What Happens Now

My question involves criminal law for the state of: WI

Hello all. I am 19 years of age and a freshman in college. For my entire life I have kept my nose clean...until yesterday. I shoplifted from a local grocer in my area and was forced to pay a fine of $501. This is (and, trust me, will be my only) my first offense. I do not have to show up for a court date, and the officer who wrote me up stated something about my charge that I was a little confused about. Now, my memory of his exact wording is fuzzy, as my ears were practically ringing from embarrassment and regret. I believe he told me that if I pay the fine (which I did) and keep my nose clean, this will only stay on my drivers license record, but not a permanent criminal record. He also told me to think of this like a speeding ticket or traffic violation in that it is a misdemeanor and meant to be treated like a warning.
What does this all mean? Are there 2 different records? Will this stay with me forever? Is this really just a simple, yet expensive, warning? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Signed,
Ashamed and confused

I don't know of any way this would be a traffic offense.

I am guessing that he was telling you it was a minor infraction.

Which, to a degree, is true.

You received paperwork when released... what is the statute number on it?

Is the statute number the same thing as the ordinance violated? If so, its 9. 62. 020B

The way the officer made it sound, by paying the fine on time this will not affect my criminal record. The fine I'm OK with, its the criminal record thing I'm wondering about.

That appears to be a local ordinance. Check the website for the unit of government (county, city, etc.) that issued the ticket to see if the ordinances are online and, if so, what the ordinance says.

I found the ordinance I broke here: http://www.eauclairewi.gov/content/view/128/196/

The only thing I found for a penalty stated the following:
9.62.060 Penalties. A. Any adult person violating any section of this ordinance shall be subject to a
forfeiture of not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, exclusive of costs, and upon failure to pay the same
shall be confined in the county jail for not more than 30 days.
B. Any juvenile person violating any section of this ordinance shall be subject to a forfeiture of $50.00.
(Ord. 6305 §1, 2002)

how much did you shoplift? im kinda in the same situation, although no police were involved

I believe the total was about $51 worth