15 Things Americans Think Are Legal but Aren’t, and Serious Trouble Could Ensue
If you think you’re a rule follower, get ready for your world to be shaken. Chances are, you’ve broken at least one of the laws on this list.
There are a lot of laws that regulate everyday things most Americans give little thought to. And, while you might not end up in prison for breaking them, you could end up paying a fine.
Don’t feel too bad if you’ve broken a law or two on this list. However, we encourage you to think twice before doing it again.
1: Using a Fake Name Online
You might think using a fake name online is a good idea to protect your personal identity. But in many cases, doing so is illegal. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act includes a stipulation that you can’t use a site without “authorized access.”
This means you must follow the website’s terms of use agreement. Though few people bother to read the terms of use before interacting with a website, many require you to use your real name.
2: Using Public Wi-Fi Without Permission
Most public Wi-Fi has limitations. For example, your local coffee shop might offer Wi-Fi to patrons, but you’re not supposed to use it from your car in the parking lot. Doing so is known as piggybacking.
According to the NOLO legal encyclopedia, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act’s stipulation that you need “authorized access” before using a computer applies to piggybacking. However, the act was established long before Wi-Fi was prevalent. So, it’s unclear whether a federal court would prosecute this crime or not.
Still, because federal law is vague on this subject, many states have enacted their own, much clearer laws. California and Michigan both have legislation making using Wi-Fi without permission a crime.
3: Forgetting Your eBay Habit When Filing Taxes
Selling your stuff online isn’t a crime; in many cases, you don’t need to report your sales to the IRS. As Turbo Tax puts it, if your sales account to the amount you’d make in a typical yard sale, you’re safe.
However, if you sell things regularly, you need to report the income. Even if you consider your eBay sales a hobby rather than a part-time job, the IRS requires you to file a 1040 form.
4: Streaming Movies
Many people stream pirated movies online, and few fear the consequences. However, downloading or torrenting a pirated film constitutes copyright infringement, which is against federal law.
You probably won’t be thrown in prison for streaming an illegal copy of the latest Hollywood hit, but you could face charges. And according to legal experts, using a VPN won’t help. Federal agencies can still use your IP address to track you down.
5: Having a Few Too Many
Almost all of us have been there. You go to a bar, one drink turns into three, and suddenly, you’re stumbling home. In that scenario, walking is much smarter than driving a car, but it’s still illegal in many places.
Many states have public intoxication laws. They often look similar to what you’ll find in Texas, where being intoxicated in public warrants a class-C misdemeanor and requires you to pay a fine.
Some states only enforce laws like this if you’re being a public nuisance or prove to be a danger to yourself. Still, according to the NOLO legal encyclopedia, police officers often can arrest you for intoxication, even if you’re simply walking home.
6: Sharing Your Password
If you’ve never shared an account password for a service like Netflix, you’re in the minority. According to a Reuters report, more than 100 million households shared their Netflix passwords with friends or family outside their homes.
You might have heard that Netflix is coming down hard on password sharing, but you might not realize that doing so is actually illegal. The U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act covers streaming services, and using a password that belongs to someone else’s account is against their terms of service agreement. That means it’s against the law.
7: Poker Parties
Playing poker with friends seems like harmless fun, and many people host seemingly innocent poker parties in their garage or basement. However, technically speaking, parties or get-togethers that include significant gambling are against the law.
The Illegal Gambling Business Act makes any form of gambling that generates more than $2,000 in revenue illegal outside of licensed businesses. Of course, you’d have to be betting a lot to cross that threshold in a friendly game. But at a poker party, you just might end up breaking the law.
8: Turning Right on a Red Light
If you’ve ever driven a car, chances are you’ve turned right at a red light. This practice isn’t illegal everywhere, but a growing number of jurisdictions are outlawing it.
In recent years, several cities have seen a dramatic increase in the number of pedestrians and bicyclists injured in automobile-involved accidents. Often, these accidents stem from cars making right-hand turns on red lights.
Washington, D.C., Ann Arbor, Michigan, and New York City are just a few of the cities that have outlawed the practice. Experts believe more cities will follow suit in years to come.
9: Spitting
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, when tuberculosis (TB) was a major concern, public health officials in New York started cracking down on spitting. It was thought that spitting in public contributed to the spread of disease.
Whether or not public expectoration actually spreads TB is questionable, but when New York passed a law against the practice, 150 other U.S. cities followed their lead. In many of these places, the legislation is still on the books.
10: Sitting on a Sidewalk
Whether you’re waiting for a bus or your Uber, sitting on the sidewalk can be tempting. However, it’s illegal in many places.
According to the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, about 53% of American cities have laws that make sitting or lying down in public illegal. So, next time you’re tempted to sit on the curb, look for a bench instead.
11: Throwing Your Old Cell Phone Away
Before you throw out your old cell phone, you might want to research the laws in your state. Many jurisdictions have legislation that prohibits improper disposal of e-waste, which would include your phone, laptop, and other tech products.
In California, New York, and Illinois, tossing a phone in the trash is a crime. Instead, you need to seek out an e-waste recycling event.
12: Downloading Music
Though streaming services like Spotify have made the practice less common, many Americans are guilty of downloading music from file-sharing websites. Unfortunately, this practice is illegal.
It violates copyright laws and could result in a serious fine. Alternatively, it could open you up to a lawsuit that could cost thousands.
13: Driving Too Slow
Everyone knows going over the speed limit is a crime, but fewer realize that driving too slowly is also illegal. Driving laws are up to states, but most states have impeding traffic laws that apply to super slow drivers.
Typically, they look something like Washington state’s law, which reads, “No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with the law.” So, if you realize you’re driving too far under the speed limit, you might want to speed up.
14: Not Getting a Dog License
Between food, vet bills, and grooming costs, being a dog owner can be expensive. That might make it tempting to skip the licensing fee for your pet. However, not getting a dog license isn’t a good idea.
According to the NOLO legal encyclopedia, most cities and counties have dog licensing requirements. If city officials realize you have an unlicensed pet, you may have to pay a fine. And if an unlicensed pet ends up impounded, it can be harder to get it back.
15: Throwing Out the Last Tenant’s Mail
It’s annoying to continue receiving the last tenant’s mail, but that doesn’t mean you have the right to throw it out. Doing so may be considered obstruction of correspondence, and it’s against federal law.
The law doesn’t apply to junk mail, as the correspondence must be “directed to them.” So, if it reads “to current resident,” like most junk mail does, it’s okay to throw it out. Otherwise, write “return to sender” on the front and put it back in the mailbox.
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