889.18 Official records.

(1) Chiropractors. The record by the county clerk of license or certificate under s. 446.02 shall not be evidence on behalf of the licensee or certificate holder without production of the license or certificate or competent evidence from the board or body that issued the same.

(2) Copies as evidence. A certified copy of any written or printed matter preserved pursuant to law in any public office or with any public officer in this state, or of the United States, is admissible in evidence whenever and wherever the original is admissible, and with like effect.

(3) Copies, duty to make. Any such officer of this state who, when tendered the legal fee therefor and requested to furnish such certified copy, shall unreasonably refuse to comply with such request, shall forfeit not less than $20 nor more than $100, one-half to the person prosecuting therefor.

History: Sup. Ct. Order, 59 Wis. 2d R1, R5 (1973).

This section does not make admissible police accident reports that contain hearsay or conclusions. Wilder v. Classified Risk Ins. Co. 47 Wis. 2d 286, 177 N.W.2d 109 (1970).

While sub. (2) does not refer to admission into evidence of copies of the official records from other states, other authority admits those documents. Organ v. State, 65 Wis. 2d 36, 221 N.W.2d 823 (1974).

A certified copy of an order by the transportation department revoking the defendant's driver's license was admissible under sub. (2). The identity of the defendant as the one whose license had been revoked was prima facie established where the name was not common. State v. Mullis, 81 Wis. 2d 454, 260 N.W.2d 696 (1978).