Rochester Minnesota Traffic Lawyer

Petty Misdemeanor Attorney Minnesota

There are three kinds of misdemeanor charges in Minnesota:

• Petty Misdemeanor
• Misdemeanor
• Gross Misdemeanor

This page will discuss petty misdemeanors. For a discussion of the other two categories of misdemeanors, please click here and here. If you have questions about Misdemeanors in Minnesota, please contact our Rochester Minnesota Misdemeanor Defense attorney, to see how we can help.

Minnesota Petty Misdemeanors

Petty misdemeanors are minor offenses, which nonetheless are prohibited by the statutes of the State of Minnesota. Petty misdemeanors are not crimes and no jail sentence can be imposed. The maximum penalty for a petty misdemeanor conviction is a fine of not more than $300.

Common Petty Misdemeanor Charges

Some of the more common petty misdemeanors are related to traffic violations like:

• Speeding;
• Stop sign violations;
• Improper turning and lane changes;
• Expired driver’s license or license plates;
• Minor automobile equipment violations, etc.

Keep in mind that several violations of petty misdemeanor statutes may become full misdemeanors under certain circumstances. One example is that a third moving traffic violation within a one-year period would be charged as a misdemeanor rather than a petty misdemeanor. Another example is that if the driving conduct endangered persons or property, that would be charged as a  misdemeanor as well.

Finally, a first offense for possession of a small amount (1.5 ounces or less) of marijuana when not related to the operation of a motor vehicle is a petty misdemeanor as well.

Petty Misdemeanor Fines

The fines for most petty misdemeanor offenses are predetermined by a fine schedule that has been developed by a statewide sentencing committee. These fines usually range between $15-$50, however the judge can lower a fine if the circumstances warrant. The bulk of money that an offender will have to pay will be the $82-$85 surcharge added to each citation, which goes to fund the State and the local law library.

Contact Us Today For a Free Consultation

If you have additional questions about the Petty Misdemeanors in Minnesota, please Contact the Dilaveri Law Firm today. We always offer free initial consultations to our clients. Call 507.206.6020 or complete our free case evaluation form.