In the US we have three kinds of charges: felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Felonies are major criminal offenses. Misdemeanors are minor criminal offen

In the US we have three kinds of charges: felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Felonies are major criminal offenses. Misdemeanors are minor criminal offenses. Infractions are oopsies. Most traffic charges are treated as infractions, even when they lead to levels of damage or injury that would ordinarily mean a misdemeanor or felony. Cars are somehow "special." If you want to get away with murder in the US, definitely use a car not a gun. (But don't be drunk. Drunk driving is no longer socially acceptable -- if you're drunk and kill someone with your car, that's serious jail time. If you're just a bad driver and kill someone with your car, that's an oopsie.)