Americans Break Federal Laws: How Often Does It Happen?

In his book, *Three Felonies a Day*, civil-liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate estimates that the average American unknowingly breaks at least three federal laws every day. This amounts to 260 times a year or five times a week. Silverglate's estimate does not include misdemeanours or civil violations such as disobeying a civil contempt order. Some of the most commonly broken laws include speeding, underage drinking, and smoking marijuana.

Underage drinking

The consequences of underage drinking are far-reaching and affect everyone, regardless of age or drinking status. It leads to aggressive behaviour, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths. Additionally, underage drinking is associated with a range of risks and negative consequences for the individuals involved. It causes many deaths, including from motor vehicle crashes, homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and suicides. It also increases the risk of alcohol-related injuries, with about 188,000 people under 21 visiting emergency rooms for alcohol-related injuries in 2011.

Preventing underage drinking is a complex challenge that requires a multi-faceted approach. Successful interventions include individual-level, school-based, family-based, community-based, and policy-level strategies. Individual-level interventions aim to change the way youth think about alcohol, while school-based programs provide students with knowledge, skills, and motivation to avoid alcohol. Family-based interventions empower parents to set clear rules and improve communication about alcohol, and community-based interventions are often coordinated by local coalitions working to mitigate risk factors. Policy-level interventions include raising the price of alcohol and enforcing zero-tolerance laws for underage drinking and driving.

While progress has been made, underage drinking remains a persistent problem. The good news is that fewer American teens are drinking than ever before, with historic lows in 2023 and a continuation of a long-term decline. However, with 5.6 million current underage drinkers, there is still work to be done to address this issue.

Speeding

The speed limit in the United States varies by state and territory, with highway speed limits ranging from an urban low of 25 mph to a rural high of 85 mph. The highest speed limits are generally 70 mph on the West Coast and the inland eastern states, and 65-70 mph on the Eastern Seaboard. The lowest maximum speed limit is in Hawaii, at 60 mph.

The national speed limit was introduced in 1973 in response to the oil crisis, when President Nixon appealed for collective sacrifice. The limit was set at 55 mph and was retained until the Clinton administration, as it was believed to save lives. In 1995, the Newt Gingrich-led House voted to repeal the federal speed limit. Since then, every state has raised its speed limit, with parts of Texas now topping out at 80 mph.

Despite the high speeds, the Interstate Highway System is more than twice as safe per mile as almost any other type of road. Most accidents happen on local and collector roads, which have lower speed limits and prevailing speeds.

The dichotomy between "speeding" and "not speeding" is not very instructive, as the consequences of high speeds vary based on context. Speeding enforcement could benefit from a tighter focus on extreme speeders, who are more likely to hurt themselves or others. Automated traffic enforcement, or speed cameras, can be used to reduce encounters between citizens and the police and discourage bad driving.

Overall, speeding is a significant issue in the United States, contributing to thousands of deaths and injuries each year. While speed limits vary across the country, high speeds, especially in local areas, can create carnage on neighborhood streets.

Using someone else's Wi-Fi

In his book *Three Felonies a Day*, civil liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate estimates that the average person unknowingly breaks at least three federal criminal laws per day. This equates to around 260 laws broken per year, or five per week.

Piggybacking can lead to various issues, such as enabling users to view the computer files of other users on the same network, which may result in hacking. It can also lead to viruses, trojans, and other types of malware being picked up.

There have been several instances of people being arrested and charged for piggybacking, including a defendant in Florida. As such, it is strongly advised not to use a Wi-Fi connection without the owner's consent.

To avoid any potential legal consequences, it is always recommended to seek the permission of the Wi-Fi owner before using their connection.

Downloading hacked movies

In his book, *Three Felonies a Day*, civil liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate estimates that the average American unknowingly breaks at least three federal criminal laws every day. This equates to an average of 260 laws broken per year, or five times per week.

One federal law that is often broken is the act of downloading hacked or pirated movies. Downloading refers to the practice of downloading and saving a piece of content onto a device. While downloading and streaming are not inherently illegal, it is generally illegal to download content that you do not have the necessary permissions to access. This includes downloading movies from unauthorised or pirated sources.

When you download a movie from an unauthorised source, you are typically infringing on someone's copyright. Copyright is an intellectual property right that belongs to the party who created the content. For example, if you download a movie that was adapted from a book, the author of the book owns the copyright to the story, and the film studio that produced the movie adaptation owns the copyright to the film. If you do not have permission from the copyright owner to download the movie, you are committing copyright infringement.

It's important to note that the consequences of illegal downloading vary depending on the jurisdiction and the specifics of the case. In some cases, illegal downloading may result in civil legal action, while in other cases, it may be considered a criminal offence.

Using fake names online

It is estimated that the average American unknowingly breaks three federal laws per day, amounting to 260 instances per year or five times per week. While it is unclear how often using fake names online contributes to this figure, it is worth noting that using a pseudonym or alias online is generally legal in most situations.

Using a fake name online is not inherently illegal. In day-to-day life, including most internet situations, individuals can use a pseudonym or alias without legal repercussions. For example, authors have published books under pen names, and internet users commonly adopt usernames that differ from their legal names. However, there are specific instances where using a fake name online can lead to legal consequences.

When engaging in financial transactions, using a fake name with the intention of deceiving or defrauding others is considered illegal. This applies to situations where an individual pretends to be someone else to gain financial benefits. For instance, claiming to be a celebrity or public figure to solicit donations or imply endorsements would be illegal.

Additionally, in certain formal contexts, such as sworn oaths, legal proceedings, or official documents like bank accounts, using one's real name is typically required. Providing false information in these scenarios can have legal implications.

It's worth noting that while using a fake name online may not always be illegal, it could still violate the terms of service or community guidelines of specific online platforms or websites. These platforms often have their own rules and policies regarding user identities, privacy, and conduct, which users are expected to adhere to.

In conclusion, while using fake names online is generally permissible, it is crucial to be mindful of the intent behind such actions and the context in which they are used. Engaging in financial deception or providing false information in official proceedings can lead to legal consequences.

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