The main difference between civil offense and criminal offence is usually defined by the nature of the offense. Civil offenses involve violations of administrative matters like Federal Trade Commission frequently imposes civil fines on companies that violate consumer statutes. Contempt of court is also a civil offence when arise in family matters or in other cases. Offences that arises due to a dispute between individuals, usually of a business nature is called civil offense. Criminal offenses, on the other hand, arise from the violation of local ordinances or state or federal statutes prohibiting certain conduct. A criminal offense can involve a fine, an arrest, or confinement in jail or prison. The consequences of a criminal offense are set in relation to the severity of the crime. For example, if you are pulled over because your woofers and tweeters violate a noise ordinance in your city, you are probably only going to be given a ticket and fined. Conversely, if you are pulled over for suspicious driving and the officers determine that you were driving while intoxicated, you are more likely to be arrested. Your punishment could include probation or jail time depending on the circumstances of your case and your criminal history. Regardless of the range of punishment, both charges may appear later on your criminal history record. https://goo.gl/EZKk5y