Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
If You Did Any Of These 60 Things, You Have Committed A Legal Offense Somewhere In The World
Here’s the scenario: you’ve had one too many drinks at a friend’s birthday bash. And instead of driving home and possibly catching a DUI charge, you decide to sleep it off in the car until you’ve sobered up enough.
Seems like a sensible decision, right? Turns out, you can still get arrested for what you just did. And apparently, many other things that seem ‘harmless’ and mundane can actually get you in trouble with the law.
This was a topic of discussion in a recent Reddit thread when someone asked, “What feels legal but is actually illegal and will possibly get you arrested?” If you didn’t know, now you know.
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
Trying to leave the country without a mans permission if a woman. Singing or reading aloud is illegal if a woman in Afghanistan.
#3
A Danish woman was arrested in New York for leaving a kid in a pram outside a cafe. That is perfectly normal in Denmark, but apparently not in USA.
Randomosity 1 hour ago
When traveling to another country always do research. You'd think she would have realized that leaving a baby alone in Denmark is different than leaving a baby alone in a huge, overcrowded city where any creep could grab them and run.
#4
Keeping prescription meds in a container that’s not the original. Like you can’t put one or two in a little pill keeper on your keychain because it’s not in the original bottle. I get the reasoning, but it’s also dumb.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 56 minutes ago
The effect is that cops are put in the position where they have to make a call about something they know nothing about. I was a ritalin kid and I'm still grumpy about some of the s**t I had to put up with.
#5
Feeding the homeless.
#7
Assuming that you have the ability to make any and all decisions regarding your medical care if you are a woman in 2026.
StrangeOne 1 hour ago (edited)
This is probably referencing the USA, but this happens in other countries, too, I'm sure.I learned in Canada, patience have the right to refuse a treatment, a procedure and exam if they choose, without coercion. I hold onto that right, dearly, but not all doctors comply. Especially with a women in a vulnerable position, such as gyno exam or labour. The insurance company my employer uses, now they don't cover anything 100% and don't cover everything. I could still go with what I want. I would just have to pay out of pocket, if I can. Don't let insurance companies push you around.
#8
Simply being trans in most countries. The US is really trying to get there.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 23 minutes ago
If by "there", OP means a universally recognised lifestyle. I agree completely.
#9
Leaving a party after having too many drinks and deciding to sleep it off in your car for the night instead of taking the risk of driving home drunk.
Since sleeping it off in your car can get you busted for drunk driving in a lot of places, some folks roll the dice and try to make it home so they don't get arrested for drunk driving while sleeping in their car.
#10
Collecting rainwater in some places.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 hour ago
There's actually good reasons for this one. Some people with land can take it to extremes and alter the hydrology of the surrounding area. The local county water commission can get very grumpy if you decide to build your own lake.
#11
In France, burying your deceased pets in your garden. Risks of infecting the water table.
#12
Being in possession of an Eagle feather is illegal unless you are exempt like Native Americans; even then they have to apply to receive it, it can’t just be taken from the ground out in the wild.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 52 minutes ago (edited)
This one is completely fair. This is what it takes to stop black market Eagle feathers. The USA is that crazy patriotic and the depths people will go to, to cash in on that fanaticism is equally insane. Insane enough to k!ll an endangered bird to pluck its feathers for $$$.
#13
I recently found out that in most countries you do not have the right to end your own life.
#14
We used to leave things in mailboxes. Like, the neighbor's husband passed, so mom left a card in her mailbox; or a small gift to cheer up a friend, things like that.
Yep - federal crime. The USPS apparently literally owns the inside of mailboxes. If it isn't postage paid / handled by USPS, it's illegal to be placed in a mailbox.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 45 minutes ago
Another one I doubt has been enforced for years if ever. Although, I can see it being enforced in a stalker situation. That gives me an idea for a horror movie.
#15
Dumpster diving.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 43 minutes ago
So many of these are just going to fall under the term Vagrancy. What a quaint little word for people JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.
#16
Taking rocks as souvenirs from National Parks.
