E. Jefferson Street. Payments after the initial court date should be made to the City of Burlington Municipal Court Clerk, 300 N. Pine Street.

13. Where can I get information about school closings or weather alerts?

Information is made available as soon as possible to the following media:
WTMJ-TV/Channel 4, WITI-TV/Channel 6, WISN-TV/Channel 12 and WTMJ/Radio AM 620

14. Where can I get copies of Wisconsin registration forms?

The Police Department has a number of DOT or DNR forms available for your convenience, such as snowmobile registration, boat registration, application for handicap parking, change of address, and vehicle registration. Please come to the Police Department window or call if you need a particular form not mentioned here. We probably have it!

15. How can I get a copy of my driving record?

Copies of driver records may only be obtained from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Records & Licensing Information Section, PO Box 7995 Madison, WI 53707-7995 or phone 608.266.2353. There is a $5 fee, made payable to Registration Free Trust. The request form is also available at the City of Burlington Police Department.

16. How can I get a copy of my police record?

The Police Department can only supply records of citations and arrests that occurred in the City of Burlington. To obtain a statewide criminal record check, visit the Wisconsin Department of Justice Criminal Background Checks page. State Criminal History Request forms are also available at the City of Burlington Police Department.

17. What time is curfew in the City Burlington?

Curfew in the city of Burlington is 10:30 p.m. Sunday – Thursday and Midnight on Friday and Saturdays. These do not change during the summer.

18. How do I license my pets?

All pets are required to be licensed in the City of Burlington. The owner of the pet must go to City Hall, 300 N. Pine Street with a current veterinarians certificate of rabies vaccination. The owner will then have to pay a nominal fee to license their pet.

19. How do I license a bicycle?

Bring your bicycle or your bike serial number to the police department and they will issue you a license free of charge.

20. How do I report the spill or release of a hazardous substance?

Call 9-1-1 or the Police Department at 342.1100. The Police Department will determine the appropriate agencies to notify based on the information provided to the dispatcher.

21. What if I have ammunition that I need to dispose of?

Bring the ammunition down to the Police Department in a safe container and we will properly dispose of it.

22. What if I see a wild animal that I believe may be injured or sick?

Please call the dispatch center at 342.1100 and ask for the animal control officer. If the animal control officer is not on duty, inform the dispatcher of your concerns and the appropriate action will be taken.