Meaning of the word "Criminal"

I'm wondering about the use of a word. Perhaps you, the good reader, can help me out here. Let's say there's a law that says you're not allowed to spit on the sidewalk. It's clearly defined that you will be fined $50 if you do spit on the sidewalk. However, if you DO spit on the sidewalk, you will not be fined. The police department has announced far and wide that they simply will not, under any circumstances whatsoever, be enforcing that law. If you spit on the sidewalk in front of a policeman, they absolutely will not, ever, fine you for spitting on the sidewalk.

Are you or are you not a criminal when you spit on the sidewalk?

Here's help from Dictionary.Com if you need it:

crim·i·nal Audio pronunciation of "criminal" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (krm-nl)
adj.
1. Of, involving, or having the nature of crime: criminal abuse.
2. Relating to the administration of penal law.
3.
1. Guilty of crime.
2. Characteristic of a criminal.
4. Shameful; disgraceful: a criminal waste of talent.
n. One that has committed or been legally convicted of a crime.

Posted by: Ogre at 01:01 PM

Comments

1 Innocent until proven guilty. If not arrested then you are not a criminal. Yes, you may have broken the law... but you got away with it.

I hate to see where you are going with this poll.

Posted by: Contagion at June 02, 2006 10:21 PM (e8b4J)

2 I'm trying to find out what words mean and how they've been redefined...

Posted by: Ogre at June 04, 2006 10:13 PM (acZAM)

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