Types of Laws

Criminal laws: designed to protect society as a whole from wrongful actions (police can take action)  

  1. Traffic/road laws
    • drink driving
    • speeding
    • illegal use of an aeroplane
    • driving in an unregistered vehicle
    • wilful damage of vehicles
    • not wearing a helmet
    • stopping for pedestrians
    • correct indicating
  2. Public order (peaceful and safe community)
    • drug use
    • public decency (sleeping on the streets)
    • carrying of weapons in public
    • dry areas
    • rioting
    • protest marches (staying non-violent)
    • assault
    • defamation (writing things about people that are not true which harm their character)
  3. Property
    • arson
    • trespass
    • larceny (theft)
    • littering
    • vandalism
    • intentional damage
  4. People
    • passive smoking
    • rape
    • murder
    • harassment
    • suicide
    • sexual abuse

Civil laws: help to solve problems which occur between individuals or groups (trained legal personnel and courts help solve)

  1. Contract law (agreements, responsibilities)
    • not allowed to break a contract
    • marriage
    • fishing licences
    • misleading advertisements
  2. Employment law
    • reason for firing someone
    • fair duties as an employer
    • equal opportunities
    • not to work over 40 hours in any one week (appropriate overtime penalties)
    • wrongful dismissal
    • age discrimination
  3. Family law
    • abuse of children
    • catering for kids until they are 18 years old
    • domestic violence
    • custody of children
    • registration of birth
    • maintenance issues
  4. Law of Torts
    • compensation (dog biting)
    • accidents involving other animals
    • others injuring themselves on your property