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.