I Want To

The simple answer is yes; however, other state statutes and ordinances may restrict your desired actions.

The City of Appleton has not classified drones (referred to as “unmanned aircraft systems” by the Federal Aviation Administration) as aircraft for purposes of our city aircraft ordinance (ordinance 10-7). 

Wisconsin statutes pertaining to intentionally damaging property, intentionally invading privacy, and intentionally stalking/harassing others may apply to drone users in certain situations.  Wisconsin law prohibits drones to be equipped with weapons.  There are many other state statutes which refer to using “aircraft” criminally, which may apply to drone use. 

This is a new area of law which will likely be shaped by court opinions and new legislation in the coming years.   

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has several requirements for drone users.  The City of Appleton encourages all drone users to review and follow applicable federal guidelines:   

http://www.faa.gov/uas/civil_operations/

Emergency - dial 9-1-1 immediately 

Police Department: 
Non-Emergency.............................................................920-832-5500 
Human Resources.........................................................920-832-6458 
Text-A-Tip ................................................................... Text tip to 274-637 
.......................... Start text message with APDTIPS ............................. 
Web Tips ...................................................................... TipSoft website.

Citizens can contact the Appleton Police Department at (920) 832-5500 and remain anonymous. The Appleton Police Department also contracted with TipSoft to provide two alternative methods for anonymous crime tips: 

Using a cell phone:

• Text your tip to 274-637
• Start your message with the keywords: APDTIPS (To reach us, your message must begin with APDTIPS)

Using the web:

• Click here to go to the TipSoft website.
• Fill out the form and submit your crime tip via the internet.

The Appleton Police Department honors "ride-along" requests from individuals having a legitimate interest in personally observing police patrol operations. Details...

School Resource Officers (SRO) serve as a liaison between the police department and the schools, as well as the community. Details...

The City of Appleton has a loitering ordinance (10-36), which states that a juvenile shall not loiter "between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day, Sunday through Thursday, and between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, unless accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or adult person having legal custody or control."

OWI = Operating While Intoxicated -OR- DWI = Driving While Intoxicated - ss346.63(1)a 
(OWI & DWI are commonly interchangeable terms, and they refer to the same state statute) 

PAC = Prohibited Alcohol Content - ss346.63(1)b. 
"PAC" citation is issued based on the results of your blood test when you are arrested for drinking & driving and your blood/alcohol content is higher than the legal limit of .08 (Change from .10, effective October 1, 2003). This citation is commonly sent to you via U.S. Mail. WI State Statutes

Sidewalks are to be clear of debris, obstructions and snow or ice. Snow being removed from driveways and sidewalks must be deposited on yards or the terrace area, not upon streets or alley ways, per City Ordinance 16-10. 

Sec. 16-10. Snow and ice removal. 

(a) Every person shall, no later than 36 hours following cessation of a snowfall, remove all snow and/or ice from the entire width of the sidewalk in front of the premises owned or occupied by him; provided that, immediately after the accumulation of ice on such sidewalk, it shall be treated with sand, salt or other substance to prevent it from being slippery. The ice shall continue to be so treated in such a manner as to prevent the ice from being dangerous until it can be removed and shall then be promptly removed. If the owner or occupant of such premises shall fail to remove such snow and ice or to sprinkle a sidewalk as required, the work shall be done under the direction of the Common Council and the expenses thereof made a special tax upon the lot in front of which such work was done. 

(b) No person shall remove or cause to be removed any snow or ice from his premises, residence, parking lot, parking area, business property or other area onto any public right-of-way or property. Snow removed from public sidewalks shall not be stored in any manner which will obstruct or limit vehicular or pedestrian vision, movement or access. 

(c) The deposit of any snow or ice upon any sidewalk alley or street of the city contrary to the provisions of this section is a nuisance, and in addition to the penalty provided for violation of this chapter, the City may summarily remove any snow or ice so deposited and cause the cost of the removal to be charged to the owner of the property from which the snow or ice has been removed. 