#17
Being homeless.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 32 minutes ago
Everyone has to be somewhere. You cant just pack up and disappear until you get your life together. Where else are they supposed to go?
#18
Pretty sure chewing gum is illegal in Singapore.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 hour ago
I head that one once. A long time ago. It's one of those fun facts that I never bothered to question until now. To the WIKI! "Since 2004, an exception has existed for therapeutic, dental, and nicotine chewing gum,[1] which can be bought from a doctor or registered pharmacist." Huh, who knew?
#19
Dumping your trash in someone else’s dumpster.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 22 minutes ago
That one always pi$$es me off. And yes it SHOULD be illegal.
#20
Paying someone else's parking meter.
*Deposit of coins by unauthorized persons.* No person, other than the owner or operator of a vehicle, shall deposit any coin in any parking meter without the knowledge or consent of such owner or operator of the vehicle using the parking space immediately adjacent to such parking meter.
Cammy Mack 1 hour ago
Don't help each other! Thank you for your attention to this matter! Signed, your loving government
#21
Finders keepers has another name: theft of mislaid property. I browse recent criminal cases sometimes and see it fairly frequently.
David Scotman 31 minutes ago
Finders keepers is something children might do, but no self-respecting adult would do without making some effort to find the owner. From what I understand, in some places you get to keep the found items eventually if you report it and nobody claims it within a specified timeframe.
#22
Spreading a deceased ashes on public lands can be illegal in some states.
#23
Picking wildflowers on the side of the road (at least in Texas). Those flowers don't belong to you. They don't even belong to mother nature. FYI. The State of Texas does spread wildflower seeds along state highways.
#24
I live in the Netherlands and in some municipalities its forbidden to draw with chalk on the sidewalk.
#25
Downloading copyrighted movies, shows, or software for free. A lot of people treat it like it's normal, but it's still illegal in many places.
Brian Droste 1 hour ago
I am not sure but if it is for your own use you can do this. The illegal part would be if you made copies and sold them.
#26
Picking fruits or vegetables that are right near the sidewalk. It's not urban foraging; it's theft.
While it is unlikely that you will be arrested if you are picking wood sorrel from the sidewalk cracks, if it's not your land, it's not yours. And that "abandoned" apple tree in the side yard of an unoccupied house still belongs to someone.
#27
Picking up junk next to railroads. Apparently they get quite protective of their litter.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 34 minutes ago
I almost got busted for that once. I saw a pile of old railroad spikes. I figured, "Free tent spikes for camping trips". I had a cop confiscate them.
#28
Jay walking. Illegal just about everywhere (in the US), and can definitely get you arrested if cops are looking to pick you up and waiting for an excuse.
#30
Adultery is illegal in 11 states, and a felony in one.
#31
Trying to get your consigned Legos back from Bricks and Minifigs, apparently.
Roll0115:
It is a deep rabbit hole. Old man took his collection of rare Star Wars Legos to a Bricks & Minifig store to sell on consignment. Its estimated the collection is worth $200,000. Ownership changed hands, new franchise owners won't honor the consignment agreement, but they also won't give the Legos back. I am pretty sure they have sold part of the collection and kept the money. The local cops arent doing anything about the theft, but other police departments are harassing the YouTuber (Reckless Ben) that is trying to help get the Legos back. The drama spans multiple states at this point.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 29 minutes ago (edited)
That's just fraud and I hope he wins. That's messed up.
#32
Doing nothing like loitering.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 58 minutes ago
A lot of places outlaw busking too. Instead of doing nothing, doing something for spare change, Street performers.
#33
Setting booby-traps with the intent of hurting people who are breaking the law.
The number of redditors who think it's fine because they brought it on themselves by breaking the law is too high. At least in the USA, they are often violating state law. But even if not, they are almost guaranteed to make the trap-setter liable for injury/harm caused.
And, yes, that can include putting capsaicin in copious amounts in your lunch with the expectation that someone will steal it. Causing someone pain is 'harm' and you can be held liable unless you're happy to eat the amount of spice you put in the food to prove it's not a booby trap, you are just Jamaican.
