The Average Brit Unknowingly Breaks the Law 32 Times Every Year
Did you know that you could be breaking the law without even realising? You’re not the only one! In fact, a recent survey has found that Brits unknowingly break the law a massive 32 TIMES every year, despite the majority of us classing ourselves as law abiding citizens.
The survey, which was carried out on behalf of BT, found that as many as 48% of us break the law by singing Happy Birthday in a public place, such as a restaurant. The song is actually copyrighted and owned so a private company so in theory, anyone wanting to perform a public performance that includes the song should have to pay!
Another common law that we break on a regular basis is swearing or gesturing to other road users (a key part of road rage!), while another 36% break the law by vacuuming after 1pm on weekends.
Despite this, across the country, 60% of respondents said that it bothers then when they see somebody else breaking the law, even if it’s a small act. We are reported to spot adults doing something they shouldn’t four times a day, but only 10% of those people would ever confront the offender.
The 40 “small laws” most-broken (bizzare ones, included!) are as follows:
- Singing Happy Birthday in a restaurant
- Drinking alcohol under the age of 18
- Sworn or gestured to other users of the road
- Vacuuming between the hours of 6pm and 8am on a weekday, or between 1pm and 8pmĀ at the weekend
- Partially parking on a pavement
- Cycling on the pavement
- Speeding whilst driving
- Beeping a horn for any reason other than alerting traffic
- Being drunk on the street, or in a pub or restaurant
- Eating or drinking whilst driving
- Pocketing change when given wrong amount
- Changing a CD whilst driving
- Having sex in a public place
- Purchasing cigarettes under the age of 18
- Dropping litter
- Taking illegal drugs
- Disturbing people by ringing their doorbells / knocking at their doors and leaving before being answered
- Not wearing a seatbelt during a car journey
- Flying a kite in a park
- Using a fake name on the internet
- Sticking a postage stamp upside down
- Using a mobile phone while driving
- Cycling without lights after dark
- Parking on double yellow lines
- Driving through a red light
- Not paying for a carrier bag at a self-service check-out
- Having sex when you were under 16 years of age
- Not having a TV license and watching TV
- Using someone else’s Wi-Fi without them knowing
- Smoking in a non-smoking area
- Throwing tree cuttings back over your neighbours’ garden
- Claiming an item at the self-service till without paying for it
- Taking a child out of school for a holiday without the head teacher’s permission
- Not informing the DVLA of a change of name or address
- Not cleaning up after your dog has pooed on the street/public path
- Cycling through a red light
- Fiddling your expenses
- Sung or chanted a crude football chant in the street
- Gone fishing without a license
- Parking opposite a junction
- Puting make-up on while driving