| Example of a law | R | E | K | C | S | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| It is illegal to download movies and music without paying | The law protects those who create content, but many people believe that illegal downloading is a ‘victimless’ crime. It is difficult to enforce this law. | |||||
| Anti-bullying laws | There are a number of cases that have gone to court involving bullying. These laws largely reflect society’s belief that bullying is unacceptable. | |||||
| It is illegal to mark graffiti on property that can be seen by the public unless the owner has given permission to do so | While there are some in society who don’t follow these laws, most of us value the idea that another person’s property should not be damaged. | |||||
| Anti-hoon laws | These laws appear to have had some impact on hoons. The laws largely reflect society’s belief that hooning is unacceptable. | |||||
| It is illegal to behave in a way that causes offence to other people, such as racial vilification, swearing and using obscene language | ‘Offence’ laws reflect society’s belief that offending others is unacceptable. However, some are difficult to enforce. It is also difficult to define, at times, what constitutes offensive behaviour. | |||||
| Setting off fireworks without a permit is illegal | The laws reflect society’s belief that setting off fireworks is dangerous. However, there are many people who continue to use them regardless of the law. | |||||
| Littering laws | The laws reflect society’s belief that littering is unacceptable. However, many people completely disregard the laws – the laws largely rely on people ‘dobbing in’ offenders | |||||
| Restricted-breed dog laws | The laws reflect society’s belief that some breeds of dogs are dangerous. Some people continue to own restricted breeds and may not be discovered until an unfortunate situation occurs. | |||||
| It is against the law to urinate in public | The law reflects society’s belief that urinating in public is unhygienic. Some cases are enforced but many people would not observe this law. | |||||
| Interfering with a homing pigeon is illegal | This is a law leftover from when homing pigeons were more commonly used. Few people would be aware of this law today. | |||||
| All bike and scooter riders must wear a bike helmet | / | / | / | / | The law reflects society’s belief that wearing a helmet on a bike or scooter is necessary for safety. It is difficult to enforce, and not all people observe the law. |
Legal Studies from the ground up