What is the difference between a regulatory violation and an environmental crime?
Frequently both crimes and violations are committed because someone is trying to save money or time, or has a careless disregard for rules and laws. When we examine the intention of people who had hands-on involvement or those who ordered or assisted others in committing the violation we find differences in these acts. Regulatory violations, such as Florida Administrative Code violations, often result in civil penalties, but do not often meet the case criteria of a criminal investigation. Criminal violations, however, may be handled through a criminal prosecution as well as through a regulatory proceeding. FDEPs criminal investigators review all potential criminal complaints, but focus mostly on felony and associated misdemeanor violations that caused (or could cause) significant environmental harm, and cases that are willful, show knowledge of the consequences, or show gross, careless disregard for the rules and laws.
