What is a de minimis violation?

A de minimis violation refers specifically to an infringement that is considered minor and does not have a direct or immediate impact on safety or health. This concept acknowledges that certain rule violations may be so trivial that enforcing penalties would be unwarranted, and they do not pose a risk to the well-being of individuals or the environment. Essentially, these violations are seen as too minimal to warrant significant regulatory attention or punishment, focusing instead on more severe breaches that could harm people's safety or health.

In contrast, the other options describe situations that are not in line with what defines a de minimis violation. For instance, a minor infringement with significant penalties suggests that even minor violations can lead to serious consequences, which contradicts the essence of a de minimis classification. Similarly, frequent violations point to ongoing or systemic issues that would typically require intervention, rather than the one-off nature of de minimis infractions. Lastly, the term suggesting violations that exceed acceptable limits indicates much more serious transgressions rather than those deemed trivial or minimal in impact.