Crime

Infraction

Also known as a petty offense, an infraction is a very minor crime. It is less serious than a misdemeanor and will usually result in a small fine.

Minor Violations

Although infractions are thought of as criminal acts, they are minor enough that the person who commits the offense is not thought of as a criminal. Most crimes are thought to be a moral injustice that goes against the standards and values of society, but infractions do not fit within this definition. There are a few common examples of infractions.

Littering

When a person puts waste in any place other than a proper receptacle, they are guilty of Littering. This includes any instance of dropping trash on the ground, throwing an empty cup out of a car window, leaving the remains of a meal on an outdoor table or letting any unwanted object fall to the ground and leaving it there.

There are three recognized types of litter: hazardous, non-hazardous and recyclable materials. The charges and penalties for littering with materials that are known to be hazardous are likely to be far more serious than for non-hazardous items.

Traffic Violations

There are several traffic and parking-related violations that would be listed as infractions. Some of these include:

• Parking any vehicle in an unauthorized area such as a red zone, handicap parking spot (without the proper authority) or in front of a fire hydrant.
• Leaving a vehicle on the sidewalk.
• Parking a car on the street facing the wrong direction, which may give the appearance of a one way street.
• Not paying for a parking meter.
• Parking a car directly beside another car in an area that is not designated for parking. This is generally referred to as Double Parking and is only legal within a defined parking lot or garage.
• Keeping a parked car in an area that is blocked off for street cleaning.

Jaywalking

Jaywalking is crossing a street on foot in an area where it is not allowable to do so. Most every street has a specific area that is designated for foot traffic, and crossing anywhere else is a jaywalking infraction.

In some states, minor misdemeanors may be downgraded to an infraction, such as trespassing and marijuana possession. Any of these infractions may result in a ticket and a fine. However, a person who is guilty of several infractions may be eligible for heftier forms of punishment if they are found to be committing the same violation repeatedly.