#34
Riding a bicycle intoxicated. Get the same DUI as if you were driving.
Colleen Glim 1 hour ago
I feel like trying to ride a bike drunk would be way more challenging. But don’t do either. Please
#35
Seed saving and planting of patented seeds. Farmers are forced to buy from company every year.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 24 minutes ago
Read about that one in Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan.
#36
Having a miscarriage at home as a US citizen in a red state.
Colleen Glim 1 hour ago
And then driving to a blue state to get the medical care that you need after said miscarriage. The current state of the US is on the verge of a major blow up.
#37
Drinking in public. You can get pretty used to it in certain places/scenarios when it's a big deal in other places.
#38
Having an unpaid speeding ticket from long, long ago.
Around 2005, when old records were being digitized, there was a rash of people getting notices in the mail (at best) or license suspensions (at worst) because of something that happened 20 years before. Probably the difference was if you still lived at the old address and were able to receive a notice mailed to it. If you didn't, you'd first find out about it when you got pulled over for something else.
Hopefully these have mostly cleared out by now, but if you haven't been pulled over in 20 years and drove regularly before then there might be a surprise waiting for you next time you are.
#39
Having all my window curtains wide open while bare in my own home.
Takes one passerby to call me in and I get it for indecent exposure.
Never actually happened to me but *has* happened to others.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 25 minutes ago
Perfectly here in Portland. You know how us Oregonians are.
#40
Parliaments famous Salmon Act of 1986 states that it's illegal to hold salmon under suspicious circumstances Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986 stipulates that it is an offence to handle salmon under suspicious circumstances.
Gold Monkey 23 minutes ago
Say "handle salmon under suspicious circumstances" again. Twice wasn't enough.
#41
**Hanging things from your rearview mirror.**
In a lot of states, having an air freshener, graduation tassel, or fuzzy dice hanging there is technically an 'obstruction of vision' and a perfectly legal reason for a cop to pull you over.
#43
Using any chemical product in a way “inconsistent with its labeling” is technically a federal offense in the USA.
My other pick would be tracking down someone who stole your stuff and stealing it back.
#46
Having a knife bigger than 3" in your pocket. But I guess blade size depends on where you're at.
#47
You had one guy who had a shop and he had a chair in front of his shop where he sat on. That was not legal in the Netherlands because he did not had a license for a terrace.
#48
Legitimately complaining to the police about their conduct.
#49
In my city, it is against city ordinance for a food place to have a salt shaker (common table salt) already on the table, unless the custommer expressly requested it.
#50
Painting your side of a fence between your property and your neighbour's if it's their fence.
#51
Won't get you arrested, but will get you ticketed....blocking your own driveway with your car.
Colleen Glim 1 hour ago
But aren’t you technically blocking your own driveway by parking in it?
#54
Riding in the back of a pickup truck.
#55
Threatening someone “as a joke.”
People think if they say “lol” or “I didn’t mean it,” it magically stops being serious. But if the threat is specific enough, believable enough, or causes someone to reasonably fear harm, the law may not care that you were “just mad” or “just trolling.”
#56
Splitting a large transaction into smaller ones to avoid reporting requirements. It's a serious crime called structuring.
#57
Flashing your high beams to warn other drivers that a cop is hiding ahead. Depending on the state, police will pull you over and ticket you for obstructing an investigation.
Colleen Glim 1 hour ago
What investigation? Cop is just pìssy because his speed trap has been outed
#58
You can’t milk your neighbor’s cow in Texas.
#59
Driving with a blood-alcohol-content **below** the so-called "legal limit" can still be illegal.
If you have any intoxicant in your system, even alcohol, and the police can show you are acting like you're intoxicated, you will be convicted of DUI/OWI/DWI.
#60
Not exiting your vehicle when instructed by law enforcement. Penn. v Mimms
Right or wrong, that is the current precedent. Law enforcement can require you to leave your vehicle at anytime.
Cammy Mack 33 minutes ago
Just have fun while you do it. Thank the kind commandant for his service to our overlords, blessings be upon them, yay brother!
What do you think ?
Related on Bored Panda
