Sauk County, WI Parking Rules: Abandoned Vehicles (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Unattended vehicle after park hours is a nuisance
- Removal
- At owner's expense, does not excuse penalty
- Park closing hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. nightly
- Enforcing agency
- Sheriff's Department, Land Resources and Environment Dept
- Forfeiture
- $10 to $100 plus costs of action
Summary
A vehicle left unattended in a Sauk County park after hours, without department approval, and under circumstances making it appear abandoned, is declared a public nuisance under Sec. 10.08(h). The county can remove the vehicle at the owner's expense without excusing the owner from any penalty.
(h)No person shall leave any vehicle unattended without the approval of the Department or its authorized agent after park hours under such circumstances as to cause the vehicle to reasonably appear to have been abandoned. An abandoned vehicle shall constitute a public nuisance and be subject to removal at the owner's expense. Removal of the vehicle shall not relieve the owner or operator of the vehicle from any penalty incurred because of such violation.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 10.08(h), part of the Sauk County Code's vehicle regulations for county parks, provides that no person shall leave any vehicle unattended without the approval of the Land Resources and Environment Department or its authorized agent after park hours, under circumstances causing the vehicle to reasonably appear abandoned. An abandoned vehicle is declared a public nuisance and is subject to removal at the owner's expense, and the removal does not relieve the owner or operator of any penalty already incurred for the underlying violation. The rule operates alongside the chapter's closing-hours provision, Sec.
10.14, which closes county parks and parkways nightly between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. except for through traffic, so a vehicle left in a lot overnight without permission after that closure is squarely the kind of unattended vehicle the abandonment rule targets. Sec. 10.08 also limits vehicles generally to designated drives and parking areas, bars parking in a way that obstructs a drive, and requires compliance with state, county and municipal traffic codes, giving the Department and Sheriff's Department several independent grounds to act against a vehicle left in a park after hours.
Violations & Fines
Leaving a vehicle unattended in a Sauk County park after hours without department approval, so that it appears abandoned, violates Sec. 10.08(h) and is enforceable under Sec. 10.16 by the Sauk County Sheriff's Department or delegated Land Resources and Environment staff. The vehicle can be removed at the owner's expense as a public nuisance, and the owner remains liable for a forfeiture of not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00 plus the costs of the action, in addition to towing and storage costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sauk County tow my car if I leave it overnight at a park?
What hours count as 'after park hours' for the abandonment rule?
Does towing my abandoned vehicle clear the violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sauk County
Compare Sauk County to another location·View the Wisconsin parking rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.