Contravention

Contravention is the act of violating a law, regulation, treaty, or rule. In many legal systems, the term denotes a breach of a statutory duty or regulatory requirement, with penalties assigned by the relevant authority. A contravention may lead to administrative or civil penalties, and in some jurisdictions may be described as a criminal offence if the statute specifies criminal liability.

In regulatory and civil contexts, contraventions are often treated as strict liability or quasi-criminal breaches, where proof of intent is not required. Penalties can include fines, infringement notices, compliance orders, or other remedial actions. Some contraventions are procedural in nature, carrying penalties for failing to follow certain rules or deadlines rather than for harmful conduct.

Common areas where contraventions arise include traffic regulations, environmental and planning rules, health and safety requirements, building codes, and consumer protection provisions. Enforcement is typically undertaken by government agencies, with mechanisms such as notices of contravention, penalties, and the opportunity to appeal or contest the finding through administrative or judicial processes.

Terminology and scope vary by jurisdiction. In many common-law countries, contravention is used to describe breaches of statutory requirements that may or may not amount to a criminal offence, depending on the statute. The term contrasts with “offence” or “criminal offence,” which generally denotes liability in the criminal law context. The precise penalties, procedures, and remedies for contraventions are defined by the applicable statute and regulatory framework.