WHAT THE WORDS MEAN

Also called things left behind

Personal property a tenant leaves behind after moving out or being evicted, which the landlord may presume abandoned, unless a written agreement says otherwise, and dispose of.

Also called under 21 drinking and driving

The rule that a person below the legal drinking age may not drive with an alcohol concentration of more than 0.0. The forfeiture is $200, and $400 with a passenger under 16 years of age.

Also called landlord entry

What a landlord gives before entering, at reasonable times, to inspect, repair or show the premises.

Also called assault

Causing bodily harm to another, by an act intended to cause bodily harm, without the harmed person's consent. A Class A misdemeanor.

Also called self help repossession limit

The one condition on a secured party that takes collateral back without judicial process, such as a car bought on credit. It may do that only if it proceeds without breach of the peace.

Also called self defense, duty to retreat

In a dwelling, vehicle or place of business, against someone unlawfully and forcibly entering, the court may not consider a chance to flee and presumes the belief that deadly force was necessary was reasonable.

Also called move in checklist

The sheet a landlord gives a new residential tenant at the start of the occupancy for comments on the condition of the premises. The tenant has 7 days from moving in to complete and return it.

Also called misdemeanor

The highest misdemeanor class: up to $10,000, up to 9 months, or both.

Also called statute of limitations, time limit to charge

A prosecution is commenced when a warrant or summons is issued, an indictment is found, or an information is filed. A felony must be commenced within 6 years and a misdemeanor within 3 years after the offense, except as the section provides.

Also called door to door sale, cooling off period

A consumer sale started by solicitation away from the merchant's regular place of business, over $25, which the customer may cancel until midnight of the 3rd business day after the merchant gives the required notice.

Also called restricted controlled substance

Any measurable amount of a restricted controlled substance in the blood, which by itself is enough for the impaired driving offense.

Also called disturbing the peace

Violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct, under circumstances in which it tends to cause or provoke a disturbance.

Also called restraining order, TRO

The final relief in a domestic abuse case, after a temporary restraining order and a hearing within 14 days. It can run as long as the petitioner asks, up to 4 years.

Also called Good Samaritan, helping at an accident

Care a person renders at the scene of any emergency or accident in good faith. The person is immune from civil liability for acts or omissions in rendering it.

Also called chapter 51 hold, mental health hold, taken in for an evaluation

Custody a law enforcement officer takes on cause to believe an individual meets one of the section's standards of dangerousness and that custody is the least restrictive alternative appropriate. The treatment director or a designee decides within 24 hours whether to detain or release.

Also called clearing a record

Clearing a record, ordered at the time of sentencing for a person under 25 at the time of an offense carrying a maximum of 6 years or less, taking effect once the sentence is successfully completed.

Also called final paycheck, last paycheck

Wages due an employee who quits or is discharged, paid in full no later than the day they would regularly have been paid, or the monthly deadline, whichever is earlier.

Also called first offense drunk driving

A first impaired driving violation is a civil forfeiture of $150 to $300.

Also called fleeing police

Willful disregard of an officer's signal to stop. With no injury or damage, a Class H felony.

Also called civil forfeiture, ticket

A penalty that carries money only: Class A up to $10,000, Class B up to $1,000, Class C up to $500.

Also called pat down, weapons search

A search for weapons during a stop, allowed when the officer reasonably suspects someone is in danger of physical injury.

Also called wage garnishment

Taking part of a debtor's earnings, of which 80 percent of disposable earnings are exempt.

Also called harassing

Striking, shoving or kicking someone, or threatening to, or a course of conduct that harasses or intimidates and serves no legitimate purpose. A Class B forfeiture, up to $1,000.

Also called initiation, pledging

Intentionally or recklessly endangering a student's physical health or safety for initiation, admission or affiliation with an organization connected with a school, college or university.

Also called texting while driving, phone while driving

Any activity other than driving that interferes, or reasonably appears to interfere, with driving safely.

Also called custody, legal custody

Custody both parents hold, which the court presumes is in the child's best interest.

Also called lemon

The rule that a new motor vehicle's nonconformity, reported before the warranty ends or one year after first delivery, whichever is sooner, is repaired, and after a reasonable attempt fails the consumer chooses replacement or refund.

Also called concealed carry license, CCW

The license the Department of Justice issues to carry a concealed weapon, valid for 5 years, at a fee of no more than $37.

Also called alimony, spousal support

Support the court may order to either spouse for a limited or indefinite time.

Also called rerenting, breaking a lease

A landlord's recovery from a tenant who left early is reduced by the net rent obtainable by reasonable efforts to rerent.

Also called reckless driving

The standard Wisconsin's reckless driving section rests on: endangering the safety of any person or property by negligent operation of a vehicle.

Also called nonstandard provision

A separate document, titled that way, listing any other reason a landlord may withhold from the deposit, which the landlord went over with the tenant before the tenant entered the rental agreement.

Also called resisting or obstructing, false name

Knowingly resisting or obstructing an officer acting in an official capacity and with lawful authority. A Class A misdemeanor.

