How can an offense be a criminal and civil offense?

Question

Red light runners- when a cop pulls you over for running a red light it is a criminal offense. You have your rights and protections and are allowed to go to court in front of a judge and/or jury and confront your accuser.
When you get caught with one of those cameras at red lights, it is considered a civil offense and you don't have as many rights as in a criminal case. In fact, the burden of proof can be shifted to the defendant to prove that it was not them running the red light.
How can the same crime be criminal and civil?
This is Ohio I am talking about.

Answer 1

It's the same in Texas. It is considered a civil offense.

When you get a traffic ticket, you sign the "I promise to appear" portion of the ticket saying you acknowledge you got a ticket, and you have the option of paying, or going before the judge. In a red light ticket, you haven't acknowledged anything. What if your car was stolen, and whoever stole the car ran the light?

Answer 2

To say traffic offense is criminal is foolish, i know people who hit and run and never spent a day in jail! a traffic offense is a civil offense, if its done without intention and it caused no harm to anyone else, eg. a parking ticket. A misdemeanor is deliberate like i always see people running a red light or making illegal turns. I guess in this world Hitler and Mother Teresa has the same fate.

Answer 3

Criminal Record Search Database : http://InfoSearchDetective.com/Official

Answer 4

By definition, actions for which civil cases are brought are not crimes. Note that 'criminal' comes from 'crime'. Most traffic infractions are not treated as crimes but as 'offenses' and 'conviction' results in fines and possible loss of driving privileges but not incarceration, but they are still violations of the law, ie, crimes, and not civil matters.

Answer 5

well did you run the red light or not, if so then just pay for the ticket, if not then prove it