If you break a law that you didn’t know was a law, should you be prosecuted to the full extent of the law?

@perceptivei Exactly my point of asking. I replied below to somebody else its illegal to go into a bar in Alaska drunk or go into a bar drunk.

@4thdimensiondream See? There's all kinds of laws people break on a daily basis that the majority of people are unaware of.

I guarantee you, if these people who commented on your post were truly aware of all the laws (and not ignorant themselves), they'd recant their statements. People have no idea what kind of laws are still in place today.

@4thdimensiondream In most places in the US it's illegal to be drunk in public so that's already covered.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

@quitwhendone So you are telling me if you went to Alaska on business, and had a bit too many, enough to fail a sobriety test, and were arrested you wouldn't think it was an un-justice?

@4thdimensiondream I would but I am aware that there are laws against public drunkenness in most places. Usually, you have to piss off a cop or be causing a public nuisance to get arrested for that, though.

@quitwhendone I've always wondered about bars and drunk drivers. I'm pretty sure a lot of people leaving the bar are plastered! Cops could just wait outside. But basically you are right. Most every law is based on common sense logic. But state laws differ in regards to what you can or can't do based on your age. I can see where that can cause a problem.

@4thdimensiondream Based on age? If you're 21, you can do anything that's legal.

@quitwhendone There are laws about statutory rape depending on you being 17 or 18. I wasn't referring just to drinking above.

@4thdimensiondream Oh, yeah. Or even 16 in some places.

@quitwhendone I guarantee you are not aware of all the laws in your state. I promise you'd end up regretting making that statement if we were suddenly all prosecuted for laws we break on a daily basis without knowing it. And, I'm not talking about walking into a bar drunk. But, you see how many people break just that one without realizing it. And, that one actually makes some sense!

@4thdimensiondream Yeah. I've always thought the same thing about bars and cops. Some of them are there for security and watch people get in their vehicles to drive away. So, I don't get it.

@perceptivei I'm one of those that can't have more than one drink. So i dont really enjoy going to the pub after a game. But i wonder how most everyone else will make it home alive and without killing others.

@perceptivei You're right, there are a lot of unknown laws but they say ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Some laws are only enforced when police or prosecutors want to fuck with people. And many federal laws are so broad and vague that prosecutors in different judicial districts can't even agree on what's a violation and what isn't.

This country needs serious criminal justice reforms.

@4thdimensiondream Yep. I am a drinker, but I've never been one to party much or go out and drink. But, the few times I have gone out to bars, I've thought "how do these people not get arrested when they leave for the night?" It's just crazy to me.

@perceptivei True. It's a pointless law that police only use to fuck with people.

@perceptivei I would drink more if i wasn't driving! That's why i love going on a cruise!

@4thdimensiondream Yeah. That's why I drink at home.

@4thdimensiondream it's just too easy to get in trouble when you're drinking in public.