Traffic Violation vs. Traffic Crime
Traffic Citations
Directly under the title "Oregon Uniform Traffic Citation and Complaint" is a series of boxes. The officer will have marked either Criminal or Infraction.
Traffic Crime
A traffic crime is a misdemeanor offense where you could serve jail time. Examples of those offenses include:
- Driving Under the Influence
- Hit and Run
- Reckless Driving
Note: The arraignment date written on the bottom of the citation is a mandatory appearance.
Traffic Violation
A traffic violation is an offense where the penalty is a fine. Examples of those offenses include:
- Driving Uninsured
- Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device
- Speeding