A Rebel's Guide: Bending Laws, Not Breaking Them

There are many ways to break the law, and you may not even be aware that you're doing something illegal. From making a K-turn in an intersection to throwing out mail belonging to previous tenants, the range of illegal activities is vast and sometimes surprising. For example, did you know that not cleaning up after your dog or financing a Nigerian Prince can be considered criminal offences? While some laws are well-known, like jaywalking or underage drinking, others are lesser-known, such as using unsecured WiFi or failing to update your driver's license when moving to a new state. With so many rules and regulations, it's no wonder that people unintentionally break the law from time to time.

Speeding

If you are pulled over for speeding, the police officer has the discretion to give you a warning instead of a ticket, especially if you are polite and respectful. Your chances of getting off with a warning are even better if you have a police PBA courtesy card. This is a card given to family, friends, and coworkers of police officers, which can help you get out of speeding tickets and other violations. However, a PBA card is not a guarantee that you will get out of a speeding ticket, especially if you were driving recklessly.

If you receive a speeding ticket, you have the option to challenge it in court and prove your innocence. However, if you lose, you will have to pay the fines and court costs. To avoid this, you can request to enrol in a traffic school, where you can take a course on traffic safety. Completing this course will result in the violation being cleared from your driving record, preventing insurance increases and license suspension.

Texting while driving

Understand the Risks: Recognize that texting while driving is not just about keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. It's about protecting your most precious resource: attention. When you're engaged in a conversation, either through texting or a phone call, your attention is divided, and your perception of the road is impaired. This divided attention can lead to recognition errors, increasing the risk of accidents.

Use Hands-Free Devices: While it is still illegal to text and drive, even with hands-free devices, the use of such devices can slightly reduce the risk. Research has shown that there is little to no difference in impairment between drivers using hands-free and hand-held phones. Therefore, if you must text and drive, opt for voice-to-text features or hands-free calling to minimize the risk of taking your hands off the steering wheel.

Minimize Complexity: If you're going to engage in a conversation while driving, try to keep it simple. The more complex the conversation, the more your attention will be strained, and your driving ability will be impaired. Stick to light topics that don't require deep thought or complex responses.

Pull Over: If you absolutely need to text or make a call, the safest option is to pull over to a safe location before doing so. Find a parking space or a safe spot on the side of the road where you can stop your vehicle and give your full attention to your phone. Remember, it's not just about seeing the road but also perceiving and reacting to your surroundings.

Set Rules and Boundaries: Discuss the dangers of distracted driving with friends and family, especially new drivers. Set rules and boundaries for yourself and others regarding distracted driving. Make a commitment to distraction-free driving and encourage others to do the same.

Remember, even with these measures, you are still breaking the law and increasing your risk of accidents. The best way to stay safe is to avoid texting and driving altogether. Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel, giving your full attention to the task of driving.

Littering

In Washington state, for example, fines for littering range from $103 to $5,000, with the largest fines reserved for "lit debris," primarily cigarettes, and items that can cause car crashes. The state also has laws requiring motorists to cover and secure their loads to prevent cargo from falling out and causing accidents.

In California, first-time littering carries a minimum fine of $250 and eight hours of picking up roadside litter. For a defendant's third offense and subsequent offenses, the penalty increases to a maximum of a $3,000 fine and 24 hours of litter cleanup per offense.

So, while you may be tempted to toss that cigarette butt out the window or leave your trash behind, think twice about the potential consequences and consider disposing of your waste properly. Remember, it's important to respect the environment and keep our communities clean!

Public sex

How to Break the Law, But Only Kinda: Public Sex Edition

The Law

In most countries, there are no laws prescribing what clothing is required to be worn. However, community standards of clothing are set indirectly by prosecuting those who wear something that is not socially approved. In many countries, people who wear insufficient clothing can be prosecuted under various offences, such as indecent exposure, public indecency, or nudity.

In the UK, public sex is addressed in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which makes it an offence to engage in sexual activity in a public lavatory. Prosecution is also possible under the Public Order Act 1986, exposure under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, or the common law offence of outraging public decency.

How to Kinda Break the Law

If you're looking to kinda break the law, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the definition of "public" can vary and may include private places that can be viewed from a public space, such as a backyard or a balcony. Additionally, the legality of public sex may depend on whether the participants are seen by others.

