a minor offence

[ostap77]

If a person commits a minor offence, first he's taken to the police station and ....." ? What does police do to an offender, they file an offence?

 

[5jj]

In the UK the police will charge him/her with the offence.

 

[Neek93]

Or he'll be just given a caution, especially when the offence is really a minor one, won't he?

 

[ostap77]

Or he'll be just given a caution, especially when the offence is really a minor one, won't he?

So the offender pays a fine and is given a caution?

 

[riquecohen]

So the offender pays a fine and is given a caution?

It depends on the offense (AmE) and the locality. In the US he wouldn't be taken to the police station to be "charged" or "booked," but would be given a "ticket" for which he will have to pay a fine. Littering, failure to clean your sidewalk, possession of a marijuana cigarette, loitering, walking your dog without a leash as well as certain traffic violations are examples of the type of offense that fall into this category in N.Y. City. It can vary from place to place.

 

[BobK]

So the offender pays a fine and is given a caution?

Not both. If he's cautioned he does not pay a fine. If he is charged, the court may impose a fine (among several possible outcomes/sentences). [In the UK, policemen do not (generally) impose fines - though the law keeps changing, and there may be one or two exceptions.]

b

 

[Ouisch]

In the US when you are charged with a minor offense or misdemeanor you are usually issued a ticket or citation and then are free to go on your merry way. The citation will list the amount of the fine that you are obligated to pay, and also offers you the option of scheduling a court date if you want to challenge the ticket (if you believe that you were issued the citation unjustly).

You do not pay the fine on the spot, you either mail it in or report to the local police station before the due date to pay it. But no, you don't get taken to the police station for a minor infraction.

A "caution" (more commonly called a "warning" in the US) is when you're stopped for a suspected minor offense and the officer decides to simply give you a verbal warning (such as "Well, you know you were going 10 miles over the posted limit, but this is your first offense, so I won't give you a ticket this time. Please be more careful in the future.") and lets you go with no written record of the stop.

 

[riquecohen]

A "caution" (more commonly called a "warning" in the US) is when you're stopped for a suspected minor offense and the officer decides to simply give you a verbal warning (such as "Well, you know you were going 10 miles over the posted limit, but this is your first offense, so I won't give you a ticket this time. Please be more careful in the future.") and lets you go with no written record of the stop.

And no "gift" is expected by the officer!

 

[ostap77]

And no "gift" is expected by the officer!

Before they charge with a misdemeanor, do they file it?