Has everyone done something illegal?

[PurpleHandledBasket]

Because according to my mum, everyone’s done something a little bit illegal and not been caught.

I really haven’t.

I didn’t try cigarettes until I was at University
I never tried alcohol until I was 18 or drank underage apart from the odd sip
I’ve never shoplifted
I never bunked school
I never used a fake ID to get into a club or get served in a pub or buy lottery tickets or scratchcards underage
I’ve never not paid for my train ticket or my TV license

I have plenty of other life experiences. I’ve been to university, I’ve been abroad lots of times, I’ve been through divorce and domestic abuse and I’ve owned pets. I’ve held down a job as a single parent (and I am still doing). I’ve had mental health issues.

But I’ve never done anything illegal.

My mum was surprised, she insists everyone has done something a bit illegal and you haven’t lived if you haven’t done at least 1 of the above. She says she’s done all of the above at one time or another.

So AIBU to think that not everyone has done something illegal?

Pirating music, TV shows and films.
Shoplifting (penny sweets).
Speeding.
Driving without fully clearing my windscreen.
Driving with illegible number plates.
Underage drinking.
Drunk in a public place.
Sex in a public place.
Pretty much every single COVID law.

I'm sure there are tons more.

Did you never watch a 12 rated film before you turned 12? (Or watch a 15 or 18 underage?)

You never broke ANY of the covid rules? Honestly?

I am utterly pathetic with breaking rules. Just can't do it.

When I was 10 I went to the sweet shop with 10p from my Nan but I put 11 penny sweets in my bag instead of 10.

I didn't sleep all night and went back the next today to confess to my "crime" and give them a penny.

Honestly... pathetic.

What about eating a kitkat without breaking it into sticks first?
Have you done that, OP?

Never downloaded a film or tv show? Taped a song off the radio? Been drunk in a pub?

I think most people have broken copyright or been speeding or something. I think you're the exception.

@Fizbosshoes

What about eating a kitkat without breaking it into sticks first? Have you done that, OP?

The people who do that are the same kind of monsters who put the milk in the tea before the hot water !!!

[quote DukeofEarlGrey]Here you go, OP - you will have done some of these:

brittontime.com/2020/11/09/10-weird-uk-laws-people-break-every-day/[/quote]
@DukeofEarlGrey I think I've probably accidentally put a stamp on upside down as if thats a law

@PurpleHandledBasket using your partners card could be deemed illegal but that will depend on the issuing banks terms and conditions.

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar

Apparently you can get six penalty points on your licence and a fine for using your phone to pay at a drive through while your engine is running. The laws about using a phone while in charge of a car were put in place before phones could be used to pay for things.

I'm sure I've broken loads of laws, I'll have to think about it. I've definitely once written something on a bank note because I didn't have any other paper to hand, and that's illegal (apparently).

Surely you are on private property and this doesn’t apply.

Never done this though as don’t have cards on my phone.

I think the only time I have broken the law was when I was caught doing 34mph in a 30 zone
Apparently there were no signs saying to go 30mph I should have known the speed had changed because if the street lights. (Middle of the day and a tree lined road so weren’t immediately obvious)
Today I would have fought the penalty
I have had a couple of penalty notices but successfully challenged them because if signage.
Took one all the way to court and won.
My issue is, if you are going to fine people for something then make sure you put up signage to say what you want and not have as your defence that everyone in the area was informed by post so you as a nonresident should have asked someone before driving down a road.

Everyone else was 😮 at that remark.

Never really done anything illegal as I know I would be caught. I always get followed by store detectives. I know it is the way I look as since I have warn a mask I haven’t been followed around a store and not once have I been challenged leaving a store.

Most people will have done even if unintentional. Lots of people commit minor driving offences at some point for example. I’ve broken the law a few times in my life, mostly in my early teens when I was rebelling. Nothing Earth shatteringly bad though obviously.

@Roseability18

I’d say I’m very law abiding but have done w couple of your list! Have you never even broke the speed limit? Cycled on the pavement? Parked on double yellows for 2 mins while waiting for somebody?? I think this could be a challenge to find something! Google tells me vacuuming after 1pm on a Sunday is also illegal!

This is an EXCELLENT reason to do even less hoovering than I do already!

Trespass is not illegal.

Oh no @Roseability18 I've broken the law with the hoovering thing! Can't even look at myself right now.

We had been on a 2 week holiday, got home about 2am and somehow a bloody slug had got in and there were trails all over the carpet. No way could I have left it looking like that and gone to bed!

Oooh I’ve got one that you’ve ALL done. Copyright infringement! Ever shared a meme or content online? Did you check whether it had copyright first????

I almost certainly have broken the law at some points. I drive so can't say I've never creeped over the limit for example.

And I completely unintentionally broke covid laws in December 2020 when travel restrictions applied where I am. I went shopping in the town I work in - reasoning was had to drive to work (permitted) so going to shops was ok. But no. The strict letter of the law was to drive past these shops and shop in my own tier.... broke that one even once I was aware of it!

There will be others I can't think of right now.

I do think it's just one of these things that most people will have broken a law at some point, especially as some are old and just not known about but no one has actually removed it

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

I'm so old I didn't need fake ID to go drinking because it was before we imported the moral panic about it from the USA.

Woah!!! The legal drinking age came in in 1923 so you really are old! Impressive use of Mumsnet at over 100.

I've never done any of the things in the OP but cars throw a different spin on things. It's hard not to have broken the law at some point, in some manner. Plus I grew up in the age of dodgy streaming and CD ripping / burning.

I've also been drunk in charge of a horse, which I'm pretty sure is an offense somewhere

@Changedmane why didn't you call the police? Blatant disregard for law and order!!

@Sunsetsupernova

I had sex on the beach once (discreetly). I’m pretty sure that’s illegal

it's not a crime unless someone complains

I'm so old I didn't need fake ID to go drinking because it was before we imported the moral panic about it from the USA.

Woah!!! The legal drinking age came in in 1923 so you really are old! Impressive use of Mumsnet at over 100.

You're either being a little bit obtuse, or you are too young to remember that pubs and clubs haven't always routinely asked for ID. Yes, officially you had to be 18, but the vast majority of places turned a blind eye and would happily serve kids they knew were underage.

I was going to clubs when I was 14 (and looked it); I got served in pubs while wearing my school clothes; corner shops used to sell cigarettes to young kids - all of this was illegal, but no fake ID was required at all.

@SirChenjins

You have - you drank alcohol under the age of 18 It doesn’t matter if it was just the odd sip, you still (technically) broke the law.

Depends on the circumstances. Perfectly legal for under 18s to drink alcohol at home.

I thought YWNBU but after reading the one about stamps I think I should change my vote.