Laws Broken: An Average Person's Daily Count

The average person commits around seven crimes per week, from minor infractions to more serious offences. In the US, the average person unknowingly breaks at least three federal criminal laws every day. This is due to the over-criminalisation of daily life, with a constant flood of new and broadly interpreted laws that criminalise entire categories of daily life. From speeding and texting while driving, to illegally downloading music and not wearing a seatbelt, many people are breaking the law without even realising it.

Speeding

The prevalence of speeding may also be influenced by the normalization of this behaviour. With so many people admitting to speeding, it can create a perception that speeding is a socially acceptable norm. This normalization can lead to a false sense of security, causing individuals to underestimate the risks associated with speeding. Additionally, the relative ease of committing this offence, especially on highways or open roads, contributes to its high occurrence.

To curb speeding, law enforcement agencies employ various strategies, including radar guns, speed cameras, and traffic patrols. These methods aim to detect and deter speeding drivers, with penalties such as fines, licence points, or even imprisonment for egregious cases. However, despite these efforts, speeding remains a pervasive issue, highlighting the importance of ongoing road safety education and stricter enforcement measures to protect everyone's safety on the roads.

Illegal drug use

In the United States, 19% of people admit to taking illegal drugs. This is one of the many laws that people unknowingly break every day. In his book, civil-liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate estimates that the average person unknowingly breaks at least three federal criminal laws per day. This is in addition to a multitude of other laws, such as misdemeanours or civil violations.

The United States has a high incarceration rate compared to other countries. This is partly due to a constant stream of new and broadly interpreted laws that criminalise entire categories of daily life. The standards for arrest and conviction have also been diluted, leading to excessive arrests and imprisonment for minor acts.

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 in the United States is an example of legislation that regulates drugs. The CSA categorises substances into five schedules based on factors such as medical use, potential for abuse, safety, and dependence liability. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are responsible for controlling and scheduling substances according to these criteria.

Using someone else's Wi-Fi

According to civil-liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate, the average person unknowingly breaks at least three federal criminal laws per day. A poll by onepoll.com, however, suggests that the average person commits around seven crimes per week. This may include anything from exceeding the speed limit to downloading music illegally.

Piggybacking can lead to a range of consequences, from fines to jail time. It is also important to note that even if a Wi-Fi network is not password-protected, accessing it without the owner's consent is still considered illegal in most jurisdictions.

The risks of piggybacking extend beyond legal repercussions. When you connect to an unsecured wireless network, you expose your device to potential viruses, trojans, and other forms of malware that may be present on the network. Additionally, your online activities may be visible to the network owner, compromising your privacy.

To avoid any legal or technical issues, it is always best to seek the permission of the Wi-Fi owner before using their connection. While public Wi-Fi hotspots are generally safe to use, it is important to be aware of any usage restrictions or conditions that may be in place.

Downloading music or films

Copyright infringement can result in both civil and criminal penalties. In a civil suit, an infringer may be liable for a copyright owner's actual damages plus any profits made from the infringement, or the copyright owner may elect a statutory damage recovery of up to $30,000, or up to $150,000 if the infringement is found to be willful. Criminal penalties for copyright infringement can include imprisonment of up to 5 years and fines of up to $250,000 for a first-time offence, and up to 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for repeat offenders.

In addition to legal penalties, individuals who download illegal files also risk exposing their devices to computer malware and increasing their risk of personal identity theft.

Despite the risks, illegal downloading of music and films is common. A poll by onepoll.com found that 35% of people admit to getting their music by downloading it from illegal websites. This may be because people think "I can do this, and no one will know", or because they don't consider it to be a serious crime. However, the potential consequences of illegal downloading can be extremely serious, and law firms are increasingly pursuing financial settlements and awards against offenders.

Using a permanent marker in public

According to civil-liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate, the average person unknowingly breaks at least three federal criminal laws per day. A poll by onepoll.com found that the average person commits around seven crimes per week, with speeding, talking/texting while driving, and dropping litter being the most common offences.

Now, what about using a permanent marker in public? Well, it turns out that possessing a permanent marker in public is illegal in some places. Anti-graffiti laws in states like Florida, New York, and California prohibit the possession of permanent markers in public. In Oklahoma City, there's a specific ordinance that makes it illegal for minors to possess "broad-tipped" permanent markers on public property unless they are accompanied by an adult. So, if you're an adult using a permanent marker in public in one of these states, you might be breaking the law without even realizing it!

Of course, the likelihood of being arrested or prosecuted for simply possessing a permanent marker is probably low, but it's still interesting to see how laws can vary from place to place and how certain everyday actions can technically be illegal. It's always a good idea to be aware of the laws in your area to avoid any unintended run-ins with the law.

So, the next time you reach for that Sharpie, you might want to double-check your local laws to make sure you're not breaking any rules!

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