Gavin Howe
Breaking the law is something that few people ever intend to do, but sometimes you may not even be aware that you're doing something illegal. For example, did you know that throwing out mail belonging to previous tenants is a felony? Or that using unsecured WiFi (aka piggybacking) isn’t illegal everywhere, but can run you afoul of internet service plans and providers? In this article, we will explore some of the most common ways people break the law and the potential consequences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prank calling | Illegal in some areas |
| Using unsecured WiFi | May be illegal |
| Speeding | Illegal |
| Driving without a seatbelt | Illegal |
| Using a cell phone while driving | Illegal |
| Throwing out mail belonging to previous tenants | A felony |
| Failure to get a dog license | May result in a fine |
| Jaywalking | May carry a fine, be frowned upon, or be illegal |
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What You'll Learn
Speeding, driving without a seatbelt, or using a cell phone while driving
The laws and their enforcement vary by state and municipality, so it's important to look up the rules where you live or work before engaging in any of these activities. For example, jaywalking is the violation of traffic laws by pedestrians, and the consequences can range from a fine to simply being frowned upon, depending on the location.
While the threat of a traffic ticket may not always be a deterrent, the potential for causing an accident or injury should be a significant reason to follow the law.
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Throwing out mail belonging to previous tenants
To avoid breaking the law, you should mark the mail as "Return to Sender" or "No longer at this address" and put it back in the mailbox. This will alert the post office to hand-inspect the mail and ensure it is returned to the correct address. You can also encourage residents to update their forwarding addresses to prevent mail from being delivered to the wrong address in the first place.
It is important to be aware of the laws in your area and to take the necessary precautions to avoid breaking them. While some laws may seem minor, such as prank calling or jaywalking, the consequences of breaking them can still be serious. It is always better to be safe than sorry and to respect the privacy and property of others.
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Jaywalking
Breaking the law is something that few people ever intend to do, but sometimes you may not even be aware you’re doing something illegal. For example, prank calling is a right of passage for some adolescents, but it may also be illegal in your area. It can be considered harassment or disorderly conduct with threatening remarks or repetitive calls. Similarly, using unsecured WiFi (aka piggybacking) isn’t illegal everywhere, and even when you have permission from neighbours or businesses it can run you afoul of internet service plans and providers.
Traffic laws are often broken by speeding, driving without a seatbelt or using a cell phone while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that injury accidents will affect two out of every three motorists in their lives and in 2017 alone more than 3,000 fatalities were the result of distracted driving. However, the laws and their enforcement vary by state and municipality.
Other laws that people commonly break include throwing out mail belonging to previous tenants, even junk mail, which is a felony. Instead, you should write 'return to sender' or 'no longer at this address' and put it back into a mailbox. This will alert the post office to hand-inspect the mail.
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Prank calling
First, it's important to know that prank calling is not always legal. Depending on your jurisdiction, there may be laws prohibiting disorderly conduct, wiretapping, or even hate crimes that could apply to prank calls. For example, making a bomb threat is a very serious criminal offence, and emergency services and local police departments will get involved.
To avoid getting caught, there are a few things you can do. One is to key in *67 before dialling the number you want to call. This will disguise your caller ID if you're in North America. You can also use a prepaid phone, an online calling service, or a burner app that generates a temporary phone number. Keep the call short—the longer you stay on the line, the more likely you are to get caught. Try to keep it to 5 minutes or less, and plan out what you want to say ahead of time.
It's also important to avoid doing anything illegal or offensive. Don't prank call emergency services, pretend to be a law enforcement officer, or make threats. Keep the tone of the call light-hearted and silly, so that nobody feels frightened or offended. Also, don't ask for any personal information.
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Using unsecured WiFi
In New York State, piggybacking is a Class A misdemeanour. There have been several examples of people being arrested for using an unsecured WiFi connection without permission. In Florida, a defendant was charged with criminal piggybacking.
However, the laws surrounding this are still being clarified. Orin Kerr, a professor at George Washington University Law School and an expert in cyberlaw, says that "it's probably OK, but you can't rule out a prosecution".
It is important to get the owner's consent before using a WiFi connection. If you do not, you may face criminal penalties, including incarceration or criminal fines.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, throwing out mail belonging to previous tenants is a felony, even if it's junk mail.
Using unsecured WiFi (or 'piggybacking') isn't illegal everywhere, but even when you have permission from neighbours or businesses, it can run you afoul of internet service plans and providers.
Yes, driving without a seatbelt is a common traffic law violation.
