— Also termed civil offense. Cf. civil wrong under WRONG; public delict under DELICT. [Cases: Criminal Law 26, 27. C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 9–12, 44–45, 1110.]
public tort
A minor breach of the law (such as a parking violation) that, although it carries a criminal punishment, is considered a civil offense rather than a criminal one because it is merely a prohibited act (malum prohibitum) and not inherently reprehensible conduct (malum in se).