Contributed Post
As cool as being an outlaw running from the police sounds (at least, if you’ve been watching a few too many cowboy films) it’s ultimately not a great idea. Security will be tighter on you, people will look at you differently (in a bad way) and you may find it difficult to keep your job or get a new one. Sadly, it’s actually surprisingly easy to get a criminal record by breaking the law, and what’s worse is that many people commit simple and innocent crimes that are punishable. So to help you avoid running in with the law, here are a couple of tips.
Death threats
We’ve all gotten angry at some point in our lives, but don’t you ever give someone a death threat even if it’s out of rage or anger—it’s a criminal offence! Try and increase your vocabulary to add witty messages the next time you’re frustrated, or consider anger management because it’s probably cheaper than receiving a fine. You can only really be fined if someone goes to the authorities and has proof that you sent a death threat, and this is obviously much easier to do if you send it in text format. Keep your cool, stay focused, and never send anyone a mean message that is either death threat, racist or cruel.
Connecting to unsecure WiFi
Whether you work as a freelancer using the local Starbucks free internet or you ran out of data and want to connect to a random WiFi network to send a message to a friend, make sure you’re not caught connecting to an unsecured WiFi network. According to the law, it’s actually a crime to gain unauthorised access to a computer or website, and that includes WiFi networks. This law probably started as a way to protect squatters from getting free WiFi from public places, so be warned the next time you see “free WiFi” advertised at your coffee shop. In order to avoid this happening in the future, try to always have enough data on your phone or only connect to WiFi services in establishments that you trust. For instance, don’t sit outside a coffee shop and use the WiFi—make sure you actually buy something, even if it’s just a cup of coffee. You might also want to consider turning off the auto connect settings on your device’s WiFi. Not only does this prevent you from connecting to random networks, it also helps you prevent viruses infecting your device from rogue networks that only seek to collect information and invade your privacy.
Driving under the influence
Look, we’ve all driven with a bit of alcohol in our system and in fact, some states actually allow a certain amount of alcohol to be in your body. However, if you do it on a regular basis, then you may want to start cutting down on your drinking habits unless you want to have an encounter with the law. Luckily, there are services like Leverson Budke DWI Lawyer that will help you get out of a sticky situation, but ideally, you don’t want to pay a large sum of money for a lawyer to help you get out of something dumb you did. You can also get fined for anything from speeding to accidentally damaging someone else’s car. And of course, there is a heavy price to pay if you injure someone during your drunk-driving. In addition to DWI charges, you’ll also be fined for any damages and other laws you’ve broken, meaning the costs can add up and you’ll regret ever putting your hands on a steering wheel. To remedy this, make sure you’ve contacted someone prior to heading out late at night so that you can ensure you’re prepared with public transport or a taxi. Try to speak with your friends to assign a driver as well so that you aren’t left stranded without a way to get back home after a wild night out.
Innocent gambling with friends
Have you ever invited friends over to play some poker for a bit of spare cash? What about betting on something with a friend? If you’re not letting the authorities know, then it’s actually considered illegal gambling and you could be fined a lot of money if you’re caught. Of course, unless someone tells the police that you’re gambling with friends for real money, then you’ll get caught. However, if no one hears about it, then neither will the authorities. As long as you’re not setting up an illegal gambling ring, the police probably won’t care if a few bucks are exchanged, but keep it quiet and don’t make a huge scene and invite people to gamble their savings away with you.
