Breaking The Law: A Common Practice?

It is often said that everyone breaks the law at some point in their lives, whether knowingly or unknowingly. While it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of people who break the law, a poll by onepoll.com found that the average person commits around seven crimes per week. These could range from seemingly minor offences such as speeding, to more serious crimes like taking illegal drugs. Interestingly, some people may not even realise they are committing a criminal offence, as they are unaware of certain laws or regulations. For instance, using someone else's Wi-Fi without permission or owning a permanent marker in public can be considered illegal in some places. While the idea that everyone breaks the law may be up for debate, it is clear that criminal behaviour is a complex issue that can have varying consequences, from fines and community service to jail time.

People breaking the law without realising

It is easy to think of ourselves as law-abiding citizens, but the reality is that many people break the law without even realising it. A poll by onepoll.com found that the average person commits around seven crimes per week, with speeding being the most common offence. Other common daily offences include talking or texting while driving, littering, and illegally downloading music or other copyrighted material.

While some people may be aware that they are breaking the law, they may not consider the consequences of their actions or believe that they will get caught. For example, in the onepoll.com survey, 20% of respondents said they didn't think what they were doing was illegal because "everyone else does it". Additionally, 58% viewed breaking the law as "OK" if the crimes were minor.

There are also many specific examples of laws that people may unknowingly break. For instance, prank calling can be considered harassment or disorderly conduct, and using unsecured WiFi (or "piggybacking") can violate internet service plans and provider policies. Throwing out mail that doesn't belong to you, even if it's junk mail, is a felony in some places. Failing to update your driver's license when you move to a new state or get a new dog is also illegal in many places.

It's important to be aware of the laws and regulations in your area to avoid unintentionally breaking the law. While the consequences of these actions may vary, it's always better to be informed and cautious to avoid any potential legal trouble.

Common daily offences

While it is challenging to determine exactly how many people break the law, a poll by onepoll.com found that the average person commits around seven crimes per week. This figure is surprising, as many individuals consider themselves law-abiding citizens. However, certain daily activities, often deemed minor, are in fact, criminal offences.

Speeding, for example, is the most common crime, with 46% of people surveyed admitting to driving over the speed limit. Other common offences include talking or texting while driving, dropping litter, illegally downloading music, and not wearing a seatbelt. These actions are so prevalent that they have become almost socially acceptable, with 58% of people believing that minor crimes are "OK" to commit.

Other daily offences that people may not realise are illegal include riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, eating or drinking while driving, and having sex in a public place. Additionally, some seemingly harmless actions, such as not cleaning up after your dog, smoking in a public place, or parking illegally, can also result in legal repercussions.

While these actions may seem insignificant, they are still violations of the law. This highlights the complexity of the law and how easily people can unknowingly break it. It also underscores the importance of legal awareness and understanding the potential consequences of one's actions.

Minor crimes

While it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of people who break the law, a poll by onepoll.com found that the average person commits around seven crimes per week. The most common crime was speeding, with 46% of people surveyed admitting to driving over the speed limit. Other common offences include texting or talking on the phone while driving (40%), dropping litter (36%), and downloading music illegally (35%).

These so-called minor crimes are committed so regularly that they have become almost acceptable in the eyes of many. In fact, 58% of those surveyed viewed breaking the law as "OK" if the crimes were minor. Interestingly, more than one-third of people are not bothered at all that they break the law.

While the above-mentioned offences are indeed minor, it is worth noting that the line between minor and serious crime is sometimes blurred. For example, drug-related crimes are often considered minor, but they can have significant impacts on society. Similarly, crimes such as stealing cable TV or carrying a weapon may seem insignificant to some, but they can have serious consequences.

Overall, it is safe to say that a significant portion of the population engages in minor criminal activities on a regular basis, whether they realise it or not. The reasons for this vary, but it is often due to a combination of factors such as social norms, personal beliefs, and a lack of enforcement or consequences.

Accidental law-breaking

It is surprisingly easy to accidentally break the law. In fact, according to a poll by onepoll.com, the average person commits around seven crimes per week. Many of these are minor crimes, such as speeding, talking or texting while driving, or dropping litter. However, some people accidentally break the law in more serious ways, and the consequences can be severe.

For example, in 2011, an 11-year-old girl in Virginia rescued a baby woodpecker from her family cat. She and her mother took the bird with them in a cage while running errands, and were informed by a US Fish and Wildlife Service employee that they were violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The girl's mother was issued a $535 fine and told that she faced the possibility of conviction and imprisonment. In a similar case, a 23-year-old man who found a buried skull on a hunting trip in Alaska and turned it over to the U.S. Forest Service was charged with removing an archaeological resource from public land.

These cases highlight the problem of criminal statutes that are silent regarding the state of mind of the defendant. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, for example, makes it unlawful to "transport or cause to be transported... any migratory bird" but does not mention the intent of the person doing the transporting. This can lead to innocent people being subjected to criminal prosecution for innocent actions.

To address this issue, bills have been introduced in the US House and Senate that would require prosecutors to prove a specific level of intent in trials involving federal criminal statutes where the text is silent on state of mind. Proponents of the bills argue that they are needed to counteract over-criminalization in the United States Code, which now lists over 4000 federal crimes. Opponents argue that the bills would make it harder to prosecute white-collar crimes.

The debate over the role of intent in crime is an important one, and it remains to be seen what action will be taken to protect well-meaning citizens from accidentally breaking the law.

Law-breaking and arrest rates

It is often claimed that everyone breaks the law at some point in their lives, whether knowingly or unknowingly. While it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of people who break the law, several sources and surveys provide insights into law-breaking rates and attitudes towards law-breaking.

A poll by onepoll.com found that the average person commits around seven crimes per week. The poll surveyed 5,000 people and revealed that speeding was the most common offence, with 46% of respondents admitting to driving over the speed limit. Other common offences included talking/texting while driving (40%), littering (36%), illegally downloading music (35%), and not wearing a seatbelt (18%). Interestingly, 20% of people surveyed didn't believe that their actions were illegal, and 58% viewed breaking the law as acceptable if the crimes were minor.

Other sources suggest that the average person breaks the law as many as 260 times a year, or five times a week. This includes relatively minor offences such as using someone else's Wi-Fi without permission, owning a permanent marker in a public place, and using fake names on the internet. While arrests for these types of offences are less common, they can still result in legal consequences such as fines or community service.

In the United States, the incarceration rate is one of the highest in the world. However, it is important to distinguish between those who have been caught and convicted of crimes, and those who have broken the law but have not been caught. Many people may engage in similar behaviours or make similar decisions, but their lives can take very different turns depending on whether or not they are caught and the consequences they face.

Additionally, a 2019 survey found that 28% of Americans believed that a sizable minority of elected officials break the law or abuse their powers, while 12% thought that almost all elected officials abused their powers.

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