Which term describes an offense for which the only permissible penalty is a fine?

Which term describes an offense for which the only permissible penalty is a fine?

• A. Infraction
• B. Misdemeanor
• C. Petty Offense
• D. Felony

Answer: (C)

Offenses are categorized by the penalties they carry. An offense that can only be punished by a fine is a petty offense. This reflects its status as the least serious category, where no imprisonment is allowed and the sanction is strictly a financial penalty. The other terms denote higher levels of seriousness: felonies carry imprisonment and severe penalties, misdemeanors can involve jail time in addition to fines, and infractions are typically non-criminal violations that involve fines or other minor penalties depending on the jurisdiction. So, the description fits petty offense because it specifies a penalty limited to a fine with no jail time.

Offenses are categorized by the penalties they carry. An offense that can only be punished by a fine is a petty offense. This reflects its status as the least serious category, where no imprisonment is allowed and the sanction is strictly a financial penalty. The other terms denote higher levels of seriousness: felonies carry imprisonment and severe penalties, misdemeanors can involve jail time in addition to fines, and infractions are typically non-criminal violations that involve fines or other minor penalties depending on the jurisdiction. So, the description fits petty offense because it specifies a penalty limited to a fine with no jail time.