Complaints about a sidewalk area should be forwarded to the Department of Public Works at (920) 832-6474.

Wisconsin Criminal History Reports are available through the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

You may request a copy of an accident report, for an accident that occurred in the City of Appleton, by completing the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act Permissible Use Form located on our website. Details...

You can request of a copy of your own driving record through Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Restraining Orders are applied for through the Clerk of Court's office in the county in which you reside. 

Calumet County (920) 849-1414 
Outagamie County (920) 832-5131 
Winnebago County (920) 727-2880

Appleton Police Department does not respond to an accident after the parties have exchanged information and left the scene. There is a self-reporting form that can be filled out and mailed directly to the State of Wisconsin. The State of Wisconsin requires you to report an accident if there is more than $1000 worth of damage or any personal injury. Wisconsin Driver Report Accident Form

To request a payment plan for a citation, contact the Outagamie County Clerk of Courts at (920) 832-5131.

The Appleton Police Department has created a flexible organization, staffed by highly motivated and well-trained police officers. Education is valued, and all of our current sworn personnel have participated in a secondary education program. Details...

The Appleton Police Department does not provide extra patrol for residents on vacation. We do suggest that you contact a neighbor or family member that watch over the residence and call the police to report any suspicious activities. Additionally, we recommend that you set timers for your lights and stop mail/newspaper deliveries so the house does not appear vacant.

Exploring is a program for young adults (ages 14-21) who want to learn more about careers by visiting working settings, talking with professionals, and actually trying out certain work activities. The Exploring Program is affiliated with Learning for Life and each group plans their own activities around the interests of its members. Appleton Explorer Post 9925

The Appleton Police Department offers a number of programs that provide the citizens of Appleton an opportunity to learn more about the Department and to interact directly with police officers in positive situations. Details...

Trick or Treating is always on October 31st from 4pm to 8pm.

City Ordinance 19-93: No operator of any vehicle shall park the vehicle upon any street or alley between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. without permission by the Police Department or in cases of construction a permit may be given by the Department of Public Works. Any vehicle parked in violation of this section may be towed at the owner’s expense. 

Permission may be granted by calling the Police Department at (920) 832-5500. Construction permits may also be obtained at the front desk of the Appleton Police Department.

No signs may be placed upon boulevards or terrace areas such as "rummage sale signs", political endorsements, etc. Additionally, signs may not be posted on power poles, utility poles or traffic signs and signals, per City ordinance.

• Signs in the public right-of-way are considered abandoned property, which the “owner” relinquished rights to when placing said sign on public property in violation of the city ordinance.

• For a sign to be authorized and placed in the public right-of-way, a permit/license must first be obtained through the City of Appleton City Clerk’s office. **PERMITS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR RUMMAGE/GARAGE SALE TYPE SIGNS**

• Any unauthorized sign, observed in the public right-of-way, SHALL be removed by Appleton Police Department patrol personnel during non-committed time. Other City of Appleton employees (Department of Public Works, Health Department, Appleton Fire Department, etc.) will also be removing these signs when they are on-duty and uncommitted to other responsibilities.

• All removed signs will be disposed of in a garbage receptacle by personnel removing the sign. This will occur **WITHOUT NOTICE** being provided to the person responsible for placing the sign in the public right-of-way.

Effective November 1, 2011, individuals who hold a valid license issued by the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice or a valid out-of-state license may carry a concealed weapon in accordance with WSA 175.60. Details...

The police department does not provide fingerprinting services to the public.

Lost animals wearing current cat and dog licenses find their way home sooner than those without. Details...

Citizens applying for any type of city license need to contact the City Clerk's office.

Vehicle registration is done through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

If you wish to contest a parking citation, please complete a parking citation review form and return it to the City of Appleton Parking Coordinator within ten (10) days of the citation being issued. All contested citations will be reviewed by the Parking Utility manager, during which time the citation will be placed on hold and will not incur further penalties. Parking Citation Review Form

This is done through the Finance Department. Details...