[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

IMHO, yes. I don't really consider invading a home (vacant), urinating and defecating there, leaving trash all around, attracting insects or maybe even Yogi Bear a "low level" crime. Jay walking is a low level crime. Parking illegally is a low level crime. Spitting on the sidewalk is a low level crime. What these people are doing is not low level to my mind.

I agree, these are all crimes. They are the Broken Windows" of which James Q. Wilson wrote about in the criminology theory of the same name. However, society does consider them all to be "low level" because they are misdemeanors, which are inherently low level. Jay walking, illegal parking, spitting on a sidewalk are, as you rightfully pointed out, "Very" low level crimes, and are usually infractions in most jurisdictions, which is a crime level below misdemeanor.

However, misdemeanors are generally considered "Low level" crimes, and non-violent ones at that, which make them low level even for misdemeanors.

If I had it my way, they would all be jailable and finable offenses, however the current societal state of reality and "agenda driven weenies" (I really like that!) is quite different from the utopia I have heard envisioned by some (see my new thread on that separate topic).