Short messages on UK Law from Respect Yourself, the guidance site for young people to help make good decisions in life.
The electoral register is a list of the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote. Each local electoral registration office maintains the electoral register for its own area. There are two versions of the electoral register – the full version and the edited version.
When you are 17 you can register to vote, but you can’t vote until you are 18. If your 18th birthday is just before an election, register early so that you can vote on Election Day.
You can vote if you are 18 or over, a UK, Republic of Ireland or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of a European Union country living in the UK or a citizen of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or a British Overseas Territory living in the UK.
In the United Kingdom, contributions made to the Internet are covered by the Communications Act 2003. Sending messages which are “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character” is an offense whether they are received by the intended recipient or not.
You are legally responsible for your dog. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 ensures you take care of it, and a number of other laws ensure you keep it under proper control.
If your street is littered with dog mess, you can ask your local council to clean it under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.
It is the responsibility of the dog owner or the person in charge of the dog to clear up any dog foul left by their dog. If you fail to clean up after your dog you can be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice, or if the case goes to court a fine of up to £1,000.
Car number plates should: be made of a reflective material, display black letters on a white background (front plate) and display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate). Failure to display licence plates correctly can result in up to a £1000 fine, and your vehicle will fail its MOT test.
By law, category 2 fireworks (suitable for garden displays) cannot be sold to anyone under the age of 18 and under-18s are also not allowed to carry fireworks in a public place.
If you don’t make a SORN or tax your vehicle you could be stopped by the police. Your vehicle could be clamped by one of DVLA’s wheelclamping partners. You’ll need to pay to have your vehicle released as well as producing a valid tax disc or a surety fee if no disc is available. If you fail to pay, your vehicle will be impounded, incurring storage charges. If you don’t pay the release or storage fees, your vehicle could be crushed or sold.