---
type: "LegalText"
title: "18 U.S.C. § 19"
description: "Petty offense defined"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "1"
chapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
section: "19"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 19"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc18@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s19"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-18/usc18.xml"
source_hash: "b45330324aa2a77ab279130525d0c296ce7a255d7e9adedf6a4bfc58a8f6463b"
raw_snapshot_hash: "1a1bbbbdb59e376ada4eb7ad1056fd68d396679ee7ab59f0561af15006122708"
text_hash: "c72bfefd5fc498e42cab073a1092458ce244cbc47419c2099e2c59130f3a2e07"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 18 U.S.C. § 19 - Petty offense defined

## Text

As used in this title, the term “petty offense” means a Class B misdemeanor, a Class C misdemeanor, or an infraction, for which the maximum fine is no greater than the amount set forth for such an offense in section 3571(b)(6) or (7) in the case of an individual or section 3571(c)(6) or (7) in the case of an organization.

(Added Pub. L. 100–185, § 4(a), Dec. 11, 1987, 101 Stat. 1279; amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7089(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4409.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments1988—Pub. L. 100–690 inserted “, for which the maximum fine is no greater than the amount set forth for such an offense in section 3571(b)(6) or (7) in the case of an individual or section 3571(c)(6) or (7) in the case of an organization” after “infraction”.