What is a possible penalty for violation of a protective order?

• A. Deportation
• B. Fine up to $500
• C. Community service requirement
• D. Automatic imprisonment for 1 year

Answer: (B)

Violating a protective order is treated as a criminal offense, and many statutes specify a monetary penalty as the primary consequence. A maximum fine of up to $500 is a common, straightforward penalty for this offense, making it the best choice among the options. Deportation isn’t the direct penalty issued by the protective-order statute itself; immigration consequences can arise in certain situations but aren’t the typical penalty imposed by the violation. A community service requirement may appear in some sanctions, but it is not the standard consequence described by most protective-order violation statutes. Automatic imprisonment for a year is not automatic; jail time, if any, would depend on the court’s ruling and the offender’s circumstances. So the allowed, straightforward penalty most consistently provided is a fine up to $500.