New ways to break the law! (are you a criminal? Probably)

http://www.theadvocates.org ^ | Bill Winter

[Gordongekko909]

Legislation like this makes you want to shoot the lawyers.

The hell? If it weren't for us, people might actually get convicted for this nonsense. If you want to blame someone, blame the special interest morons that push this legislation and the legislators that bow to them.

[IronJack]

I've often said that the average American has broken half a dozen laws before he gets his teeth brushed every morning, and committed two felonies by time he gets to work.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Legislators need to be paid for taking laws off the books.

I have occasionally half in jest proposed that one year out of every four should be for reviewing and purging of laws.

Up until a couple years ago it was illegal for me to wander around Boston without being escorted by two armed solders. (No I am not kidding)

While the law had not been enforced in a couple of hundred years it was still on the books and technically enforceable. I was rather shocked to find out that I was a lawbreaker.

[Mr. Lucky]

you must live in one tough neighborhood.

[tiki]

And it doesn't matter whether you know its against the law or not either, the punishment is the same.

[one more state]

90% of our laws are for the purpose of generating income for government. Our most important laws are in the ten commandments.

[IronJack]

you must live in one tough neighborhood.

Worse. The suburbs.

[southland]

At least we can demand a jury trial . ......

[Tribune7]

bump

[Mr. Lucky]

Good Lord man, flee while you can.

[xarmydog]

Most states have a law that says it is illegal to open you car door into oncoming traffic,meaning,if you go to the store and park on the street,getting out on the driver side you are breaking the law.New Mexico was a nightmare as far as police were concerned.Visited family there twice.Vowed never to go back.Police checkpoints everywhere.We were stopped 3 times just going to the store.A 3 mile trip!

[Calamari]

I've been using this tag line for several years!

[IronJack]

Good Lord man, flee while you can.

I'd love to, but The Man has me trapped in an endless cycle of poverty and dependence.

[IronJack]

I lived in Colorado some years ago, and got a ticket for driving in the wrong (passing) lane when I wasn't passing. My car had out-of-state plates at the time, since I'd only moved there a few weeks before.

[shezza]

And to think... these laws (and almost all laws) made sense to a group of somebodies at one time.

...to a majority of somebodies, at that.

[null and void]

[Gordongekko909]

Juries exist as a buffer against the tyrrany of judges. In order to graduate from law school, you have to shed every ounce of common sense you have and think in a very mechanical way. And if you lift up a judge's robes, you'll almost always find a prosecutor underneath. Juries ensure that common sense manages to find its way into the courtroom.

Of course, there's the whole "one tyrant three thousand miles away versus three thousand tyrants one mile away" thing...

[null and void]

Last time I was in a jury selection pool, the Judge made a point of telling us he would NOT tolerate a jury deciding on the validity of any law in HIS court. We were to stick with determining guilt or innocence. Or else.

[Hardastarboard]

James Madison had a comment about this, something about making so many and such complex laws that no one could follow them. We've far surpassed that point already.

[SkyDancer]

Let's make everything legal .. then we won't have any crime ...