Infringement: legal definition and example

Definition

An offence is a violation of a law or regulation.

Example

A concrete example of an infraction would be breaking the speed limit on a highway. If you drive faster than the speed limit, you are in violation of the Highway Safety Code. This infraction can result in fines, demerit points and even suspension of your driver’s license. It’s important to respect the laws and regulations in force to avoid committing offences and suffering the consequences.

Citation and reference

Here are a few quotes from the Criminal Code of Canada on the legal term “infraction”:

– “Offence: Any act or omission constitutes an offence under a federal or provincial statute, or a municipal by-law.” (section 2)

– “Every person who commits an offence is liable to imprisonment, a fine or both.” (article 3)

– “When an offence is committed outside Canada, it may be prosecuted and tried in Canada if it is considered an offence under Canadian law.” (article 6)

– “When a person is charged with an offence, he has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.” (article 11)

– “The statute of limitations for prosecuting an offence depends on the seriousness of the offence and may vary from 6 months to several years.” (article 786)