Why do you obey the law?

[Velveteenfruitbowl]

Something I am reading made me wonder so I want to do a poll. Ignoring situations where the law coincides with your morals (e.g. you think it’s wrong to kill people so you don’t commit murder), why do you follow the law? You can take speed limits for example. Do you not speed because you don’t want to pay a fine or do you actually believe that going a few miles over the speed limit is wrong in some way?

YANBU = I follow the law because it’s the law!

YABU = I only follow the law because I don’t want to be punished.

DS reminded me of something he found a while back for a piece of coursework ...

DGRossetti

That's obviously absolutely true.
But simply following the laws you deem morally right may be quite destructive as well.

Refusing to follow the laws you see as genuinely unethical / immoral / evil is imo a better policy than only following those you deem right. (which is, at least in a democratic system, quite an anti democratic position. At least imo...)

Depends.
Some laws seem archaic.
I think fear of the consequences of breaking the law sometimes apply.
Sometimes I agree with the law.
Other times I disagree with the law but can't break it!!!
E.g. Child maintenance service, allowing the nrp 3 months to set up a direct debit, which the nrp does not do. Then allowing the nrp to miss maintenance paynents. Then allowing the nrp to reduce the maintenance they pay to their children when they shack up with another man's children.
I don't agree with it and would not adhere to it but have no choice.