18 U.S.C. § 19 – Petty offense defined
This statute explains what counts as a federal “petty offense.”
Section 19 gives the legal definition of a petty offense in the federal system. A petty offense is the lowest level of federal crime and includes certain minor misdemeanors and infractions. These are offenses that carry limited jail time and a smaller maximum fine.
Definition of a petty offense.
Under this statute, a “petty offense” means:
- a Class B misdemeanor,
- a Class C misdemeanor, or
- an infraction,
as long as the maximum fine is no higher than the amount allowed in 18 U.S.C. § 3571 for individuals or organizations. These limits appear in subsections 3571(b)(6) and (7) for people, and 3571(c)(6) and (7) for companies.
In simple terms, a petty offense is a very low-level federal crime with restricted jail time and capped fines.
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