What is the maximum time you can be imprisoned for breaking subsection A of the law?

• A. Six months
• B. One year
• C. Three months
• D. Twelve months

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that penalties are set directly by the statute for each subsection. When a law specifies a subsection’s penalty, the maximum time you can be imprisoned is whatever upper limit that subsection prescribes. In many jurisdictions, the first subsection (subsection A) of a statute that defines a non-serious offense is a Class B misdemeanor, which typically carries a maximum of six months in jail. That makes six months the upper limit for breaking that subsection.

The other durations reflect more serious penalties associated with higher offense classifications (a longer maximum time like one year or twelve months) or combinations that aren’t applicable to the less severe subsection described. Therefore, six months aligns with the common penalty for subsection A.