Let me ask you something: Are you the type of person who always sticks to the rules ? You know, the kind of person who will never jaywalk even if no cars are coming. Or are you a bit of a rule-breaker ? Ha, ha.
Well, if you’re of the latter, you’ll definitely enjoy what I’m about to share with you. People on Reddit are sharing things that most of us thought were illegal but surprisingly, are actually technically okay. Check it out.
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This Movie Tip
“Bringing your own snacks to the movies is technically not illegal.”
Okay, confession time — I used to do that all the time. I know, it may seem bad, but the stuff sold at the movies is so expensive. Do you feel me? So a little McDonald’s never hurt anyone, ha, ha.
This Interesting Fact
“Piracy if you download, in most countries. It’s illegal to distribute pirated material but not to download it, mostly because the laws are a decade or two behind.”
Not that I condone you doing that, but just letting you know what legally can and cannot be done about it.
This Questionable Behavior
“Giving cops the middle finger. It’s protected under freedom of speech. Doesn’t mean it’s smart to do and they won’t find some reason to make your day hell. But it’s legal.”
Oh my goodness, I still don’t think it’s a good idea.
This Annoying Fact
“Cops lying to you in the US is not illegal. They don’t have to tell you they’re a cop. They can say literally anything to extract information.”
Hey, I thought there was such thing as “entrapment,” or is that just in movies?
This Shocking Fact
“It’s completely legal for a woman to be topless in public in New York City, and I believe total nudity in public is legal in Washington or Oregon or possibly both.”
I think it’s the case here in Toronto, Canada, too. I recall them passing some law years ago that made it legal for women to be topless even in the city but correct me if I’m wrong.
This Casino Tip
“Counting cards at a casino blackjack table. It’s just a strategy, nothing illegal about that. If casinos catch you, they can bar you from coming back, but you cannot be arrested.”
I actually knew that. So the worst that can happen to you is that you will get kicked out and banned from coming back.
This Business Tip
“Refusing service, as long as it is not based on a protected class and isn’t an essential service. If you walk into my store with no intention to buy (or buy in the future), I can ask you to leave, and if you refuse, I can have you trespassed.”
Yup, if a business owner doesn’t want you on their property they can ask you to leave.
This Job Tip
“Not giving two weeks’ notice when leaving a job isn’t illegal.”
No, it’s definitely not illegal but if you don’t give two weeks’ notice you won’t be entitled to that pay. So it’s up to you what you want to do. And if the employer dismisses you without notice they have to pay you.
This Privacy Fact
“Recording someone on your phone in public is not always illegal.”
Hmm, I always wondered about that, but I guess some circumstances will allow you to do that. I don’t know the law, but you may want to look into it if you’re interested.
This ID Fact
“Not having a picture ID. I have met a shocking number of people who think it’s illegal to leave your home without an ID.”
I tend to take my ID with me when I go shopping, but not when I go for a walk. However, I never thought it was actually illegal to leave your home without it, ha, ha.
This Driving Fact
“Driving with the interior light on in the car is not illegal.”
Okay, I didn’t think that was illegal, but I thought that if a cop sees you, they could pull you over. However, now that I know this, I won’t feel paranoid.
This Driving Practice
“In the US: driving barefoot. Absolutely zero states have a law against this. The rumor probably started because many states have a law saying you must be wearing unobstructed footwear that won’t get in the way of pedal operation. So no driving in ski boots.”
Well, there you have it!
This Wildlife Fact
“Taking the ducks home from the park, the government doesn’t want you to know this, but they are free. I have 43 ducks.”
OMG, what? Is this in the U.S. or in Canada too? I would love to know that, not that I’m planning on taking any ducks with me. I’m just curious, that’s all.
This Jaywalking Rule
“Jaywalking confuses a lot of people. Here in Georgia, it is a very specific definition: crossing a street between two intersections that both have traffic signals. Otherwise, you can cross wherever you like; you just have to yield to traffic.”
I guess it depends on where you live, huh?
This Citizenship Fact
“A lot of people think becoming a citizen of another country deprives you of the citizenship of your home country, particularly if you’re a US citizen. All country’s laws are different, but most modern democracies don’t care if you acquire another citizenship. Notable exceptions include Japan and The Netherlands. I’m a British and US citizen, neither country minds.”
I guess that’s a good thing, no?
This Drinking And Driving Law
“In NZ, drinking alcohol while driving. It’s illegal to be drunk but ok to have a beer while driving.”
Wow, I don’t think that’s legal in Canada. Can somebody confirm that? I believe you can’t even have an open beer bottle or can while you’re driving in a car but I could be wrong.
This Crime Fact
“Witnessing a violent act and walking away. Unless there is a specific Good Samaritan Law in place, which not all places have, there is nothing that requires you to act. Being a [expletive] person is not a crime.”
I kind of figured that, too.
This Job Tip
“Discussing wages with your fellow employees. Not only is it legal, your right to do so is protected by the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. It’s actually illegal to tell your employees not to talk about wages with each other.”
That’s good to know, huh?
So did any of these facts surprise you?
I definitely thought that most of these weren’t illegal, but it’s good to get a confirmation, huh? However, as I said, you still need to find out what laws govern the place where you live because not all laws were created equal. What’s legal in one country or town might actually be illegal in another, so be careful nonetheless.
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