The 25 Obscure Laws You Didn’t Know You Were Breaking. Consumer rights lawyer DEAN DUNHAM explains how you can avoid an unexpected fine

There are dozens of laws that you may not be aware of or may misunderstand, leaving you vulnerable to committing a violation and potentially being fined or otherwise punished. Many of these are everyday laws related to your home and vehicle.

Cars: You’re breaking the law if…

1. You are unable to remove snow from all your car windows

Highway code rule 229 says that you must be able to see out of all your windows and be free of snow. Failure to comply could result in three points on your driving license and a fine of up to £2,500.

2. You fail to tell the DVLA that you have moved

If you fail to notify DVLA of an address or name change, you will be breaking the law and could face a fine of up to £1,000. This malfunction can also void your car insurance.

3. You do not inform DVLA that you have changed your registration number

If you don’t tell DVLA that you have changed your car’s number plate and inform your insurance company, you could end up in trouble with the law as you will not appear on the insurance register because the incorrect number plate has been registered.

4. At a drive-through you pay with your mobile phone while the engine of your car is running

This law dates back to the 2003 mobile phone legislation, which sets out when it is illegal to touch a phone or handset while driving. If you handle your phone while the engine is still running, you are technically using your phone while driving a car, which is a violation.

5. Anger makes you honk

If you honk aggressively because you are annoyed or frustrated, you could be fined £50, with the possibility of this being increased to £1,000 if you go to court, fight the case and lose. It is also against the law to honk your horn while your car is stationary, or in built-up areas between 11:30 PM and 7:00 AM.

It is against the law to honk your horn while your car is stationary, or in built-up areas between 11:30 PM and 7:00 AM

6. You eat or drink while driving

While it may not technically be illegal to eat or drink while driving, if the police think you are being distracted by doing so, you could be prosecuted for ‘careless driving’.

The police could take action for ‘careless driving’ if you eat behind the wheel

7. You or a passenger are not wearing a seat belt

The law requires all passengers in a vehicle to wear a seat belt if one is fitted, unless they are medically exempt. The driver is responsible for ensuring that all passengers under the age of 14 wear a seat belt. Failure to do so could result in the driver being fined up to £500.

Drivers are responsible for ensuring that all passengers under the age of 14 wear a seat belt

8. You start your car to warm it up and leave it unattended

According to highway code rule 123, you are not allowed to leave a car unattended on a public road with the engine running; but it is fine if the car is in your own driveway, but not on the public road.

9. You violate another traffic law to make way for an emergency vehicle

Many people think that if they drive through a red light or stop somewhere where you are normally not allowed to park, to make room for an ambulance or police car, for example, this will be overlooked by the law. Unfortunately, this will not be the case, so such an action will leave you vulnerable to receiving points on your license and/or a fine. The law says that you must make way for emergency vehicles, but in a safe manner and without violating traffic rules.

If you break the traffic rules to allow a police car to pass, you are vulnerable to receiving points on your driver’s license and/or a fine

At home: You’re breaking the law if…

10. Point security cameras at your neighbor’s property

Make sure any CCTV cameras around your property are not pointing towards your neighbours’ property. This could in some cases breach privacy laws under the Human Rights Act and potentially lead to allegations of harassment.

Pointing a camera at a neighbor’s home can be an offense under the Human Rights Act and could potentially lead to charges of harassment

11. Point bright security lights onto your neighbor’s property

Do not point your security lights onto your neighbour’s property (especially their windows) as this may cause light pollution or nuisance and may be subject to legal action.

12. Leave a house alarm on when you’re away

It seems silly because this is exactly what a house alarm is for, but if you activate your house alarm and go away for a while without making arrangements for someone to view your home when the alarm is activated, you are committing an offense under the Clean Neighborhoods and Environment Act 2005.

13. Failing to fix a leaky faucet

Under the Water Industry Act 1999, you can be fined £1,000 if you fail to fix a leaking tap. The law states that homeowners must fix leaking taps within a ‘reasonable time’, while the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) stipulates that leaking taps must be fixed within 24 hours.

You could be fined £1,000 if you don’t fix a leaking tap in your home

14. Leave your garden untidy

Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, the law requires homeowners to keep their gardens in good condition or face a fine of up to £500.

The law requires homeowners to keep their gardens in good condition

If you’re caught throwing away your old TV, you could be fined up to £5,000

15. Throw your old TV in the trash

It is illegal to throw your TV in the bin under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013. If you are caught doing so, you could be fined up to £5,000, and also ordered to pay costs for recycling your TV.

16. Watch live TV without a license

If you watch live TV on a television, computer, tablet, game console, smartphone or other device, you need a TV license. However, you don’t need a TV license if you only watch content after it has been shown on television – unless it is on BBC iPlayer.

17. Use a firestick to stream Amazon and Sky Sports without paying

It may sound harsh, but this could land you in prison as you would be breaking Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006, which covers ‘unfairly obtaining services’, including ‘knowing that the services are becoming available on the basis that payment has been made, is or will be made or that they may be made for or in respect of them; and avoids or intends to avoid payment in whole or in part’.

18. Use your neighbor’s WiFi without permission

Do not use a neighbour’s unsecured WiFi connection without their knowledge – commonly referred to as ‘piggybacking’ – as this would be a criminal offense under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 or the Communications Act 2003.

19. Overfill your external waste bin

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 says homeowners are responsible for ensuring their bins do not overflow or break, otherwise they could be fined £500.

20. Neglect your gutters and drains

The Building Act 1984 says that homeowners must keep their gutters and drains in good condition and allow them to flow freely. Failure to do so could result in a £5,000 fine.

21. Throw cuttings from your neighbor’s plants/trees back on their land

Do not simply throw away hedge or tree trimmings that you have cut from your neighbour’s overhanging plants without consulting your neighbor first as this could be considered fly-tipping.

…and four strange ways you can break the law

1. It is illegal for you to destroy or deface money

Under the Monetary and Banknotes Act of 1928, it is illegal to damage a banknote by drawing, stamping or printing on it.

2. If you use a fake name on the Internet

Impersonating someone else is not itself illegal, unless you are impersonating a police officer or lawyer. However, if you create a fake social networking account, this will amount to a criminal offense in some circumstances.

Posting a letter with the stamp upside down is treason, but no charges will be filed

3. It is illegal to mail a letter with the stamp upside down

As crazy as it sounds, this amounts to treason and is therefore an offense against the Crown, which could land you in jail. In reality, of course, it wouldn’t go that far.

4. If you sell counterfeit or counterfeit items

Although it is now common for consumers to sell unwanted items on the likes of eBay and Vinted – if your unwanted item is fake/counterfeit (such as a fake Gucci bag), while it wasn’t illegal for you to buy it, it is illegal for you to sell it.