Gauges and Dials is correct for pointing out that breaking the law is not necessarily a criminal act. Nor is that confined to the US...
Allow me to make it clearer. If you are stopped for speeding in the UK for being 5mph over the speed limit, you have broken the law but what criminal offence would you have committed?
Possibly driving without due care and attention but if the police considered that a crime the already overburdened courts would end up with a 5 year backlog with the number of cases. The result is minor speeding offences are dealt with as traffic violations and no criminal charges are laid hence these minor infractions are not considered criminal acts. The police issue a fine/points and thats the end of the matter.
If you are caught speeding at well over the speed limit, or over 100mph, thats a different ball game. Not only have you broken the law but you would have committed a crime and would be charged with either dangerous driving or other charge. The process would then go to court to be heard. Any conviction from a court would count as a criminal conviction.
It is therefore possible to break the law without it being a criminal act. As said earlier, words are important.