• Choose a secluded location: Look for places that are more secluded and less likely to be frequented by others. This could be a quiet forest, a deserted beach, or a remote area of a park.
• Be discreet: Avoid drawing attention to yourself. Keep noise to a minimum and avoid any behaviour that might be considered exhibitionist or lewd.
• Be mindful of local laws: Remember that laws regarding public sex vary by jurisdiction. While some places may turn a blind eye to public sex, others may have stricter enforcement.
• Consider timing: Try to choose a time when fewer people are likely to be around, such as early morning or late at night.
• Be respectful: Respect the space and those around you. Clean up after yourself and leave no trace of your activities.

Remember, while public sex can be a thrilling experience, it's important to be mindful of local laws and respect the comfort and safety of those around you.

Prank calling

• Pretend to be from an official fan club or local radio station and tell your friend they've won tickets to see their favourite band or artist. However, they must first answer a question correctly. Ask them, "If a cow laughed really hard, would milk come out of her nose?" No matter their answer, inform them that they are incorrect and have, unfortunately, not won the tickets.
• Call your friend and tell them you love them and miss them. When they ask who's calling, act upset and ask how many people call to tell them that. Continue to play along as if you're upset—bonus points if you can fake cry!
• Call your friend and ask who you're speaking to. When they ask who's calling, act confused and insist that they called you. See how long you can keep the call going before they catch on and hang up.
• With the popularity of food delivery services, this prank may be believable. Call your friend and tell them their food order has been placed on their doorstep. When they deny ordering anything, tell them you're a delivery driver and left the food at their front door. Once it sounds like they've opened the door, tell them you left it at a different location and hang up.
• Call your friend and pretend to be a hotel guest. Tell them you're stuck in the bathroom and need more toilet paper as you've run out.
• Find a random number and name, then call and pretend you've just found their number and want to catch up. Give some wild details about where you supposedly know each other from if they ask who you are.
• Call someone and tell them you're the previous owner of their home and need to confess something. In a quiet voice, tell them someone died in the house years ago and their soul now haunts it. Only do this prank if you're sure the person won't be distressed.
• Call someone and ask about a free item they've listed in an online ad. When they deny listing anything, tell them you were looking forward to getting the item and hang up. Later, have someone else call about the listing or call again using an accent and bring it up again.
• Pretend to be calling from your friend's phone company and that you're conducting a mobile phone check-up. Tell them they need to repeat silly phrases like, "I shower with my donkey every day." If they make it to the end, get them to repeat: "I'm the dummy who just fell for this fake mobile testing."
• Call someone and tell them you're conducting a survey in your community. Ask random questions that have no correlation, such as, "When was the last time you flushed your toilet?" and "Who is your most-streamed artist?"
• Call your friends and family members, pretending that they called you. Start the conversation by saying, "Hey, sorry, I'm really busy. Can I call you later?" See who catches on and who doesn't notice.
• Pretend to be a hiring manager at a clothing store and call your friend, telling them they've been hired for a cool job in social media or on a reality TV show.
• Call a random restaurant or business and tell them you can't take it anymore and that you quit.
• Dial any local grocery retailer and ask them to reserve a grocery cart for you. When they try to explain that they don't do reservations for carts, try to reason with them.
• Accuse a friend who knows your significant other of kissing your partner behind your back.
• Call anyone in your circle and vaguely tell them, "I know what you did." Act upset or say it matter-of-factly—either way, it will be fun to see if they spill something.
• When your parents aren't home, call them and tell them you've noticed a spirit in the house, providing as many details as possible. If they seem scared, be sure to reassure them that you're joking.
• Pretend you ordered a pizza and call the restaurant to complain. When they're about to hang up, mention the name of a different pizza company, acting as if it's the worst pizza place in town.
• Pretend to be the postal service and tell your friend their signature is required for a crazy package you've made up, such as 500 ant farms. Make it something your friend hates to add to the prank.
• If you can do a killer celebrity impression or use a voice generator, hit up your contacts and tell them you've met a celebrity. Tell them you don't have Wi-Fi to FaceTime and try to anticipate their responses to keep the prank going.

Frequently asked questions