bookhorse:

I already explained that it is, in fact, a crime. It is a type of criminal conversion, although a very mild case. It’s considered an infraction, but that is still a crime. You seem to acquiesce that it is a crime, but then claim it’s not a “real” one, rather you claim it is a misdemeanor, but a misdemeanor is a crime (and more severe than an infraction). It does seem like you are contradicting yourself and also have some misconceptions of what constitutes a crime and the classification of not returning books on time.

And no, late book jail is not an actual place. Not that I haven’t though about such a place at times when ponies have been really late returning books to my own library (though of course never seriously considered it).

As a princess I do not pay fines, as for one princesses are not subject to laws in the same way as other ponies (we are afforded the benefit of the doubt that we have good reasons for breaking laws, and there are obvious practical considerations), and furthermore since I am paid by the government, I would just be giving money back to myself, in a sense.

If I do return a book late, I do ask if somepony else has attempted to borrow it since the due date, and so far it has not been the case that I have deprived somepony else of a book, fortunately. But it might happen. The rules are there to ensure as many ponies as possible have reasonable access to literature. It’s a utilitarian matter.