There are dozens of laws you may not know about or misunderstand, leaving you vulnerable to committing an offence and therefore potentially facing a fine or other punishment. Many of these are everyday laws linked to your home and vehicle.
Cars: You’re breaking the law if …
1. You fail to clear snow from all your car windows
Highway code Rule 229 says you must be able to see out of all your windows and clear of snow. Failure to stick to this can land you with three points on your licence and a fine of up to £2,500.
Failure to clear snow from your car can land you with three points on your licence
2. You fail to tell the DVLA you have moved house
If you don’t notify DVLA of a change of address or name, you are breaking the law and could land yourself with a fine of up to £1,000. This failure could also invalidate your car insurance.
3. You fail to tell DVLA you have changed your car number plate
Should you not tell DVLA that you have changed your car number plate and failed to inform your insurance provider this could land you in trouble with the law as you will not show up on the insurance register, due to the incorrect number plate being registered.
4. At a drive-through you pay with your mobile phone while your car engine is running
This law dates back to the mobile phone laws from 2003 which outline when it is illegal to touch a phone or a handset while driving. If you are handling your phone with the engine still running, you are technically using your phone while operating a car which is an offence.
5. You sound your horn through anger
Beeping a horn aggressively because you are annoyed or frustrated could land you with a fine of £50, with the possibility of it being increased to £1,000 if you were to go to court, contest it, and lose. It is also against the law to sound a horn while your car is stationary, or in a built-up area between the hours of 11.30pm and 7am.
It is against the law to sound a horn while your car is stationary, or in a built-up area between the hours of 11.30pm and 7am
6. You eat or drink while driving
While it may not technically be illegal to eat or drink while driving, if the police believe this is causing you to be distracted then you can be prosecuted for ‘driving without due care and attention’.
Police could take action for ‘driving without due care and attention’ if you eat at the wheel
7. You or any passenger do not wear a seat belt
The law requires that all passengers in a vehicle wear a seat belt if one is fitted, unless they are medically exempt. The driver is responsible for ensuring that all passengers under 14 years of age are wearing a seat belt, failing which a fine of up to £500 can be levied against the driver.
Drivers are responsible for ensuring that all passengers under 14 years of age are wearing a seat belt
8. You start your car to warm it up and leave it unattended
Highway code Rule 123 says you must not leave a car unattended on a public highway with the engine running; but it is fine if the car is on your private driveway, but not on a public road.
9. You break another road law to make way for an emergency vehicle
You should make way for emergency vehicles in a safe manner without breaking road laws
Many people believe that if they run a red light or pull in somewhere where ordinarily you should not park, in order to make way for the likes of an ambulance or police car, it will be overlooked by the law. Unfortunately it will not be, so such action will leave you vulnerable to receiving points on your licence and/or a fine. The law says you should make way for emergency vehicles, but in a safe manner, and without breaking road laws.
Breaking the rules of the road to let a police car pass will leave you vulnerable to receiving points on your licence and/or a fine
At home: You’re breaking the law if…
10. Point security cameras at your neighbour’s property
Ensure any CCTV cameras around your property do not point at your neighbour’s land. This could in some cases breach privacy laws under the Human Rights Act and possibly lead to allegations of harassment.
Pointing a camera at a neighbour’s home could be an offence under the Human Rights Act and possibly lead to allegations of harassment
11. Aim bright security lights at your neighbour’s property
Do not point your security lights at your neighbour’s property (especially at their windows) as this can constitute light pollution, or a nuisance, and be actionable in law.
12. Leave a home alarm on when you are away
It seems crazy as this is precisely what a house alarm is for, but if you activate your home alarm and go away for a period of time without putting arrangements in place for someone to attend your property if the alarm is activated, you will be committing an offence under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.
13. Fail to fix a leaky tap
Under the Water Industry Act 1999, you could be fined £1,000 for failing to repair a leaky tap. The law states homeowners are required to fix any leaky taps within a ‘reasonable amount of time’, with The Office of Water Services (Ofwat) stating leaky taps should be dealt with within 24 hours.
You could be fined £1,000 for failing to repair a leaky tap in your home
14. Leave your garden untidy
Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the law requires homeowners to keep their gardens in good condition, or they could be fined up to £500.
The law requires homeowners to keep their gardens in good condition
If you are caught throwing away your old TV you could be fined up to £5,000
15. Throw your old TV in the bin
Throwing your TV in the bin is illegal under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. If you are caught doing so you could be fined up to £5,000, and also be ordered to pay the costs of recycling your TV.
16. Watch live TV without a licence
You will need a TV licence if you are watching live TV on a television, computer, tablet, games console, smartphone or any other device. However, you do not need a TV licence if you only watch content after it has been shown on television – unless it is on BBC iPlayer.
17. Use a firestick to stream Amazon and Sky Sports without paying
It may sound harsh, but this could land you in jail as you will be breaking Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006, which covers ‘obtaining services dishonestly’, which includes ‘knowing the services are made available on the basis that payment has been, is being or will be made for or in respect of them or that they might be; and avoids or intends to avoid payment in full or in part’.
18. Use your neighbour’s WIFI without permission
Do not use a neighbour’s unsecure WIFI connection without their knowledge – commonly referred to as ‘piggybacking’ – as this would be a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 or the Communications Act 2003.
19. Overfill your external waste bin
The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 says that homeowners are responsible for ensuring their bins are not overflowing or broken or they could face a £500 fine.
20. Neglect your gutters and drains
The Building Act 1984 says homeowners must keep their gutters and drains in a good state of repair and keep them unblocked and free flowing. Failure to do this could land you with a £5,000 fine.
21. Throw cuttings taken from your neighbour’s plants/trees back onto their land
Do not just throw back hedge or tree trimmings cut from your neighbour’s overhanging plants without speaking to your neighbour first, as this could be considered to be fly-tipping.
… and four curious ways you could break the law
1. It is illegal for you to destroy or deface money
Under the Currency and Banknotes Act of 1928, it is illegal to deface a banknote by drawing, stamping, or printing on it.
2. If you use a fake name on the internet
Impersonating someone else by itself is not illegal unless you are impersonating a police officer or solicitor. However, if you set up a false social network account this will, in some circumstances, amount to a criminal offence.
Posting a letter with the stamp upside down is treason, but charges will not be pressed
3. It is illegal to post a letter with the stamp upside down
As crazy as it sounds, this amounts to treason and is therefore an offence against the Crown and could land you in jail. Of course, in reality, it wouldn’t go this far.
4. If you sell fake or counterfeit goods
While it is now common practice for consumers to sell unwanted items on the likes of eBay and Vinted – if your unwanted item is fake/counterfeit (such as a fake Gucci bag), whilst it was not illegal for you to purchase it, it is illegal for you to sell it.
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