Infraction as a general term means a violation of a rule or local ordinance or regulation, promise or obligation. United States law An Infraction in legal sense (minor offense, minor violation, petty offense, or frequently citation, sometimes used as synonymous with violation, regulatory offense, welfare offense, or contravention) is a "petty" violation of the law less serious than a misdemeanor.Typically, an infraction is a violation of a rule or local ordinance or regulation.Some ref