What is a non-criminal violation?

A non-criminal violation is best defined as an offense that is punishable solely by fines or civil penalties rather than by incarceration or criminal prosecution. This distinction is significant because non-criminal violations typically involve regulatory or administrative issues rather than actions that would be classified as criminal offenses.

For instance, non-criminal violations might include parking violations, certain traffic tickets, or infractions related to zoning laws. These types of violations do not lead to a criminal record and generally do not involve jail time. Instead, they result in monetary penalties or other civil repercussions.

In contrast, situations that involve possible jail time of up to a year indicate that the offense is more severe and typically classified within criminal law. Serious criminal offenses and felonies are similarly more serious offenses that carry significant legal consequences, including the possibility of imprisonment. Hence, the nature of a non-criminal violation makes option B the correct choice, as it accurately encompasses the characteristics associated with that designation.