Teens and the Law: You and Other Important Rights
Laws regulate many aspects of your life—from how late you can stay out at night to whether you can sign a contract or cross the border.
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You and Other Important Rights (0)
Can a police officer read my text messages?
The police cannot take your cellphone and read through your texts without reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed. If the officer has obtained a search warrant from ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
Can I buy and use fireworks?
When used carelessly or by people under the influence of alcohol or drugs, fireworks can quickly turn a celebration into a disaster. In 2005, there were five deaths in the United States from fireworks and 10,800 ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
Can I get into trouble by using the telephone?
When Gerald Gault* was fifteen years old, he made an obscene telephone call. The call was traced to Gerald′s house in Globe, Arizona. He was taken into custody, prosecuted, and placed in the state′s school ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
Can I get into trouble for swearing?
Depending on the circumstances, using profanity or offensive hand gestures may cause serious problems for you. In some parts of the country,you could be charged with disturbing the peace or violating a local profanity law. ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
Can I go across the border with my friends?
You may be allowed to cross national borders without your parents. During the summer, winter vacation, or spring break, many students take school trips across the border to Mexico or Canada without their parents along. Whether ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
What if I see someone abusing an animal?
Most states have laws requiring the safe and humane treatment of animals. These laws include pets that have been brought to school, so don′t forget about them when school is out or during weekends and ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
Do I need a license to go hunting or fishing?
You may wonder why a permit or license to hunt or fish is required in the first place. Here are two good reasons: • The revenues raised by the money spent on licenses and permits helps ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
How late can I stay out?
Depending on your age, there are certain times when you must be in at night. These are called curfews—state or local laws that require you to be off the street and at home by certain ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
What are my rights as a gay, lesbian, or bisexual teenager?
The law doesn′t distinguish between gay, lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual (straight) teenagers. The rights and protections provided are equally applicable to all groups, whether at home, school, or work. A violation of your rights due ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
What is sexual harassment?
Test your knowledge of sexual harassment by taking this true-or false quiz: (T )(F) Sexual harassment is a problem at school. (T )(F) Men and boys can be victims of sexual harassment. (T )(F) Charges of sexual harassment ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
What if I′m discriminated against based on my age, sex, or race?
Discrimination is defined as treating someone differently based on something other than merit, such as race, age, or gender.You might know what it feels like to be singled out or treated differently. Maybe you′ve had ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
Can I get out of a contract?
The laws about contracts and minors aren′t the same in every state. Because of your age and lack of business experience, you may be allowed to get out of a contract you sign. This is ...
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You and Other Important Rights, Q&A (0)
Can I sign a contract?
Most transactions today are put into writing, whether a lengthy legal contract or the fine print on a ticket stub or a store receipt. Putting an agreement in writing—between two people, two companies, or a ...
