What term is best used for a minor legal transgression?

The term that best describes a minor legal transgression is "infraction." Infractions are usually less serious violations than misdemeanors and are often punished with fines or other minor penalties rather than incarceration. For example, traffic violations, such as speeding or running a red light, are typically classified as infractions and don't carry the same level of severity associated with misdemeanors or felonies.

Misdemeanors refer to more serious offenses than infractions, involving potential jail time or more significant fines. A felony is an even more severe category of crime, which can lead to imprisonment for more than a year or even longer. A citation is a notice issued by law enforcement for violations, which might encompass both infractions and misdemeanors, but does not define the severity of the transgression itself. Thus, "infraction" is the most appropriate term for minor legal violations.