What are the levels of traffic offenses?

Traffic violations are divided into major and minor violations. The most minor type is a parking violation, which is not counted against a driving record, though a person can be arrested for unpaid violations. Increasing in severity are speeding and other moving violations, which usually do not require a court appearance. More serious moving violations are reckless driving or leaving the scene of an accident. The most severe violation is drunk driving, also called DUI or DWI.

All but the most serious traffic violations are generally prosecuted as misdemeanor charges; however, repeat offenders can be prosecuted at the level of felonies. As misdemeanor charges, most traffic violations require payment of a fine but no jail time. State laws do not allow a judge to impose a jail sentence for speeding or failure to stop at a signal. The most common type of traffic violation is a speed-limit violation. Speed limits are defined by each state. However, more serious traffic violations, such as drunk or reckless driving, can result in jail time at the judge's discretion.

Traffic Ticket Information | Find a Traffic Ticket Attorney