Break the Law

Laws exist in our society for a reason. If there were no repercussions for our actions, there would be chaos in every town, city, and state. Many of the laws that we need to abide by are just simple guidelines that we should all follow for there to be peace, they are somewhat of  “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” rules. If you follow that saying, you will be alright when it comes to any major law for which there would be major penalties.

There are, however, plenty of laws that the average person does not know as well, and that is why lawyers are available if someone happens to unwittingly break a law. If you are put into a situation where you are facing the long arm of the law, do you know what penalties could be coming your way? Here are some of the main sentences given by a judge to people that have broken laws.

1. Fine – Depending on the law or laws broken, you can end up with a fine as low as twenty dollars, or up to millions of dollars. Fines will look like a great alternative compared to some of the other penalties for breaking the law. Something like a speeding ticket might net you a fine for a few hundred dollars, while many white collar crimes will force the defendant to fork over some hefty amounts of cash, if not worse.

2. Probation – After breaking a law, a judge may allow you to pay a fine, go on probation, or both. While on probation, you will meet with a probation officer on regular intervals so that they can make sure that you are still abiding by all laws and you have not fallen back into your regular patterns. Drug tests may also be administered if the crime committed calls for them. If you break any laws while on probation, the judge will not be so lenient with you next time. Many judges take it as an insult if the mercy they show is thrown back into their face. If you find that you are unable to live within the rules of law, the penalties are much harsher.

3. Community service – This may also be given in conjunction with a fine or probation. Breaking a law can put you on the highway picking up trash with the other people that can’t abide by laws. There are many different types of community service, and usually you will have a say in what type you will be doing.

4. Prison – Break any major laws and you are going to be placed right into prison for years, maybe even life. Thankfully rule of law is there to keep murderers out of society so that they can be rehabilitated.

Any of these can apply to you, depending on the law or laws broken. Just make sure you act accordingly.

Craziest United States Laws

Some of the laws we encounter on a daily basis might seem a bit too harsh, overprotective, or sometimes even wacky. What many people do not realize is that there are laws that still exist today that are hilarious now, and would probably barely make sense even at the time they were passed. Law is supposed to be in our lives to uphold justice and maintain peace, but these laws will make you question the lawmakers’ sanity. Here are six of the craziest laws that either existed in the past, or still exist today.

1. Dogs – There was a law passed in 1919 in the state of Michigan saying that dogs may not be killed using a high altitude decompression chamber. This really makes you wonder how many people were actually engaging in this act if the government felt the need to pass this law to put a cease to it.
2. Bullet proof – A 1983 New Jersey law has made it clear that anyone that commits a crime (whether it is burglary, rape, or even murder), may not be wearing a bullet proof vest while doing so. Thank goodness that we have laws like this to keep us safe. If it weren’t for the vest law, people might still be committing murder today.

3. Family values – In Mississippi, there was a law passed in 1964 that said anybody that has two illegitimate children may have to serve thirty days in jail or pay a fine. This is an especially useful law because the best thing for an already illegitimate child is to take their parents away. Did anybody actually think these laws through?

4. Bathrooms – A law in Oregon has made it illegal to place containers filled with fecal matter on the side of any highway. It’s about time this law was passed. You Oregonians are going to have to store those containers in your trunk like everybody else.

5. Adultery – Anyone that commits adultery in the state of West Virginia will be fined no less than twenty dollars according to an old law. It may have been repealed due to the number of complaints received claiming that twenty dollars was double what they paid in the first place.

6. Fun and Games – It is illegal for anyone under the age of eighteen to play on a pinball machine in the state of South Carolina. These types of laws are especially great because of the shorter lines. Plus, how many pinball games can a kid play on their allowance anyway?

These laws are absolutely ridiculous, even if you try to put them into context. Would a bullet proof vest law really keep people from committing crimes? It would be surprising if there was even one less crime committed at any point in history because of that specific piece of legislation. A purpose that these laws do serve, however, is keeping us all laughing years later.