Most states penal codes allow for three main categories of punishable offenses - infraction, misdemeanor, and felony.
An infraction, sometimes called a petty offense, is the violation of an administrative regulation, an ordinance, a municipal code, and, in some jurisdictions, a state or local traffic rule. An infraction is the least serious of all offenses. An infraction is very rarely punishable by incarceration. Most infractions are punished with a fine only.
Infractions do not lead to jail time, probation, or create a criminal record. However, if you fail to pay the fine or appear in court, you may be charged with a misdemeanor.
For a description and explanation of the different levels of crimes, please see our FAQs: What is the difference between an Infraction, Misdemeanor and Felony?
Depending on the jurisdiction where the record originates, our Traffic/Infraction Records search results may include: Name, AKAs, Address, Sex, Date of Birth, Hair Color, Eye Color, Height, Weight, Race, Infraction, Location, State of Origin, Infraction Date, and Disposition Date.