You are an honest and respectable citizen. you pay taxes You obey traffic lights. You don’t even jaywalk.
However, there are federal and state laws you may be violating without even realizing it.
Please check if you have violated any of the following laws: Some impose fines and imprisonment.
1. Gambling
No, you don’t have a roulette wheel at home. However, playing friendly games of poker and other gambling games (even at home) may be against the law in some states.
Be careful with websites home poker games:
“Some states explicitly allow home poker games, others explicitly prohibit them, and some states don’t have clear policies (meaning they’re illegal by default. about half of all states allow “social gaming”. “
According to HomePokerGames, which offers more guidance and resources, your best bet when gambling at home is to keep the stakes low and make sure everyone is there for social reasons. The game’s impact on neighbors, whether it was advertised, and the number of players involved are other factors that can draw attention to home games.
2. Host a movie night
You know that little copyright word that flashes across your screen when you’re playing a DVD? Well, it’s important.
Playing movies, TV shows, or other recordings in public is a violation of copyright law.
This means that if you play a video for your neighborhood group, colleagues or swim club, you can face fines and other penalties of up to $150,000, even if you show it in your backyard where others can see it. .
If you decide to show a movie outside your home, do so safely.of Motion Picture Licensing Corporation describes the rules and publishing licenses that allow recordings to be shared with others.
3. Sharing Netflix passwords
You might be surprised to learn that they shared passwords for Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and similar services. considered a violation of federal law Nonetheless, some larger services, including Netflix, used to take a relaxed stance on sharing passwords.
However, that may be changing as competition between companies increases. Netflix recently announced that it is cracking down on password sharing, but for now, it won’t charge any more for U.S. customers who are caught sharing accounts.
wired magazine give some optionsshare passwords securely, including using a password manager.
Company rules vary. To make sure you’re complying with the law, read the streaming service’s website’s terms of service — here is Netflixfor example.
4. Sing “Macarena” in public
Singing “Macarena” and other famous songs around the campfire with your child may still be okay. But think twice before leading a large group to join him in catchy latest dance tunes.
Depending on factors such as volume and the number of people involved, it may violate copyright law. According to Business Insider.
Think no one cares? In the 1990s, the American Society of Composers, Writers and Publishers wanted Girl to pay royalties for her scouts singing “Macarena”. The New York Times reports.
The organization later regretted pursuing Girl Scouts from a public relations standpoint, but the possibility remains of using the law in this manner.
5. Unauthorized use of Wi-Fi
Are you using your Wi-Fi connection without unauthorized access?
probably. Under the United States Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986, felony access to computer systemsincluding routers, without permission, Wi-Fi wasn’t really an issue.
Some states have clearer laws. You don’t often get prosecuted for “Wi-Fi squatting” or “piggybacking,” but there are risks.
6. Surprise your pets with wild animals
If you bring your dog or other pet to the national park, please keep it quiet.
Code of Federal Regulations (Title 36, Section 2.15 (a)(4)) “Do not allow pets to deter wild animals by making unreasonable noises, barking, barking or making other noises considering location, time of day or night, impact on park users and other relevant factors. “allowing to scare or frighten” is prohibited.
7. Fives about the weather
Publishing a weather forecast and falsely claiming it is from the National Weather Service can result in fines and/or imprisonment for up to 90 days for publishing a false or falsified weather forecast. may occur.
Remember the media hype in 2019 when President Donald Trump stepped in front of the cameras and briefed the nation on the likely course of Hurricane Dorian?
After holding up a modified National Weather Service map with a Sharpie pen, he faced a barrage of criticism. Critics pointed out the law — 18 US Code § 2074. regulation, According to Yahoo Newsintended to maintain the credibility of the government’s brand and ensure that its forecasts are reliable.
8. Conduct an interstate trade in raw milk
Some states have no problem selling raw milk. Others forbid it.
But cross-state distribution is another matter. It is a violation of federal law. “All milk sold across state lines must be pasteurized and meet the standards of the US Pasteurized Milk Act.” Report ProCon – Encyclopedia Britannica.
Just ask the Amish farmer who was taken to U.S. District Court in 2011 as a result of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration sting operation.
Although it was legal to sell raw milk in Pennsylvania, Amish farmer Daniel Alger and his Rainbow Acres Farm and Rainbow Valley Farms crossed the state line from Pennsylvania to sell raw milk in Washington, DC. was charged with violating two federal laws. According to Agri-Pulseindustry publications.
9. Using someone else’s disabled parking permit
It is clearly wrong to use someone else’s disabled parking permit so that you can park in a disabled space.
But did you know that it’s illegal in some states? Disabled parking permits are regulated and enforced by states, and they take different approaches. For example, in California, it’s fraud under the Misdemeanor Act. This Los Angeles Law Firm.
This charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a fine of $250 to $1,000. To make matters worse, licensed professionals such as insurance brokers, nurses, lawyers and doctors can face additional penalties.
10. Hang a mask (or dice) on your rearview mirror
Many states have laws against hanging air fresheners, fuzzy dice, graduation tassels, and other items from your rearview mirror. This includes masks worn to ensure safety during the pandemic.
For example, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, it is illegal to hang “any object or material from the inside of your rearview mirror.” Reports Radio 94.5 PST.Reason: Hanging objects block the driver’s view and pose a safety hazard.
It’s not technically illegal in Missouri, but drivers can be subpoenaed if their vision is blocked in a collision. KRCG Channel 13 TV says.
11. Copy of textbook
If you grew up in an era before everything was digital, you’ve probably copied from a book. It may be easier to ask someone who doesn’t.
Are you violating federal copyright law?
perhaps, According to Stanford University LibrariesThere is no specific number of pages that may be copied without violating federal copyright law. The question is not how much you copy, but how you use copyrighted text.
If a copy is used for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as commenting on, criticizing, or parodying a copyrighted work, the copy constitutes a “fair use” of the copyrighted work. defendable).