Misdemeanor vs. Infraction — What's the Difference?

Subject to legal penalties including fines and jail time.

Often resolved without a formal court trial.

Can affect one's professional licenses.

Includes minor municipal or local ordinance violations.

Requires legal representation in court.

Usually punishable by a fine without jail time.

A criminal offense less severe than a felony.

Does not appear on a permanent criminal record.

May have immigration consequences.

A minor violation or breach of law.

A misdemeanor (American English, spelled misdemeanour in British English) is any "lesser" criminal act in some common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished less severely than more serious felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions (also known as minor, petty, or summary offences) and regulatory offences.

The act or an instance of infringing, as of a law or rule; a violation.

A misdeed.

(legal) A minor offence, petty crime.

(Law) A criminal offense that is less serious than a felony and generally punishable by a fine, a jail term of up to a year, or both.

A violation; breach.

(legal) A crime usually punishable upon conviction by a small fine or by a short term of imprisonment. In the USA, misdemeanants usually are incarcerated in county jail for less than one year, but felons usually are incarcerated in state or federal prison for more than one year. Crimes which are punishable by large fines or by longer imprisonment are sometimes called felonies.

(ice hockey) A major violation of rules which leads to a penalty, if detected by the referee.

Any act of misbehavior.

The act of infracting or breaking; breach; violation; nonobservance; infringement; as, an infraction of a treaty, compact, rule, or law.

Ill behavior; evil conduct; fault.

A crime less serious than a felony

A crime less than a felony.

A crime less serious than a felony

A misdemeanor is a criminal offense that is more severe than an infraction but less severe than a felony, often punishable by fines and possibly jail time.

An infraction is a minor violation, typically punishable by a fine and not involving jail time or a criminal record.

Yes, misdemeanors can lead to jail time, depending on the severity of the offense and jurisdictional laws.

Common infractions include traffic violations, such as speeding or running a stop sign, and minor municipal code violations.

No, infractions are not typically considered criminal offenses and are often handled outside of criminal courts.

It is advisable to have legal representation for a misdemeanor charge due to the potential consequences, including jail time.

Paying the fine for an infraction usually resolves the matter completely, without further legal consequences.

Common misdemeanors include petty theft, simple assault, and first-time DUI offenses.

A misdemeanor conviction will generally appear on your criminal record, which can affect employment, licensing, and other areas of life.

Typically, infractions do not appear on standard criminal background checks.