Also called work license

A limited license to drive while the operating privilege is suspended. An underage driver suspended under the absolute sobriety rule is eligible for one at any time.

Also called recording consent

The rule that a person may intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication when they are a party to it, or one of the parties has given prior consent, unless it is to commit a criminal, tortious or injurious act.

Also called open meeting, public meeting

The setting in which a governmental body holds all discussion, and initiates, deliberates and acts on all action of any kind, formal or informal, except where the closed session section allows.

Also called open container

An opened container of alcohol beverages or nitrous oxide. No driver or passenger may have one on their person in a private vehicle on a public highway.

Also called operating while intoxicated, drunk driving

Physically working any control needed to put the vehicle in motion. No one may drive or operate while under the influence to a degree that makes them incapable of safely driving, or with a prohibited alcohol concentration.

Also called driving while suspended, suspended license

Operating on a highway during a suspension. A forfeiture of $50 to $200.

Also called 5 day notice, eviction notice

A written notice for unpaid rent giving at least 5 days to pay or leave. Rent here includes past due rent and late fees on it.

Also called false advertising, deceptive practice

A money loss from an untrue, deceptive or misleading representation to the public, which a person may sue to recover with costs, including reasonable attorney fees.

Also called month to month, tenancy at will

A month to month or other periodic tenancy, which ends on written notice from either side of at least 28 days, and only at the end of a rental period.

Also called insurance card

Proof of a motor vehicle liability policy, which the driver has in immediate possession and displays on demand of a traffic officer. It may be printed or electronic.

Also called dividing property, marital property

The court presumes all property is divided equally between the spouses, and may alter that, without regard to marital misconduct, after considering the factors the section lists.

Also called public intoxication, detox

Taking a person who appears incapacitated by alcohol or another drug to an approved treatment facility, or an emergency medical facility.

Also called meeting notice, posted agenda

Notice of the time, date, place and subject matter of every meeting of a governmental body, given at least 24 hours before it begins, or where that is impossible or impractical for good cause, never less than 2 hours in advance.

Also called redemption, get the car back

To get collateral back by tendering fulfillment of all obligations it secures, plus the reasonable expenses and attorney's fees the Code describes. A debtor, a secondary obligor, or another secured party or lienholder may do it.

Also called shoplifting

Taking, concealing, transferring or keeping a merchant's goods, or altering a price, without consent and meaning to deprive the merchant. Not over $500 is a Class A misdemeanor.

Also called retaliatory eviction

Raising rent, decreasing services, suing for possession or refusing to renew, which would not happen but for a tenant's good faith complaint about a defect or exercise of a legal right.

Also called warrant

An order signed by a judge directing an officer to search a designated person, object or place to seize designated property, issued if probable cause is shown under oath.

Also called deposit

The deposit a landlord delivers or mails back in full, less only what the statute allows to be withheld, within 21 days, counted from the day that fits how the tenancy ended.

Also called course of conduct

Intentionally carrying out a course of conduct aimed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person serious emotional distress or fear, and does. A Class I felony.

Also called records release, medical records request

What a patient, or a person the patient authorizes, submits to inspect the patient's health care records during regular business hours on reasonable notice, or to be provided copies on paying the applicable fees.

Also called fired for cause, misconduct

A ground for unemployment ineligibility alongside misconduct: a discharge for either keeps a person ineligible until 7 weeks have passed and they have earned 14 times the weekly benefit rate.

Also called investigatory stop, stop and identify

A stop in a public place for a reasonable period, on reasonable suspicion of a crime, during which the officer may demand the person's name and address and an explanation of the person's conduct.

Also called stealing

Intentionally taking, using, concealing or keeping someone else's movable property without consent, intending to deprive the owner permanently. Not over $2,500 is a Class A misdemeanor.

Also called tip credit, tipped wage

An employee who may be paid $2.33 per hour, only if payroll records show tips bring the week to at least the minimum.

Also called trespass, trespassing

Entering enclosed, cultivated or undeveloped land of another without consent, or staying after being told not to. A Class B forfeiture, up to $1,000.

Also called data breach, breach notice

Acquisition of an entity's subjects' personal information by someone unauthorized. The entity gives the required notice within a reasonable time, not to exceed 45 days after learning of it.

Also called minor in possession, underage drinking

A person below the legal drinking age, who commits a violation by knowingly possessing or consuming alcohol beverages. A first violation is a forfeiture of $100 to $200.

Also called signature bond, bail

Release on a promise to pay if the person does not appear, without depositing money first.

Also called uninhabitable, rent abatement

Unfit to live in from fire, water or other casualty, a condition hazardous to health, or a substantial violation of the landlord's duties. The tenant may move out unless the landlord promptly repairs, and a tenant who stays pays reduced rent.

Also called illegal lease clause

What a residential rental agreement becomes when it contains a forbidden term, such as eviction other than by the judicial procedure, a waiver of the duty to mitigate, or a waiver of the duty to keep the premises fit.