Unfortunately we have many laws in the United States that seem to exist solely because "they can". These laws often criminalize harmless behaviour and are used to generate revenues for cities solely because the cost for an ordinary citizen to fight them are more than the cost of the fines.
These laws are often not consistently enforced, and are probably the idea of a petty bureaucrat in a particular location.
Here are some examples I've noticed.
City Ordinances Prohibiting For Sale Signs Being Struck Down
Some cities such as San Francisco, Glendale (near Cincinnati) Ohio, and 200 other cities in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee, have enacted laws that make it a criminal act to park your car in a public place with a For Sale sign in the window.
Fortunately some courts are overruling this blatant attack on free speech.
Cell phone use not allowed after an international flight has landed and docked at the gate
On some international flights into San Francisco, even after the plane has landed, taxi'd to the gate, is docked, and the door is opened, the passengers are informed that they still may not use their cell phone. You can't use your cell phone even for a considerable time after getting out of the airplane.
"You may not use your cell phone until after you have checked in through immigration, picked up your baggage, and have finished your checkout at customs. If you are seen using your cell phone, it may be confiscated."
How dare they tell me I can't use my cell phone once I've landed! I may need to tell a ride that the flight ran late, or that I've just landed, and can they meet me in about one hour after the whole getting out of the airport process is complete.
This is a case of a law that they create to hassle people because they know most people aren't going to protest this represssion of their rights over the loss of a cell phone that they probably received for free, or can replace for maybe $50.
But just because the loss is small, it doesn't make it right.
Illegal to open baggage until after U.S. Customs checkout is finished
At an east coast airport prominent signs were posted that eventhough you've picked up your baggage from the baggage carousel, you are not allowed to open your bags until you've finished being inspected by customers. How dare they tell me what I can't do with my bags after I am busy carrying them!
Jury Nullification
Jury Nullification is not something that should be overturned. It is a possible defense of the citizens to these horrible laws which allows individuals to refuse to convict on the basis of invalid laws.
Unfortunately, though, judges really hate the idea of jury nullification, and will never inform a jury of this right. Judges will go through great contortions to in fact deny that there is any such right. Other judges will create serious problems for a jury member who admits using jury nullification as their reason for reason to find someone guilty of a crime, including being jailed for contempt of court.
Jury nullification is the phrase used for the right of an individual on a jury to refuse to convict on the basis of a law that they don't agree with.
Since so few people know about this, it is unlikely this will help many people. The persecution that principled jurors have endured over invoking this right is an example This is an of how the judges and lawyers run a circus in the courtroom, and maintain their high priesthood in the face of common sense of the ordinary person. All persons in their courtroom will play according to their script, or else.
